Inside Elite Boats: Jason Christie

Oklahoma pro and four-time B.A.S.S. winner Jason Christie does his fishing from a Ranger Z 520 powered by a Mercury 250 Pro XS.
Oklahoma pro and four-time B.A.S.S. winner Jason Christie does his fishing from a Ranger Z 520 powered by a Mercury 250 Pro XS.
Christie uses a Motorguide Tour Edition trolling motor.
Christie uses a Motorguide Tour Edition trolling motor.
Christie runs two graphs on the bow — a Garmin 7612 and 7610. He uses the 7610 for Panoptix and the 7612 for mapping and 2D sonar.
Christie runs two graphs on the bow — a Garmin 7612 and 7610. He uses the 7610 for Panoptix and the 7612 for mapping and 2D sonar.
In the left rod locker, Christie usually carries about 20 rods for tournaments. Lew's reels and Falcon rods are primary sponsors for Christie.
In the left rod locker, Christie usually carries about 20 rods for tournaments. Lew’s reels and Falcon rods are primary sponsors for Christie.
Christie shows off one of his go-to lures — a Booyah Jig on a Lew's Lite Speed Spool LFS Series reel.
Christie shows off one of his go-to lures — a Booyah Jig on a Lew’s Lite Speed Spool LFS Series reel. “If I can catch them on a jig, I have an opportunity to win,” he said.
In addition to the Garmin units on his bow, Christie has a HydroWave Electronic Feeding Stimulator.
In addition to the Garmin units on his bow, Christie has a HydroWave Electronic Feeding Stimulator.
A Cool Foot trolling motor pedal helps Christie maintain better control of his boat.
A Cool Foot trolling motor pedal helps Christie maintain better control of his boat. “I use it mainly for traction where it’s not slippery when it rains,” he said.
The inside lid of Christie's center compartment serves as a billboard for his many high-profile sponsors. The compartment itself holds an incredible variety of tackle.
The inside lid of Christie’s center compartment serves as a billboard for his many high-profile sponsors. The compartment itself holds an incredible variety of tackle.
His boxes have all been marked with a Sharpie for easy identification and access.
His boxes have all been marked with a Sharpie for easy identification and access.
A black-and-blue Booyah Jig is one of Christie's favorite baits.
A black-and-blue Booyah Jig is one of Christie’s favorite baits.
It's hard to imagine there's an important jig color he doesn't have.
It’s hard to imagine there’s an important jig color he doesn’t have.
Do you think he uses a crankbait once in a while?
Do you think he uses a crankbait once in a while?
Another of Christie's go-to lures is a Bandit 200 Series crankbait in the brown craw/chartreuse belly color pattern.
Another of Christie’s go-to lures is a Bandit 200 Series crankbait in the brown craw/chartreuse belly color pattern. “That’s my favorite color in the spring,” he said.
This box is filled with Smithwick Rogue Jerkbaits.
This box is filled with Smithwick Rogue Jerkbaits. “That’s my favorite coldwater jerkbait for largemouth,” he said.
Christie knows a thing or two about fishing spinnerbaits as well. He used one to finish second in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.
Christie knows a thing or two about fishing spinnerbaits as well. He used one to finish second in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
Speaking of his 2016 second-place Classic finish, here's one of the spinnerbait rigs he used during that event. It's a Booyah 1-ounce spinnerbait with a Yum Pulse swimbait as a trailer.
Speaking of his 2016 second-place Classic finish, here’s one of the spinnerbait rigs he used during that event. It’s a Booyah 1-ounce spinnerbait with a Yum Pulse swimbait as a trailer.
You'll find plenty of extra skirts for spinnerbaits in Christie's boat.
You’ll find plenty of extra skirts for spinnerbaits in Christie’s boat. “I change them according to conditions,” he said. “I may change them based on water color or water temperature. But I usually have all of that worked out before the tournament. I don’t change them a lot during the day.”
In the right rod locker, you'll find a little bit of everything. He carries  hats, an extra tournament jersey and a helmet, among other things.
In the right rod locker, you’ll find a little bit of everything. He carries hats, an extra tournament jersey and a helmet, among other things.
When he's running 70 mph — especially in harsh weather conditions — a helmet is a necessity.
When he’s running 70 mph — especially in harsh weather conditions — a helmet is a necessity.
Also in the right locker, Christie carries a day box that he says serves as his catch-all box.
Also in the right locker, Christie carries a day box that he says serves as his catch-all box. “There some of the things in there that I may use for that day,” he said. “I’ll also put some of the things that I take off during the day in there. It’s just kind of the box that catches everything. I put my stuff away to be organized. I don’t really throw it in the floor, but that’s where it goes.”
The right rod locker seems like an odd place to keep a container of Blue Bunny Ice Cream.
The right rod locker seems like an odd place to keep a container of Blue Bunny Ice Cream.
But the container is actually filled with Christie's
But the container is actually filled with Christie’s “secret good luck jerky.” As much as Christie enjoys deer hunting, it’s a good bet that venison is part of the secret.
