I get asked about my setup more than anything else, so here's exactly what's riding in the boat with me this season — no sponsorship fluff, just what I actually…
I get asked about my setup more than anything else, so here's exactly what's riding in the boat with me this season — no sponsorship fluff, just what I actually reach for.
The Basics
- 1.
A 30lb braid mainline with a 40lb fluorocarbon leader for structure work
- 2.
Two rod-and-reel combos — one dedicated to topwater, one built for deep structure and heavier drag pressure
- 3.
A small, curated lure roll rather than an overloaded tackle box
Why Less Is More
Early in my career I carried three tackle boxes and second-guessed every lure change. These days I run a shortlist of proven performers and trust them, because confidence in what's tied on matters more than having a hundred options.
That doesn't mean I never experiment — I keep one small compartment for new gear I'm testing, separate from what I actually rely on when it counts.
One Thing I Never Skip
Fresh leader material, checked every session — not just when it looks worn. Structure fishing punishes lazy leader checks, and it's the cheapest insurance against losing the fish of the trip.
Less gear, better decisions — that's been the theme of my season so far.
