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Member
Posts: 7
| Hi,
My name is Casey and I've been fishing tournaments (bass) since 1990. Feels weird to say this is my 20th season of competitive fishing, especially since I'm only turning 35 this Spring. I've had a 20' Skeeter and most recently a 21' Triton. I've got two boys (almost 5 and 2) and decided it was time to switch to a boat that serves more purpose than speed. When I first started fishing tournaments an angler in our club had a Tuffy. Ever since fishing with him multiple times I knew the layout, fishability, etc were all great. After a few months of search, I ended up buying a 2010 17' Tuffy Esox Magnum. It's in the garage, gadgets installed, waiting for the 24" of ice to get off the lakes so it can make it's maiden voyage.
I told myself if I switched to a smaller boat the only thing that was going to be different was the speed. I wanted something that was easy to take the boys out in, yet still allow me to fish competitively if desired. Some of the electronics I rigged this with are an 80lb Fortrex 24v trolling motor up front. For now the only gps/finder is an 1197c that I have rigged so i can move from transom to bow. Each location has a ram ball mount and proper cabling to allow moving. There is a transom mount transducer and one on the trolling motor too. To top it off I found a site offering 20% off anything in their store, so I bought an 8' Pro Power Pole. After it's all said and done, I feel that this boat is actually going to fish better than my 21' boat. Maybe not in the speed department, but in presentation and layout not even close. Other benefits are a lot lighter load, one less axle on trailer for things to go wrong and easier access to small crappy access lakes.
Look forward to seeing you Tuffy owners on the water!
Casey
(Pole transom mount small.jpg)
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 Front deck small.jpg (62KB - 132 downloads)
Info center small.jpg (85KB - 139 downloads)
Pole transom mount small.jpg (80KB - 131 downloads)
Pole up small.jpg (75KB - 151 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 1040
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Congrats on your new purchase and glad to see you went with a Tuffy, you'll love it! When you get time, get a couple pictures of your whole rig, love to see the whole boat! |
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Member
Posts: 273
| Congrats! |
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| That's a sweet lookin' rig...  |
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Member
Posts: 650
| welcome to the site! great looking boat but we need more pics. looks like you got that rigged to the max... my power pole is sitting in the basement... I'm wondering where you mounted the pump? not sure where I'll mount mine on my 1760GC...
I actually had the same smaller boat idea last fall... sold my 20 st stratos... Tuffy's are a blast...
more pics... |
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Member
Posts: 7
| Now that it's raining here, the snow is melting, temps are rising I'll be able to get the boat out and get some better pics. The pump for the pole is tucked away behind that rear insert piece that covers up all the pumps/wiring/rear battery. Got that mounted on the floor piece, the remote module next to it, and the gps puck next to that. The 50 channel humminbird gps reads great when tucked away, which is nice so it's not screwed in to some area out in the open. It's going to be weird grabbing on to the throttle instead of mashing the foot pedal. It will also be weird when it tops out in that 40mph area and feels like there should be another 35-40mph to squeeze out of it. Yet I haven't been so excited to get out on the water in a very long time. |
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Member
Posts: 650
| I agree with TJ, we need more pics of this rig. I would like to see that pump install too...
last year I was in the same deal, traded my 200XL with a 225etec that topped out at 79.9 GPS (It was heading higher but I ran outa lake!) got my ny tuffy that hit 48.7 once... They are great fishing boats! I actually fished a BFL and cashed last spring with it. great in the rough water.
you will have a blast fishing from that ESOX, I see alot of crappie in your future... |
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Member
Posts: 7
| Just got the tires mounted on the new wheels. Found these at C&O marine for $75 each. Tire dealer here only charged $15 to mount all 3. Great improvement on the look!
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wheels.jpg (115KB - 133 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 1040
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Wow, those look hot! Very nice upgrade, I'm impressed! |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Do they spin? hehehe
Congrats on the rig. You'll like fishing in it. |
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Member
Posts: 16
| She's super sparkly ........ Nice Ride ....... |
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Member
Posts: 650
| Excuse me... we were looking for more pics of this boat... maybe something outside, with water... A few beer bottles in the picture won't kill me either... front deck looks roomy, like the pinstripes...
