Gear

Inside Elite Boats: Jeff Gustafson

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During one of the delayed days at the Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, Jeff Gustafson was kind enough to give us a tour of his boat.
During one of the delayed days at the Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, Jeff Gustafson was kind enough to give us a tour of his boat.
Jeff is the only pro on the Elites to run a Lund. This is a 2075 Pro-V Bass.
Jeff is the only pro on the Elites to run a Lund. This is a 2075 Pro-V Bass.
I caught him testing out a mount for his Aqua VU 7 HD underwater camera.
I caught him testing out a mount for his Aqua VU 7 HD underwater camera.
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The back of the boat is powered by a Mercury ProXS 250.
The back of the boat is powered by a Mercury ProXS 250.
Flanked by Minn Kota Talons. He's interested in the new Raptors by Minn Kota, but he likes the extra depth with his Talons.
Flanked by Minn Kota Talons. He’s interested in the new Raptors by Minn Kota, but he likes the extra depth with his Talons.
Every Elite boat has a jackplate, Jeff uses an Atlas from T-H Marine.
Every Elite boat has a jackplate, Jeff uses an Atlas from T-H Marine.
Here's a Steer Stop hydraulic steering lock from T-H Marine.
Here’s a Steer Stop hydraulic steering lock from T-H Marine.
Hauling a boat from Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, means a lot of miles on the road, and you have to secure your outboard properly. Jeff uses this My Wedge. Mark Raveling, a legendary bass angler from Minnesota, makes these.
Hauling a boat from Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, means a lot of miles on the road, and you have to secure your outboard properly. Jeff uses this My Wedge. Mark Raveling, a legendary bass angler from Minnesota, makes these.
This is his current prop, but he also keeps a four-blade 22-inch prop for big water.
This is his current prop, but he also keeps a four-blade 22-inch prop for big water.
Here is where he mounts both his transducers. Two side-imaging transducers on the jackplate ...
Here is where he mounts both his transducers. Two side-imaging transducers on the jackplate …
... and then two high speed sonars on the outside.
… and then two high speed sonars on the outside.
Gussy runs five X2 Power batteries. Three are for his trolling motor, and two for everything else.
Gussy runs five X2 Power batteries. Three are for his trolling motor, and two for everything else.
Stepping inside the boat, we start with his battery compartment. The two batteries for cranking and any other power are run in parallel. He says he never has a problem running out of power.
Stepping inside the boat, we start with his battery compartment. The two batteries for cranking and any other power are run in parallel. He says he never has a problem running out of power.
Jeff's trolling motor batteries are on the other side.
Jeff’s trolling motor batteries are on the other side.
A prop wrench is a must-have. Jeff has a good one from T-H Marine, the Prop Master Prop Stop.
A prop wrench is a must-have. Jeff has a good one from T-H Marine, the Prop Master Prop Stop.
He shows me how it works. It is an upgrade from the usual block of wood.
He shows me how it works. It is an upgrade from the usual block of wood. “Mandatory equipment for what we do.”
Next up are some electronics including a GoPro and Aqua Vu cords.
Next up are some electronics including a GoPro and Aqua Vu cords.
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You gotta have a toolbox on the water. You never know what you may need.
You gotta have a toolbox on the water. You never know what you may need.
And a box for a little bit of everything.
And a box for a little bit of everything.
Including boat insurance, fuses, flares and tools.
Including boat insurance, fuses, flares and tools.
More stuff is in the back, another catch-all compartment for things he doesn't need to always get at.
More stuff is in the back, another catch-all compartment for things he doesn’t need to always get at.
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Lakemaster cards for the whole country. He keeps them in a Plano dry box.
Lakemaster cards for the whole country. He keeps them in a Plano dry box.
He's the third pro I've seen with one of these Weego jump starters. He's not sponsored by them. Call Gussy, Weego! He loves your product. He had to use it at Hartwell during an Elite, and it saved his day.
He’s the third pro I’ve seen with one of these Weego jump starters. He’s not sponsored by them. Call Gussy, Weego! He loves your product. He had to use it at Hartwell during an Elite, and it saved his day.
More essentials — an Aqua VU mini, fizzing needles, toilet paper, sunscreen.
More essentials — an Aqua VU mini, fizzing needles, toilet paper, sunscreen.
Very important to keep your screens clean when you use them to win $100,000 like Jeff did earlier this year on the Tennessee River.
Very important to keep your screens clean when you use them to win $100,000 like Jeff did earlier this year on the Tennessee River.
Some extra swimbaits are behind the passenger seat, and there's plenty of room for the Marshal's gear.
Some extra swimbaits are behind the passenger seat, and there’s plenty of room for the Marshal’s gear.
His Lund has a neat side compartment. Gussy keeps some rope in there. He says his Marshals love this extra compartment for stowing a hoodie or other gear.
His Lund has a neat side compartment. Gussy keeps some rope in there. He says his Marshals love this extra compartment for stowing a hoodie or other gear.
Watch enough Bassmaster LIVE and you know every pro has some tools at the ready.
Watch enough Bassmaster LIVE and you know every pro has some tools at the ready.
This is super cool. He mounts this arm on the passenger side so that he can use it to ...
This is super cool. He mounts this arm on the passenger side so that he can use it to …
... spool his reels while he sits there.
… spool his reels while he sits there.
In the driver's seat.
In the driver’s seat.
Gussy chooses smaller electronics than some pros. He has no trouble seeing over them, a Helix 12 and a 10 to the side.