This box is filled with a rainbow array of Sharpies.
This box is filled with a rainbow array of Sharpies. “That’s mostly for modifying colors on baits,” Christie said. “They’re also for autographs whenever somebody may want one. I keep a few screwdrivers in the same box to tighten screws on reels or whatever may need it.”
As a Garmin pro, Christie always has a couple of Garmin Virb cameras on his boat to capture live action.
As a Garmin pro, Christie always has a couple of Garmin Virb cameras on his boat to capture live action.
A closer look at the day box proves that it really does hold a little bit of everything.
A closer look at the day box proves that it really does hold a little bit of everything.
Christie likes to keep bulk portions of plastic baits in Ziploc bags.
Christie likes to keep bulk portions of plastic baits in Ziploc bags. “I get those in bulk because I use a lot of them,” he said. “It’s just easier when you’ve got a hundred in a pack as opposed to 10.”
There's a reason why all of Christie's important paperwork is rolled into a cylinder...
There’s a reason why all of Christie’s important paperwork is rolled into a cylinder…
He keeps that paperwork in this clear tube with a black cap.
He keeps that paperwork in this clear tube with a black cap. “That’s for my registration, insurance — anything that I may need for a new state or a new lake,” he said.
Dyes are also kept in a plastic bin to avoid messy spills.
Dyes are also kept in a plastic bin to avoid messy spills.
A small storage compartment carries miscellaneous items like bottled water and clothing to help Christie stay warm.
A small storage compartment carries miscellaneous items like bottled water and clothing to help Christie stay warm. “In the wintertime, I use it for sock hats, beanies, gloves and hand warmers,” he said “Then in the summer, I use it for ice and water.”
Like many pros on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Christie runs two graphs on his console.
Like many pros on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Christie runs two graphs on his console.
As he does on the bow, he uses a Garmin 7612 and 7610 on the console.
As he does on the bow, he uses a Garmin 7612 and 7610 on the console.
He uses the console rigs a little differently than the bow rigs.
He uses the console rigs a little differently than the bow rigs. “I use the 7612 split with mapping and 2D sonar,” he said. “Then I use the 7610 for down view and side view.”
Another small compartment between the seats holds a little bit of everything, including a Power Pole remote, Chapstick, chewing gum, buffs, soap, sunblock and scales.
Another small compartment between the seats holds a little bit of everything, including a Power Pole remote, Chapstick, chewing gum, buffs, soap, sunblock and scales.
Christie keeps a Picasso Cull Buddy System in his livewell, but he uses it selectively.
Christie keeps a Picasso Cull Buddy System in his livewell, but he uses it selectively. “I use it as I think I’ll need it,” he said. “If I catch a 5-pounder right off the bat, I don’t tag that one. It depends on the lake. If we’re on a lake like St. Clair where we’re going to catch a lot of 3- to 3 1/2-pounders, I tag them. But on a lot of the lakes, I kind of put the big ones on one side and the little ones on the other. I worry about culling when the time comes.”
In the box behind passenger’s seat, Christie carries two spare life jackets for marshals and cameramen. He also has duct tape, WD-40 and chemicals to help keep fish alive.
In the box behind passenger’s seat, Christie carries two spare life jackets for marshals and cameramen. He also has duct tape, WD-40 and chemicals to help keep fish alive.
In the box behind the driver’s seat, Christie keeps his life jacket, rain gear, an extra sweatshirt, a prop wrench and the
In the box behind the driver’s seat, Christie keeps his life jacket, rain gear, an extra sweatshirt, a prop wrench and the “ever-so-needed toilet paper.”
He carries a push pole behind the seats.
He carries a push pole behind the seats. “I always carry it because you never know when you’re gonna need it,” Christie said. “You might need it for pushing. You might need it for fighting off snakes. You just never know.”
Inside a crowded battery box, Christie carries a spare prop for the outboard and spare props for the trolling motor.
Inside a crowded battery box, Christie carries a spare prop for the outboard and spare props for the trolling motor.
He carries a box of tools with anything he might need in an emergency.
He carries a box of tools with anything he might need in an emergency.
He also carries the all-important rope.
He also carries the all-important rope. “I carry a long rope in case I need to be towed or in case I need to tow somebody,” he said.
Another look at the front of the boat and his many sponsor logos.
Another look at the front of the boat and his many sponsor logos.
An 8-inch Atlas Jack plate from T-H Marine and 8-foot Power Poles can be found on the back of his rig.

8-foot Power Poles.
An 8-inch Atlas Jack plate from T-H Marine and 8-foot Power Poles can be found on the back of his rig.

8-foot Power Poles.

Thanks for the tour, Jason!
Thanks for the tour, Jason!