Gear

Inside Elite Boats: Dave Lefebre

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The 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series season was Dave Lefebre's first year as a Bassmaster
The 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series season was Dave Lefebre’s first year as a Bassmaster “Newcomer.” His success on the pro level up to this point voided him from competing for the Rookie of the Year honors, but the 36-year-old pro made a splash with a near victory at Wheeler Lake.
Lefebre needed a big event at the Toyota Angler of the Year championship at Mille Lacs Lake to qualify for the 2017 Geico Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. His third place finish notched his Classic berth.
Lefebre needed a big event at the Toyota Angler of the Year championship at Mille Lacs Lake to qualify for the 2017 Geico Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. His third place finish notched his Classic berth.
Lefebre's 2016 Ranger 520c was outfitted with two Lowrance HDS 12 electronics at the console. He runs mapping, sonar, down imaging and side imaging with his two-unit set up.
Lefebre’s 2016 Ranger 520c was outfitted with two Lowrance HDS 12 electronics at the console. He runs mapping, sonar, down imaging and side imaging with his two-unit set up.
He also has a unique set-up that is rarely seen at the pro level. Lefebre runs a flasher at the console and at the bow of his boat because it gives him a true live view of depth and bottom hardness even while driving at high speeds.
He also has a unique set-up that is rarely seen at the pro level. Lefebre runs a flasher at the console and at the bow of his boat because it gives him a true live view of depth and bottom hardness even while driving at high speeds.
When we took a peek in his passenger rod locker we see plenty of 13 Fishing rod and reel combos that Lefebre uses. On top are ones outfitted for a Rapala deep diving crankbait, a tube and a swimbait; which are just a few baits he used to catch the majority of his fish at Mille Lacs.
When we took a peek in his passenger rod locker we see plenty of 13 Fishing rod and reel combos that Lefebre uses. On top are ones outfitted for a Rapala deep diving crankbait, a tube and a swimbait; which are just a few baits he used to catch the majority of his fish at Mille Lacs.
The middle box on his Ranger is where he keeps a good number of his soft plastics.
The middle box on his Ranger is where he keeps a good number of his soft plastics.
At this specific event, Lefebre had his middle box filled with Yamamoto Senko's, which he dropshotted. On the small shelf to the right he also had a spool of line and some bulk bags of tubes.
At this specific event, Lefebre had his middle box filled with Yamamoto Senko’s, which he dropshotted. On the small shelf to the right he also had a spool of line and some bulk bags of tubes.
He keeps a few crates with his necessary soft plastics for the given tournament in the boat while his other baits and bulk bags are stored in his travel van.
He keeps a few crates with his necessary soft plastics for the given tournament in the boat while his other baits and bulk bags are stored in his travel van.
His bulk bags of tubes lay on a small shelf so they are readily available and aren't smushed by boxes.
His bulk bags of tubes lay on a small shelf so they are readily available and aren’t smushed by boxes.
He pulls out one of his go-to baits, which is a 4-inch Senko.
He pulls out one of his go-to baits, which is a 4-inch Senko.
Among his soft plastics he found a White Terminator Poppin' Frog, which had plenty of teeth marks from the 2016 season.
Among his soft plastics he found a White Terminator Poppin’ Frog, which had plenty of teeth marks from the 2016 season.
Lefebre's driver-side rod locker is fairly empty to save weight on tournament day, but his secondary box near the console had important hard baits that he can take out of his boat easily.
Lefebre’s driver-side rod locker is fairly empty to save weight on tournament day, but his secondary box near the console had important hard baits that he can take out of his boat easily.
He keeps most of his hard baits in easy-to-store briefcase tackle boxes.
He keeps most of his hard baits in easy-to-store briefcase tackle boxes.
One of the other boxes in his secondary box is his hook box. This box has a variety of VMC hooks and tungsten weights.
One of the other boxes in his secondary box is his hook box. This box has a variety of VMC hooks and tungsten weights.
His drop shot hooks and weights weren't far away as they too were there accompanying his other hook box.
His drop shot hooks and weights weren’t far away as they too were there accompanying his other hook box.
These briefcases are almost like
These briefcases are almost like “go boxes” that Lefebre fills depending on what he needs that given day or tournament. There are a hodgepodge of sizes and depths of crankbaits in those boxes.
