Inside Elite Boats: Brandon Lester

Elite Series pro Brandon Lester just finished his fifth year on the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Elite Series pro Brandon Lester just finished his fifth year on the Bassmaster Elite Series.
He took us on a tour of his 2018 Phoenix 920 ProXP powered by Mercury 250 ProXS.
He took us on a tour of his 2018 Phoenix 920 ProXP powered by Mercury 250 ProXS.
Lester used this rig to compete on the Elite Series as well as the Eastern division of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens.
Lester used this rig to compete on the Elite Series as well as the Eastern division of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens.
Right by the console he has a handy Power-Pole switch to anchor down quickly while near the back part of the boat.
Right by the console he has a handy Power-Pole switch to anchor down quickly while near the back part of the boat.
First, he shows us what is in his glove box or what's referred to as a
First, he shows us what is in his glove box or what’s referred to as a “dry box.”
Due to changing seasons, a pair of gloves made their way into this box. Another essential is a hand-held scale for accurate weighing while on the water.
Due to changing seasons, a pair of gloves made their way into this box. Another essential is a hand-held scale for accurate weighing while on the water.
He keeps his Costa sunglasses handy in this box as well.
He keeps his Costa sunglasses handy in this box as well.
Lester uses a cup holder as a handy place to put weighted fin clips. They are in close proximity to the livewell for easy access.
Lester uses a cup holder as a handy place to put weighted fin clips. They are in close proximity to the livewell for easy access.
These got a workout at the St. Lawrence River when Lester landed in third place.
These got a workout at the St. Lawrence River when Lester landed in third place.
While digging around his console region he found a shad that he didn't know about. A hungry bass spit this up on his last fishing trip he believes.
While digging around his console region he found a shad that he didn’t know about. A hungry bass spit this up on his last fishing trip he believes.
There are handy tool slots on the sides of his glove box at the seat region.
There are handy tool slots on the sides of his glove box at the seat region.
On the business end of his boat are a few key compartments.
On the business end of his boat are a few key compartments.
The first is the rod locker on the passenger side of his boat. This box contains MHX combos of all sorts.
The first is the rod locker on the passenger side of his boat. This box contains MHX combos of all sorts.
He says there are always 17 to 20 rods in the box for tournament day.
He says there are always 17 to 20 rods in the box for tournament day.
Here are two of his favorites. One has a buzzbait toad and the other is a spinning rod with a dropshot.
Here are two of his favorites. One has a buzzbait toad and the other is a spinning rod with a dropshot.
This is the action of his dropshot rod, the stick that got a great workout at the St. Lawrence River. He gains satisfaction from catching fish on rods that he has built from the ground up on his own.
This is the action of his dropshot rod, the stick that got a great workout at the St. Lawrence River. He gains satisfaction from catching fish on rods that he has built from the ground up on his own.
He says he could put 30 to 40 combos in this box if he chose to, but normally will have half that amount after practice concludes.
He says he could put 30 to 40 combos in this box if he chose to, but normally will have half that amount after practice concludes.
The center bait box has all of his hard baits and hooks. There are roughly 20 boxes in here of all shapes and sizes.
The center bait box has all of his hard baits and hooks. There are roughly 20 boxes in here of all shapes and sizes.
This one keeps all of his hooks safe and sound. This deeper box allows him to keep hooks in their packaging so they are easy to identify.
This one keeps all of his hooks safe and sound. This deeper box allows him to keep hooks in their packaging so they are easy to identify.
If he is looking for a specific model within a realm of hook styles they are organized in this dry box.
If he is looking for a specific model within a realm of hook styles they are organized in this dry box.
Hanging on the underside of the box are a few trebles, ready to be swapped onto a bait in a flash.
Hanging on the underside of the box are a few trebles, ready to be swapped onto a bait in a flash.
He has two jigs hanging for quick access as well. Lester kept it pretty simple this week as he had a brown jig and a brown jig ready to go.
He has two jigs hanging for quick access as well. Lester kept it pretty simple this week as he had a brown jig and a brown jig ready to go.
He also had a few spools of fluorocarbon line leader material ready to go for quick adjustments.
He also had a few spools of fluorocarbon line leader material ready to go for quick adjustments.
He had a few Vicious spools, mostly of the finesse nature.
He had a few Vicious spools, mostly of the finesse nature.
This spool was 10-pound fluorocarbon for a spinning rod application.
This spool was 10-pound fluorocarbon for a spinning rod application.
Most anglers add after-market LED lights, but Lester also likes the adjustable light that comes standard.
Most anglers add after-market LED lights, but Lester also likes the adjustable light that comes standard.
When the power switch is on this light is ready to go, and it stores just below the lip of the box.
When the power switch is on this light is ready to go, and it stores just below the lip of the box.
A handy ruler stows in this box but is accessible without opening the lid.
A handy ruler stows in this box but is accessible without opening the lid.
In the frontmost box he keeps bags of soft plastics.
In the frontmost box he keeps bags of soft plastics.
He stores his XZone soft plastics within Bass Mafia Money Bags as well as old fashioned gallon ziplock bags.
He stores his XZone soft plastics within Bass Mafia Money Bags as well as old fashioned gallon ziplock bags.
The driver-side rod locker contains spinnerbait and buzzbait boxes. He also keeps other miscellaneous things here.
The driver-side rod locker contains spinnerbait and buzzbait boxes. He also keeps other miscellaneous things here.
One of those is a full-vest life jacket, which is mandatory in each boat.
One of those is a full-vest life jacket, which is mandatory in each boat.
