Inside Elite Boats: David Mullins

Check out the full rig that David Mullins drives and competes in during Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments. Mullins is a native of Tennessee, and he has been an Elite angler since 2014.

Mullinsâ tow vehicle is a stock Chevy Silverado 2500.

A Triton 21 TrX powered by a 250 horsepower Mercury Verado is Mullinsâ office.

A Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor is fixed to the nose of the Triton.

The transducer strapped to the bottom of the Ultrex provides bottom readings to the Garmin graph mounted on the boatâs bow. The transducer strapped to the side of the motor is for Garminâs Panoptix display.

A T-H Marine G-Force ELIMINATOR Trolling Motor Prop Nut reduces noise and vibrations from the trolling motorâs prop.

The GPS puck for the Ultrex is mounted on the bow next to the trolling motor. The Ultrex has an independent GPS system.

Mullins has the Panoptix transducer angled down. This allows him to see what is in front of the boat, including the bottom, on his graph.

The knob on the side of the Panoptix transducer lets you adjust its angle. Here it is pointed straight down to show what is under the boat.

A mount for the Panoptix transducer is also fixed to the trolling motor shaft. Mullins moves the transducer to this location when he needs to see exclusively what is in front of the motor.

A T-H Marine Troll-Tamer Trolling Motor Stabilizer Lock prevents the trolling motor from bouncing during rough-water boat rides.

A recess on the front deck holds the Ultrexâs foot control pedal.

The control buttons for the Power-Poles are fixed well to the right and above the trolling motor foot pedal. This reduces the chance of stepping on them incidentally.

A host of switches on the Tritonâs bow let you control many functions without the need to step back to the console.

The bow graph is securely supported with a BoatLogix mount.

The single graph on the bow is a 16-inch Garmin GPSMAP XSV.

The front deck of Mullinsâ boat is open for business.

Mullins opens the large rod locker on the passenger side of his boat.

He pulls one of his rods from the rod locker.

Mullins holds two of his workhorse rods. One is a 7-foot, medium-light Doomsday 47 spinning rod with a Shimano Stradic 3000 reel filled with 12-pound Sunline FX Braid with a 7-pound Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon leader. The other is a Doomsday 7-foot, 8-inch, heavy-action flipping rod sporting a Shimano Metanium MGL reel filled with 20-pound Sunline Shooter Fluorocarbon.

Also in the rod box is a Tiptons 1-pound Golden Retriever plug knocker attached to a makeshift tool comprised of a broken rod, an old reel and duck decoy braid.

The plug knocker rests below the rod holders in the rod locker.

Receptacles in the front of the rod locker prevent tangled rods.

Drink holders adjacent to the rod locker also serve to catch odds and ends.

The large middle locker on the front deck holds an ample amount of tackle.

This locker typically holds more tackle, but Mullins has partially emptied the boat to sell it. This is his 2018 boat and he is about to switch to a 2019 model.

The locker on the driverâs side of the front deck is long enough for rods, but Mullins uses it to store other gear.

Mullins is prepared for whatever happens on the water.

Among this gear is a spare hat in case one blows off his head while runningâ¦

â¦Frog Toggs rain gearâ¦

â¦DockStix to prevent scratches when the boat is secured to a dockâ¦

â¦and a primary and a spare lifejacket.

The running lights are out of the way yet readily accessible in holders in this locker.

The tool holder next to the driverâs side locker keeps a measuring board handy, yet out of the way.

Below the front deck is a large cooler that also serves as a step.

Next to the cooler is a shelf to collect lures and other odds and ends. Below the shelf is a dry storage drawer.

Connected to the T-H Marine Hotfoot is the electric throttle for the Mercury Verado outboard.

The shifter for the Verado may be used as a shifter only, or it may also be used for throttle control.

Adjacent to the ignition key next to the console are controls for the Power-Poles and the Pro Air System for the livewells.

Mounted to the console is a pair of 16-inch Garmin GPSMAP XSV graphs.

Control levers for the trim-and-tilt and the hydraulic jack plate are mounted to the steering wheel column and can be operated with both hands on the steering wheel.

The view of the console from the driverâs seat.

Mullins is tall enough to see over the graphs on his console.

The graphs on the console are supported by a single BoatLogix mount.

Between the seats is another handy dry storage locker.

Inside are items needed for driving and for culling fish.

These items include, non-penetrating cull markers, A T-H Marine G-Force balance beamâ¦

â¦spare Costa sunglassesâ¦

â¦a cleaner for the graphsâ¦

â¦and another essential cleaner for emergencies.

The passenger seat has a retractable handle to help with rough-water boat rides.

Rod holders with a strap keep the passengerâs rods from tangling and bouncing out of the boat.

Mullins opens the large storage compartment behind the driverâs seat.

Inside is the fire extinguisher. The slots are usually filled with tackle boxes, but they have been removed prior to selling the boat.

The two deep livewells are located between the seats.

The livewells will keep a heavy limit of bass alive and healthy.

Mullins opens the storage box behind the passenger seat.

It also has slots for flat tackle boxes that are normally full when Mullins competes in a tournament.

Mullins opens the rear compartment on the back deck.

Inside this compartment are five batteries (one is a spare starter battery) hydraulic pumps for the Power-Poles and a four-bank battery charger.

Mullins is lovinâ his Power-Poles.

An Atlas jack plate allows Mullins to raise or lower his outboard on the transom as needed.

The Garmin CV52 transducer fixed to the transom provides side viewing, down viewing and 2D views.

Mullins dotes on the Mercury Verado that powers his boat. He especially likes how quiet the motor is.

Mullins and his rig, ready to rumble.