Ott DeFoe Utilizes One-Boat Network® to Unlock Hometown Lake and Win 2019 Bassmaster Classic

It’s a testament to how far fishing technology has come in the past decade that a pro angler who grew up fishing on a lake in his own backyard, can use his trolling motor and fish finder to unlock hot spots he never knew existed on the very same lake he perfected those skills.

That’s exactly what Minn Kota and Humminbird pro angler Ott DeFoe accomplished earlier this year when he was crowned the 2019 Bassmaster Classic Champ on the Tennessee River, and he knows without his One-Boat Network® products from Minn Kota and Humminbird, things could have ended up much differently.

“Even on a river I know so well, my fish finder and trolling motor were critical to my success,” DeFoe said.

“For me, it started with mapping using the Humminbird FishSmart app on my phone, which I used to identify likely spots for the conditions we were facing. Once I have that data as my baseline, I can make every cast count with the help of my Humminbird 360 and Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor.”

DeFoe got off to a strong start on day one of the tournament catching 20 pounds by fishing offshore rock structures identified by 360 Imaging^® on his Humminbird HELIX 12 bow unit. The structures were subtle, but with the help of his LakeMaster Map, Ott could notice the transitions and quickly drop his Ultrex, hit Spot-Lock and start loading up his live well.

Another factor throwing a wrench in Ott’s previous knowledge of his hometown river were the constantly changing weather and current conditions over the course of the three-day tournament. However, after moving to an outside marina on the third and final day, his One-Boat Network again allowed him to notice something the other 52 anglers missed.

“With the marina, Humminbird 360 played a big part because there were little steps that stuck out from the break wall and that’s where most of those fish were holding,” DeFoe said.

“Regardless of the current or wind, I was able to hit Spot-Lock on my Ultrex and make cast after cast at those steps with my 360 Imaging operating the whole time no matter the direction my trolling motor was facing.”

Utilizing his Minn Kota Ultrex^® trolling motor and Humminbird HELIX units, DeFoe was able to navigate the full perimeter of the marina en route to an 18 pound, 15-ounce bag on the final day and ultimate four lbs. victory over Jacob Wheeler.

“It’s so still very surreal that this has come and gone,” said DeFoe.

“I’ve lived here, I’ve fished here my whole life, but with Spot-Lock and being to see exactly what’s going on under the water with my 360, I knew exactly where to make every cast. That was a huge deal for me in this tournament, and I know if you pick one up for yourself it will be for you too.”

With more than 130 years of experience and countless innovations between the two brands, Minn and Humminbird and continually relied on and trusted by the best of the best, especially when everything is on the line!