Inside Elite Boats: Dakota Ebare

Second-year Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Dakota Ebare is ready to give a tour of his 2026 Classic-qualifying rig.

This Nitro Z21 XL is one of Ebare’s favroite rides. Even in the big waves of Lake Ontario, Ebare says it runs like a dream.

At the nose, Ebare runs a Garmin Force Pro trolling motor.

Take a closer at the base and prop of the Force.

Ebare’s Garmin LVS 34 transducer is connected to the long-shaft Garmin Spy Pole. That allows him to pan with his live sonar while also utilizing his Anchor Lock system.

The view of his Spy Pole.

As you can see, Ebare can tell which way his sonar is pointing and which way his trolliing motor is moving simulateously.

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Bass Boat Technologies mounts keep both of his Garmins secure.

Up front, Ebare keeps a 16-inch Garmin Echo Map and then a 12-inch Echo Map.

The 16-inch is used for LiveScope and then 360 in non-FFS events. He has the 12-inch set up with a split screen with mapping, sidescan and downscan.

An overhead view of the recessed foot pedal.

The Nitro’s small panel is close by.

The full view of Ebare’s front deck.

Closest to his trolling motor pedal, Ebare has two small compartments where he keeps items he can easily access. This one holds a spool of X Braid and tooth picks.

The other held two Strike King crankbaits and a bottle of dye.

Now on to the bigger bins.

Ebare has several rods ready to go in his rod locker.

Every bin in his boat has rod storage. Under his two center compartments and the right side compartment, Ebare also has several tackle hangers for lures he wants to either dry out or keep handy.

Guess which lure he is experimenting with most lately.

Inside his center compartment lies about a dozen Buzbee Quik Qube tackle bags and Buzbee tackleboxes.

An extra pair of shoes occupies the other center compartment, with plenty of room for more.

Safety gear sits in his driver’s side compartment.

Ebare’s urchin wall.

Ebare is ready to show off his slick Lew’s combo.

His signature series rod and Custom Pro Baitcast Reel is rigged with a Strike King Scounge Bug.

This Quik Qube is stuffed with some Strike King soft plastics.

Ebare displays one of his urchin baits. This one is rigged on a single hook with a keeper.

The best-looking life jacket on the water.

“This isn’t your grandpa’s Nitro. We have air ride seats in this bad boy.”

Tandem Garmin Echo 12s are mounted at the console, both which can be used for a variety of functions.

BBT mounts anchor those down.

During practice and tournaments, Ebare usually uses one strictly for mapping and the other for a mixture of downscan and sidescan.

All of the gauges.

Installed on the left-hand side of the steering wheel is a remote for his Power-Pole controls as well as his horn and power button.

Next up is a trim switch …

… and a small display screen.

He can keep his phone handy on practice days with a RAM Mount phone holder.

A spacious cooler.

Keep those tools handy.

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Ebare’s graveyard of beaten Z-Toos.

The passenger side of the Nitro features a drawer for miscellaneous items and a fresh bag of Z-Toos.

The compartment between the seats holds sunglasses, his Garmin remote and more.

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An overhead view of the cockpit.

The back deck features two livewells and two vast storage compartments.

Cull tags are lined up and ready for action.

His measuring board is close to the livewells for an extra check of length if needed.

A set of tools and jumper cables occupy one compartment.

More tackle bags are in the other.

Tools, rope, a life jacket, batteries and more!

For his cranking battery, Ebare uses two 12-volt, 53-Ah Thor Lithium batteries in tandem and then uses two 36-volt, 63-Ah batteries in tandem for his trolling motor and electronics.