There is also
There is also “the box” that every angler has somewhere in the boat. Most of the time it has a few newly purchased baits at whatever fishery they are fishing that week. Lester wouldn’t show us the secret baits he had planned to use for the Opens Championship, he was indeed trying to make the Classic at that event.
The Ultrex is one of the newest forms of technology for anglers, and it's rare these days to see a pro's boat minus one.
The Ultrex is one of the newest forms of technology for anglers, and it’s rare these days to see a pro’s boat minus one.
This one has spot-locked on some great smallmouth spots at the St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain, Grand Lake and Table Rock.
This one has spot-locked on some great smallmouth spots at the St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain, Grand Lake and Table Rock.
There isn't anything out of the ordinary in Lester's cooler. A couple waters, Gatorades and Diet Cokes.
There isn’t anything out of the ordinary in Lester’s cooler. A couple waters, Gatorades and Diet Cokes.
He keeps his dips and dyes in his small bait tray by the cooler.
He keeps his dips and dyes in his small bait tray by the cooler.
Beside his dye tray he has a wacky rig tool, sharpie and scent for soft plastics.
Beside his dye tray he has a wacky rig tool, sharpie and scent for soft plastics.
He keeps a hook file to sharpen hooks while on the water.
He keeps a hook file to sharpen hooks while on the water.
We showed you his vest life jacket, but here is his tournament ready inflatable that has seen many bodies of water while strapped on Lester.
We showed you his vest life jacket, but here is his tournament ready inflatable that has seen many bodies of water while strapped on Lester.
The rear driver side box has tools and niche items.
The rear driver side box has tools and niche items.
He cracks open his ratchet set, which has enough fittings to tighten any bolt or nut on his boat.
He cracks open his ratchet set, which has enough fittings to tighten any bolt or nut on his boat.
He keeps required safety items in one box as well.
He keeps required safety items in one box as well.
He has a whistle, fire extinguisher and flare gun in this container.
He has a whistle, fire extinguisher and flare gun in this container.
He keeps his T-H Marine Conservation cull system there as well.
He keeps his T-H Marine Conservation cull system there as well.
The Conservation cull clips are non-penetrating, which are required on the Bassmaster Elite Series and every level of Bassmaster competition.
The Conservation cull clips are non-penetrating, which are required on the Bassmaster Elite Series and every level of Bassmaster competition.
Lester also keeps a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) in his boat in case he were to get stranded in the middle of a marsh or away from other competitors. One flip of the switch and authorities are notified. Each unit is purchased under a specific person's name with pertinent information about the individual.
Lester also keeps a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) in his boat in case he were to get stranded in the middle of a marsh or away from other competitors. One flip of the switch and authorities are notified. Each unit is purchased under a specific person’s name with pertinent information about the individual.
He also keeps a gallon of oil and a spare prop on the boat.
He also keeps a gallon of oil and a spare prop on the boat.
Speaking of oil, Lester takes a moment to fill up his reservoir tank.
Speaking of oil, Lester takes a moment to fill up his reservoir tank.
No funnel needed for this oil-pouring pro.
No funnel needed for this oil-pouring pro.
Lester holds out his hands to measure the length of bass he hopes to take for a ride.
Lester holds out his hands to measure the length of bass he hopes to take for a ride.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time to temper those expectations a little bit Lester. He may have set his goals high, but his great year warranted it on the Opens.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time to temper those expectations a little bit Lester. He may have set his goals high, but his great year warranted it on the Opens.
On the back deck he has a fold out seat for his co-anglers and marshals throughout the year.
On the back deck he has a fold out seat for his co-anglers and marshals throughout the year.
The back battery box has all the necessary power sources, pumps and wiring to power his boat.
The back battery box has all the necessary power sources, pumps and wiring to power his boat.
He has Optima Batteries to power his graphs, pumps and motor while on the water.
He has Optima Batteries to power his graphs, pumps and motor while on the water.
His Power-Pole pumps rest in between the three trolling motor batteries and the starter battery.
His Power-Pole pumps rest in between the three trolling motor batteries and the starter battery.
His Minn Kota onboard charger lights up green when the batteries are full charge.
His Minn Kota onboard charger lights up green when the batteries are full charge.
Lester relies on two 8-foot Power-Pole Blades as his shallow-water anchors.
Lester relies on two 8-foot Power-Pole Blades as his shallow-water anchors.
He ran a Mercury 250 Pro XS in 2018.
He ran a Mercury 250 Pro XS in 2018.
A Fury 25-pitch prop helps put the boat in motion.
A Fury 25-pitch prop helps put the boat in motion.
He uses a T-H Marine Hot Foot in order to keep both hands on the wheel while driving at top speeds.
He uses a T-H Marine Hot Foot in order to keep both hands on the wheel while driving at top speeds.
An Atlas Jack plate helps get optimum performance in big waves and ultra shallow water.
An Atlas Jack plate helps get optimum performance in big waves and ultra shallow water.
Lester has a cool Motormate transom saver made specifically for him and his motor.
Lester has a cool Motormate transom saver made specifically for him and his motor.
He trims his motor in to perfect riding height.
He trims his motor in to perfect riding height.
You know the prior season was a success if you have big white letters on your boat. That signifies you competed in the Bassmaster Classic, and the number identifies your launch spot in order.
You know the prior season was a success if you have big white letters on your boat. That signifies you competed in the Bassmaster Classic, and the number identifies your launch spot in order.
Thanks for the tour of your office Brandon! Congratulations on making your fourth Bassmaster Classic in five years on the Elites.
Thanks for the tour of your office Brandon! Congratulations on making your fourth Bassmaster Classic in five years on the Elites.