Gear

Inside Elite Boats: Kenta Kimura

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In his first season fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, Kenta Kimura ran a BassCat Cougar 203 Hybrid powered by a 250 horsepower Mercury ProXS.
Photo: Seigo Saito - In his first season fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, Kenta Kimura ran a BassCat Cougar 203 Hybrid powered by a 250 horsepower Mercury ProXS.
The bow of Kimura's BassCat is home to a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor.
Photo: Seigo Saito - The bow of Kimura's BassCat is home to a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor.
Much like many of his Bassmaster Elite Series competitors, Kimura runs two different brands of electronics on his boat.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Much like many of his Bassmaster Elite Series competitors, Kimura runs two different brands of electronics on his boat.
Two Garmin Ecomap Ultra 10 inch units and a Humminbird Helix 10 are mounted with BoatLogix mounts.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Two Garmin Ecomap Ultra 10 inch units and a Humminbird Helix 10 are mounted with BoatLogix mounts.
An overhead view of the bow.
Photo: Seigo Saito - An overhead view of the bow.
Kimura caries a ton of unique Japanese baits in his boat.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura caries a ton of unique Japanese baits in his boat.
His frog box has holes drilled into it to allow ventilation to the box and allow moisture to flow out.
Photo: Seigo Saito - His frog box has holes drilled into it to allow ventilation to the box and allow moisture to flow out.
Kimura has quite the collection of Deps Evoke crankbaits.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura has quite the collection of Deps Evoke crankbaits.
Kimura shows off a Deps Evoke Zoro. This is a bait he is working to bring to the market with Deps.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura shows off a Deps Evoke Zoro. This is a bait he is working to bring to the market with Deps.
He's been testing out different props to find the best action possible.
Photo: Seigo Saito - He's been testing out different props to find the best action possible.
A new size of the Deps Evoke – the 1.8 – is soon to be released.
Photo: Seigo Saito - A new size of the Deps Evoke – the 1.8 – is soon to be released.
Kimura's signature series frogs, the Deps Busterk and Deps SlitherK.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura's signature series frogs, the Deps Busterk and Deps SlitherK.
More Deps Evoke crankbaits.
Photo: Seigo Saito - More Deps Evoke crankbaits.
Kimura shows off the Deps Evoke 4.0, which is a larger version of the original Evoke crankbait.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura shows off the Deps Evoke 4.0, which is a larger version of the original Evoke crankbait.
His box of Deps Evoke 4.0 cranks.
Photo: Seigo Saito - His box of Deps Evoke 4.0 cranks.
Kimura uses Strut Numeri, which is a scent formula for hard baits.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura uses Strut Numeri, which is a scent formula for hard baits.
He applies Numeri on his crankbaits.
Photo: Seigo Saito - He applies Numeri on his crankbaits.
During tournament days, Kimura tries to lighten the amount of tackle he carries in his boat.
Photo: Seigo Saito - During tournament days, Kimura tries to lighten the amount of tackle he carries in his boat.
Now he opens the rod box.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Now he opens the rod box.
Kimura uses rods that are custom built by a friend of his back in Japan.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura uses rods that are custom built by a friend of his back in Japan.
The Abu Garcia Revo Black 10 designed by Kimura.
Photo: Seigo Saito - The Abu Garcia Revo Black 10 designed by Kimura.
Kimura carries a wide variety of hooks in his BassCat.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura carries a wide variety of hooks in his BassCat.
Ryugi Pierce Quad designed by Kimura.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Ryugi Pierce Quad designed by Kimura.
He usually receives big bulk bags of hooks from Japan.
Photo: Seigo Saito - He usually receives big bulk bags of hooks from Japan.
Kimura always changes out the hooks of his crankbaits during tournaments.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura always changes out the hooks of his crankbaits during tournaments.
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Another hook designed by Kimura, the Ryugi Infini.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Another hook designed by Kimura, the Ryugi Infini.
A look inside Kimura's hook bag.
Photo: Seigo Saito - A look inside Kimura's hook bag.
Berkley Powerbait Power Wiggler, Kimura's design for Berkley Japan.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Berkley Powerbait Power Wiggler, Kimura's design for Berkley Japan.
Kimura shows off the Berkley Powerbait Power Flutter, another bait he helped design for Berkley Japan.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura shows off the Berkley Powerbait Power Flutter, another bait he helped design for Berkley Japan.
Over the course of Kimura's career, he has helped design numerous baits for companies in Japan. Here is a portion of the baits that he has helped design.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Over the course of Kimura's career, he has helped design numerous baits for companies in Japan. Here is a portion of the baits that he has helped design.
Kimura keeps the main compartment on the deck of the boat pretty simple.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura keeps the main compartment on the deck of the boat pretty simple.
Two Humminbird Helix 10 units are mounted at the console of the boat.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Two Humminbird Helix 10 units are mounted at the console of the boat.
The console units are also mounted with BoatLogix mounts.
Photo: Seigo Saito - The console units are also mounted with BoatLogix mounts.
Kimura mounts his GoPro to the console of his boat.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura mounts his GoPro to the console of his boat.
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Kimura mounts his cellphone to the console during practice to use the GPS mapping.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura mounts his cellphone to the console during practice to use the GPS mapping.
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Kimura says that the Power-Pole Charge is a must for any tournament angler.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura says that the Power-Pole Charge is a must for any tournament angler.
A Bob's Machine Shop jackplate raises and lowers his Mercury outboard.
Photo: Seigo Saito - A Bob's Machine Shop jackplate raises and lowers his Mercury outboard.
Thanks for the tour of the boat, Kenta!<br> <br> Now we'll move over to his truck and camper shell.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Thanks for the tour of the boat, Kenta! Now we'll move over to his truck and camper shell.
Kimura removed the back seats from his Toyota Tundra for added space to store fishing gear.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura removed the back seats from his Toyota Tundra for added space to store fishing gear.
From this angle, it looks like a tight fit but there's more room than you think.
Photo: Seigo Saito - From this angle, it looks like a tight fit but there's more room than you think.
See, it's pretty spacious.
Photo: Seigo Saito - See, it's pretty spacious.
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The camper shell has a built-in refrigerator as well as a cooking stove.
Photo: Seigo Saito - The camper shell has a built-in refrigerator as well as a cooking stove.
Kimura stocks up on Wagyu beef for tournament days and keeps it in the freezer.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura stocks up on Wagyu beef for tournament days and keeps it in the freezer.
A look at Kimura's bed which is elevated above the rest of the shell.
Photo: Seigo Saito - A look at Kimura's bed which is elevated above the rest of the shell.
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Here is the kitchen space.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Here is the kitchen space.
Kimura does all of his work from his iPad Pro.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura does all of his work from his iPad Pro.
Kimura hangs clothing in the camper to keep it nice and dry.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura hangs clothing in the camper to keep it nice and dry.
Kimura's signature logo, KIMKEN.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Kimura's signature logo, KIMKEN.
The next six photos show the evolution of the camper shell going down.
Photo: Seigo Saito - The next six photos show the evolution of the camper shell going down.
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Now it's ready to roll.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Now it's ready to roll.
Thanks for showing us around, Kenta!
Photo: Seigo Saito - Thanks for showing us around, Kenta!