Two more boxes feature his favorite tubes.
Two more boxes feature his favorite tubes.
One of his favorite colors is a smoke/purple tube that obviously has a lot of salt content.
One of his favorite colors is a smoke/purple tube that obviously has a lot of salt content.
His other box features more earthy colors like green pumpkin and different watermelon variations.
His other box features more earthy colors like green pumpkin and different watermelon variations.
He keeps his dye pens and scents together in that secondary bin as well.
He keeps his dye pens and scents together in that secondary bin as well.
Lefebre only keeps a few boxes in his driver rod locker and those are bigger sized Plano boxes.
Lefebre only keeps a few boxes in his driver rod locker and those are bigger sized Plano boxes.
Crankbaits and jerk baits were on deck in those boxes.
Crankbaits and jerk baits were on deck in those boxes.
One contains Rapala Shadow Rap jerk baits.
One contains Rapala Shadow Rap jerk baits.
And the other contains other Rapala crankbaits mostly in the DT series.
And the other contains other Rapala crankbaits mostly in the DT series.
Lefebre had his boat inspection sticker near his tool slots.
Lefebre had his boat inspection sticker near his tool slots.
Back at his glove box was many of the essentials that most anglers need.
Back at his glove box was many of the essentials that most anglers need.
He pulls out a clear baggy that contains two 4-leaf clovers that his family gave him.
He pulls out a clear baggy that contains two 4-leaf clovers that his family gave him.
He also had
He also had “trading cards” handy for any fans that may want an autograph.
He also had gum, bug spray, tape and his boater's insurance.
He also had gum, bug spray, tape and his boater’s insurance.
By the look of his livewell the fish he was catching at Mille Lacs were focused on crawfish.
By the look of his livewell the fish he was catching at Mille Lacs were focused on crawfish.
One of his rear boxes had his life jacket and other accessories that he stores during the tournament day.
One of his rear boxes had his life jacket and other accessories that he stores during the tournament day.
He also kept his marker buoys in the back box with his cull beam.
He also kept his marker buoys in the back box with his cull beam.
He also pulls out one of his Lowrance HDS 12 covers.
He also pulls out one of his Lowrance HDS 12 covers.
In the back box is where the business happens and how Lefebre powers his boat.
In the back box is where the business happens and how Lefebre powers his boat.
His four-bank charger keeps his batteries full of juice for those longs days on the water.
His four-bank charger keeps his batteries full of juice for those longs days on the water.
At the transom of his boat Lefebre has a Mercury 250 horsepower ProXS outboard and two 10-foot Power Pole blades.
At the transom of his boat Lefebre has a Mercury 250 horsepower ProXS outboard and two 10-foot Power Pole blades.
Like the rest of his boat, his Power Pole brackets were customized to match his black and green boat color scheme.
Like the rest of his boat, his Power Pole brackets were customized to match his black and green boat color scheme.
For those shallow water events, Lefebre utilizes his Atlas hydraulic jackplate to raise and lower his outboard.
For those shallow water events, Lefebre utilizes his Atlas hydraulic jackplate to raise and lower his outboard.
He ran a Mercury Fury 25-pitch prop all year.
He ran a Mercury Fury 25-pitch prop all year.
He keeps his push pole attached behind the seats of his Ranger.
He keeps his push pole attached behind the seats of his Ranger.
He runs a Minn Kota Fortrex 112-pound thrust trolling motor.
He runs a Minn Kota Fortrex 112-pound thrust trolling motor.
He keeps a bounce arm and a trolling motor lock to ensure it is secured on those rough-water tournaments.
He keeps a bounce arm and a trolling motor lock to ensure it is secured on those rough-water tournaments.
Lefebre has two Lowrance HDS 9's as well as a flasher on the front.
Lefebre has two Lowrance HDS 9’s as well as a flasher on the front.
Lefebre replaced his drain plug with a Flow-rite plug that he can control with a switch above the water on his Ranger.
Lefebre replaced his drain plug with a Flow-rite plug that he can control with a switch above the water on his Ranger.
Here is a look at his newer drain plug.
Here is a look at his newer drain plug.
Thanks for the tour of your 2016 boat Dave! Now we will take a look at Lefebre's unique tow vehicle.