I pick mine up from storage thurs. hopefully get on the water sunday... |
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Member
Posts: 38
| Kirt must be sleeping to not respond to the last photo I know he has something up his sleeve for this years rig  |
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Member
Posts: 7
| Don't have any updated rig pictures, but I do have pictures of the maiden voyage catch. Nothing beats snow on the ground and fishing a heated power plant lake in the middle of nowhere. Boat worked awesome. Stable like no other boat i've been in. The Fortrex pulled it around very easy. On 10 setting we got 3mph gps so you can make it move. The side image worked great without having to tweak it any. Room wise not bad considering it was the first trip out, we both had all our gear out even though we didn't need it all out (you all know how that goes). Anyways, the 3 biggest bass of the day came on jigs/chunks. Caught lots on cranks too. The fish spit up TONS of craws in the livewell so you know what they were keying on. My cousin is holding the 3 biggest fish of the day, nothing huge, but a heck of a lot better than waiting for the ice to clear the lake.
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maiden.jpg (86KB - 113 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 1991
| Shhh... dont show anyone, especially Horshak, he might jump on the bandwagon
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Bellagio%20Spinner.jpg (78KB - 142 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 1040
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Moreyes, between you and your orange boat and now those things, I've noticed you lack a major thing called style! Those are ugly! haha |
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| I wouldn't put them on my riding lawn mower! Looks like someone had a roulette wheel chromed! |
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Member
Posts: 650
| great pic, send more... |
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Member
Posts: 1991
| LOL!!! What about this tow vehicle!! Needs to be orange though, at least iceman has good taste!!!
Edited by moreyes 3/24/2010 5:44 AM
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chevy_lowrider.jpg (93KB - 128 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 921
Location: Manitowoc, WI | Kirt, I am rerally worried about you. You need a little taste in your thought process when it comes to looks for the new boat. Try these on for size. Now these are wheels. Match the color of the boat and you'll be in the groove. I really need to get off these hours!
Edited by Horshak 3/24/2010 4:50 PM
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wheel2 (1).jpg (33KB - 123 downloads)
wheel2 (2).jpg (27KB - 131 downloads)
wheel4 (1).jpg (7KB - 130 downloads)
wheel4 (2).jpg (57KB - 136 downloads)
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| Those are 3 nice green sheephead! and one nice looking Tuffy boat! |
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Member
Posts: 650
| This thread has taken a Wrong turn... Was just looking for some pics of a real neat Tuffy rigged to the max... instead an issue of Truckin' magazine broke out along with some green carp...
Moreyes, got the truck out of storage last week... Was gonna sell it but no way... It is a pleasant ride...
picked up the tuffy thurs from storage... looked out the window this morning pouring coffee, Tuffy, Osprey and mercury... nice to see... I will hopefully be on the water tommorrow... green carp might be biting... |
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Member
Posts: 7
| Ok, finally had nice weather and took a trip to the parents. They live on a small lake that opened up a few days ago. Got to do some scanning and testing of the power pole in real world apps. Didn't fish, but pulled up to submerged trees, reed beds, etc and put the pole down using the wind correctly and it holds perfect. If you try and put the pole down and have your boat sideways to wind of course the bow will turn and blow downwind. As long as you use the wind to your advantage setting up boat position the pole is going to be awesome. Also found some schools of Crappies out in 17' in front of spawning areas. Of course I had no memory chip in there to snap the pictures. Overall a great afternoon with the new rig. I thought I'd miss the big 21' boat and the speed, but after being out and seeing how this boat handles the waves along with how it fishes, I have zero regret on the switch. Also got a chance to get some good pictures of the rig.
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(rig_boat_front_deck.jpg)
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rig_boat_back_2_front.jpg (87KB - 105 downloads)
rig_boat_console.jpg (86KB - 104 downloads)
rig_boat_deck.jpg (89KB - 92 downloads)
rig_boat_front_2_back.jpg (113KB - 106 downloads)
rig_boat_front_2_back_1.jpg (114KB - 102 downloads)
rig_boat_front_2_back_angle.jpg (113KB - 93 downloads)
rig_boat_front_deck.jpg (114KB - 100 downloads)
rig_boat_front_deck_1.jpg (96KB - 106 downloads)
rig_boat_pole.jpg (99KB - 118 downloads)
rig_boat_rear.jpg (109KB - 118 downloads)
rig_boat_side.jpg (127KB - 103 downloads)
rig_boat_truck.jpg (82KB - 100 downloads)
rig_boat_truck_passenger.jpg (90KB - 92 downloads)
rig_truck_grille.jpg (102KB - 97 downloads)
rig_truck_rear.jpg (112KB - 95 downloads)
rig_truck_side.jpg (98KB - 109 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 650
| Great pics, thanks! That is quite the fishing rig! very well rigged. next up is a livewell full of crappie.
It's easter and i'm gonna start on the powerpole. |
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