Elite

Inside Elite Boats: Justin Hamner

Take an inside look at Justin Hamner's 2025 tournament rig!

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Photography by
Kyle Jessie
Welcome to another Inside Elite Boats, this time featuring the 2024 Bassmaster Classic champion Justin Hamner.
The fifth-year pro from Northport, Ala., is having a solid 2025 season and is fresh off a Top 10 on the Sabine River. Hamner is currently sitting in 17th in Progessive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.
Hamner runs a Netbait-wrapped Falcon F20 Predator bass boat and a Yamaha 250 SHO.
Starting at the front, Hamner is running the all-new Garmin Force trolling motor with reverse thrust capabilities.
For his live sonar, Hamner is running the Garmin LVS34 Transducer.
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Lets take a look at Hamner’s electronics on the bow.
He views his LiveScope on the Garmin 9019 which is a 19-inch screen. For 2D sonar and mapping, he utilizes a 12-inch Ecomap Ultra 2.
Hamner loves his Garmin electronics!
Hamner’s front deck is covered with a wide array of his sponsors.
Fresh off of a day on the lake, Hamner had a number of his new signature series Halo Rods on the front deck.
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Hamner’s new signature lineup in the BB Series features three new rods – one spinning and two casting models.
The three models in his signature series are a jerkbait rod, jig rod and a scoping rod.
The Alabama pro shows off the layout of his Falcon F20 Predator which features lids that open towards the bow of the boat – making it easier to access both rod lockers from outside the boat.
Hamner keeps as many rods in the boat as possible at all times. He can fit 40 to 50 rods and has something ready to go in any situation he encounters.
A pile of Halo rods are crammed in the box after a day of fishing in Alabama.
Another look shows the advantage of having the locker lids that open towards the bow.
Hamner keeps his boat slap full of gear saying, “I’m not worried about speed.”
Hamner utilizes every inch of space in the main storage compartment.
A pile of NetBait soft plastics line the sides of the center compartment.
This extra tray stores some of Hamner’s smaller boxes as well as his line.
The tray can slide from front to back inside the compartment.
You have to love a good frog box.
Justin’s frog box is slammed full of Snagproof frogs.
One of his favorite frogs and the one that found him success on the Sabine River is the Snagproof Pad Rambler. He mentions that it has super wide walking action and an incredible hookup ratio with the hook slits in the body.
Hamner throws a jerkbait a lot and likes to keep spare treble hooks organized and ready to maximize landing percentage.
“Changing out treble hooks is one of the most important things you can do in my opinion, and I just enjoy having them organized for quick access. My go-to is the Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G Finesse number 5.”
“I usually carry four jerkbait boxes at all times … I have a problem. Honestly I probably made my career off of this box.”
Hamner throws a wide variety of Megabass jerkbaits.
One of his favorites is the Megabass Vision 110+1 in various shad patterns. You can’t tell, but this is technically the same color … one has just been eaten significantly more.
This is Hamner’s OCD box full of snaps, swivels, split rings, and more.
“I think being organized saves you so much time on the water, and time is money.”
Another highly organized box stores all of Hamner’s Neko rig essentials and some other odds-and-ends terminal pieces.
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One of Hamner’s favorite boxes is his glidebait box.
It’s full of Clutch glidebaits.
His go-to glidebaits are the Clutch Darter and Baby Boss.
What’s a boat tour without a pile of random tackle sprawled out?
Hamner carries a variety of different BUBBA accessories in his boat.
One thing to look out for at this year’s ICAST is the Baitfuel 2.0 which Hamner says is way stickier and lasts a lot longer on baits.
Hamner’s day box is full of baits that he knows he will use throughout the day.
There is no shortage of NetBaits in this boat.
The larger compartment on the starboard is full of a variety of different items.
Hamner’s apparel sponsor is FXR.
His rainsuit is the FXR Pro Series Vapor Pro Tri-laminate. “It’s so lightweight and comfortable but still breathable, and it keeps you dry.”
At the console, Hamner runs two 12-inch Garmin Echomap Ultra 2s. One specifically for mapping and 2D and the other for side imaging. Sometimes he will use both units for side imaging with each one showing its perspective side.
His graphs are mounted on a Beatdown Outdoors dual mount.
The Falcon features a large cooler to keep drinks cold all day long.
On to the driver’s seat.
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Hamner has a couple of GoPro mounts that hang off to the starboard side of the boat.
It’s always essential to have a large day box for all the odds and ends.
Hamner wears Redfin polarized sunglasses for all his fishing and other outdoor activities.
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A look at the Falcon livewells.
Never leave shore without a toolbox in the boat.
Hamner’s Craftsman toolbox carries a variety of vital tools in case of mechanical or electrical issues. If you do it long enough you will have some sort of issue that needs to be fixed.
The back compartment behind the passenger seat is home to more tackle.
More NetBait soft plastics and a flutter spoon box.
On to the battery well.
The Falcon’s unique back deck design allows for easy access to batteries and other important components.
“For trolling batteries, I’m running two 36v 50amh Pro Guide Lithiums.”
It’s always important to carry a spare prop.
He runs a Pro Guide 150amh Lithium solely for his electronics and a Group 31 Pro Guide for his cranking battery.
The new Power-Pole ONE pump saves space in the battery compartment.
The Power-Pole Charge charges all his batteries and monitors them at all times. His wiring gets rigged by The Bass Tank so itis super organized and everything gets the proper power.
The back of the boat has a nice foam pad for stepping on.
The Yamaha 250 SHO powers the Falcon everywhere it needs to go.
“I absolutely love Yamaha; they are such a good company to work with. Just good people.”
Hamner tests the incredible durability of his Power-Pole Blades in the new matte black finish. When asked about the Power-Pole brand Hamner said, “Good family-owned company that really takes care of you and their products.”
The Leash is a must on every boat with an outboard. It keeps the motor from flipping onto the back deck if you hit something underwater. A true life-saving product.
Okay … enough with the photos, it’s nap time.

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