Thanks for the tour of your 2016 boat Dave! Now we will take a look at Lefebre’s unique tow vehicle.
Lefebre uses a Nissan Van to tow his Ranger 520c across the country, but don't think for a minute that this is your average soccer mom van.
Lefebre uses a Nissan Van to tow his Ranger 520c across the country, but don’t think for a minute that this is your average soccer mom van.
His van was customized by a couple companies. Quigley specializes in customizing 4x4 vans.
His van was customized by a couple companies. Quigley specializes in customizing 4×4 vans.
This years was a test year for Lefebre and his van experience.
This years was a test year for Lefebre and his van experience.
The back of his van features a big box that he uses to store his boat cover and a cone.
The back of his van features a big box that he uses to store his boat cover and a cone.
He has a small lock box in the bumper of his van where he can store miscellaneous objects.
He has a small lock box in the bumper of his van where he can store miscellaneous objects.
But Lefebre uses it to store Mercury motor oil. He can keep up to 8 gallons of oil at any given time.
But Lefebre uses it to store Mercury motor oil. He can keep up to 8 gallons of oil at any given time.
He opens up the back doors to show us his organization in the back of the van.
He opens up the back doors to show us his organization in the back of the van.
Lefebre has two Master Rack organization systems for the sides of his van.
Lefebre has two Master Rack organization systems for the sides of his van.
These were custom made for vehicles and are often times filled with tools, but for fishermen their baits are their tools.
These were custom made for vehicles and are often times filled with tools, but for fishermen their baits are their tools.
He can store up to 65 tackle boxes in this rack system.
He can store up to 65 tackle boxes in this rack system.
Many of these boxes are moved in and out based on the tournament Lefebre is fishing.
Many of these boxes are moved in and out based on the tournament Lefebre is fishing.
The rack system also has a door at the bottom for even more storage.
The rack system also has a door at the bottom for even more storage.
The rack system comes with dividers to customize it however he chooses.
The rack system comes with dividers to customize it however he chooses.
He keeps a few spare reels on the top shelf for easy access.
He keeps a few spare reels on the top shelf for easy access.
Along with a few sponsor hats.
Along with a few sponsor hats.
He also fit multiple boxes between the storage systems and his back seat. One of those boxes had various spinnerbaits and buzz baits.
He also fit multiple boxes between the storage systems and his back seat. One of those boxes had various spinnerbaits and buzz baits.
Another bin had spare Terminator swim jigs.
Another bin had spare Terminator swim jigs.
The van had tremendous space even with that much tackle in the back.
The van had tremendous space even with that much tackle in the back.
Another cool feature is a 120 volt plug outlet.
Another cool feature is a 120 volt plug outlet.
If needed, he can plug up his boat to charge it while on the road.
If needed, he can plug up his boat to charge it while on the road.
He has a bungee to keep his pedestal seat fastened in the back of his van for easy access too.
He has a bungee to keep his pedestal seat fastened in the back of his van for easy access too.
He also has custom rod pods on top of his van.
He also has custom rod pods on top of his van.
A simple lock allows him to secure multiple spare rods in each pod.
A simple lock allows him to secure multiple spare rods in each pod.
He can store over a dozen rods in each pod.
He can store over a dozen rods in each pod.
He has all of the back storage and still has has a back seat to keep clothes and other traveling essentials.
He has all of the back storage and still has has a back seat to keep clothes and other traveling essentials.
He has a case of water at the ready to transfer to his boat.
He has a case of water at the ready to transfer to his boat.
Check out the cockpit of Lefebre's tow vehicle. With thousands of miles on the road he needs to have a comfortable ride.
Check out the cockpit of Lefebre’s tow vehicle. With thousands of miles on the road he needs to have a comfortable ride.
He keeps a couple pairs of shoes in the front floorboard.
He keeps a couple pairs of shoes in the front floorboard.
His normal van was transformed into a tough 4x4 and this included his tires and rims.
His normal van was transformed into a tough 4×4 and this included his tires and rims.
A push bar with a bright LED bar also ups the ante on this van build.
A push bar with a bright LED bar also ups the ante on this van build.
He also has matching step bars also made by Quigley.
He also has matching step bars also made by Quigley.
Thanks for the tour of your boat and tow vehicle Dave!
Thanks for the tour of your boat and tow vehicle Dave!

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