Gussy chooses smaller electronics than some pros. He has no trouble seeing over them, a Helix 12 and a 10 to the side.
A little reminder of home. A friend of his made it for him, and he says it's been a good luck charm this year.
A little reminder of home. A friend of his made it for him, and he says it’s been a good luck charm this year.
Gussy picked up the nickname
Gussy picked up the nickname “Great Canadian Snow Leopard” from Dave Mercer, and one of his buddies back home (Bodhi Rydberg) gave him this.
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Now to the tools of the trade. Jeff is sponsored by Z-Man, which means this boat is full of ChatterBaits. Here's two JackHammers, 1/2 ounce and 3/4 ounce. Part of his arsenal wherever he's fishing.
Now to the tools of the trade. Jeff is sponsored by Z-Man, which means this boat is full of ChatterBaits. Here’s two JackHammers, 1/2 ounce and 3/4 ounce. Part of his arsenal wherever he’s fishing.
This is a look into his mind after three days of practice on Pickwick.
This is a look into his mind after three days of practice on Pickwick.
A red Bagley Sunny B crankbait — that certainly looks like it would catch some bass in Alabama. He loves this bait when bass are in shallow water.
A red Bagley Sunny B crankbait — that certainly looks like it would catch some bass in Alabama. He loves this bait when bass are in shallow water.
So much room in the Lund allows what could be a rod box to be his tackle storage. He called it
So much room in the Lund allows what could be a rod box to be his tackle storage. He called it “Tackle Land.” And as you can see there’s plenty of room for more. Every couple of events, he clears it and starts over.
He loves these Plano Edge storage boxes for his Sling Bladez. He loves the rubber seal that keeps everything dry.
He loves these Plano Edge storage boxes for his Sling Bladez. He loves the rubber seal that keeps everything dry.
Maybe the perfect way to store some spinnerbaits.
Maybe the perfect way to store some spinnerbaits.
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That is a lot of JackHammers! Gussy loves the ChatterBait from Z-Man that's probably in every pro's boat.
That is a lot of JackHammers! Gussy loves the ChatterBait from Z-Man that’s probably in every pro’s boat.
It took some willpower to not grab this box and make a run for it.
It took some willpower to not grab this box and make a run for it.
In his left hand is the Z-Man ChatterBait Custom, which he says not as many people talk about as they should.
In his left hand is the Z-Man ChatterBait Custom, which he says not as many people talk about as they should.
He says that everybody wants a JackHammer, but the Customs are more affordable and just flat out catch fish.
He says that everybody wants a JackHammer, but the Customs are more affordable and just flat out catch fish.
All the hooks. Jeff is big on organization. With a three-day practice, and sometimes no day off before the tournament starts, it is extremely helpful for him to start at a place where he knows where everything is.
All the hooks. Jeff is big on organization. With a three-day practice, and sometimes no day off before the tournament starts, it is extremely helpful for him to start at a place where he knows where everything is.
This is a 7-inch Diezel Minnowz. When he goes to the Tennessee River, he's pulling out this giant swimbait.
This is a 7-inch Diezel Minnowz. When he goes to the Tennessee River, he’s pulling out this giant swimbait.
“These baits come nice and straight right out of the package, and they just catch fish.”
Hard baits on the other side.
Hard baits on the other side.
A box full of Bagley balsa crankbaits.
A box full of Bagley balsa crankbaits.
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A few more extras in the package.
A few more extras in the package.
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Jeff carries a lot of treble hooks. Getting the right ones on his baits is something he thinks about a lot more than most weekend anglers.
Jeff carries a lot of treble hooks. Getting the right ones on his baits is something he thinks about a lot more than most weekend anglers.
And giant squarebills.
And giant squarebills.
“The Lake Fork box.”
Up front life jackets and covers for his electronics.
Up front life jackets and covers for his electronics.
Gussy does most of his work from the bow of the boat with a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor and Humminbird units.
Gussy does most of his work from the bow of the boat with a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor and Humminbird units.
He uses a Helix 10 and 12 up front.
He uses a Helix 10 and 12 up front.
Here's the rod locker. He can carry more than 20 rods in here.
Here’s the rod locker. He can carry more than 20 rods in here.
He puts the stuff he wants to stay dry in this little box.
He puts the stuff he wants to stay dry in this little box.
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Cooler and snacks for the water. He eats a lot of fruit and sandwiches and only drinks water when fishing.
Cooler and snacks for the water. He eats a lot of fruit and sandwiches and only drinks water when fishing.
These livewells recently won him $100,000 on the Tennessee River.
These livewells recently won him $100,000 on the Tennessee River.
In his Lund, you can lift both seats easily to find even more storage under them.
In his Lund, you can lift both seats easily to find even more storage under them.
So much that he hasn't filled up this area yet.
So much that he hasn’t filled up this area yet.
For shallow-water tournaments, a push-pole is a must.
For shallow-water tournaments, a push-pole is a must.
The Mega 360 transducer on his trolling motor helped him locate the smallmouth that won his first Elite Series event earlier this year. He's a big fan of the technology.
The Mega 360 transducer on his trolling motor helped him locate the smallmouth that won his first Elite Series event earlier this year. He’s a big fan of the technology.
Thanks for the the tour, Gussy!
Thanks for the the tour, Gussy!

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