Inside Elite Boats Interview with Jesse Wiggins

After two victories in Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens during the past year and a pair of successful events to start the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series, it’s time for this rookie to get ready for the biggest fishing tournament of his life, the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

But you’d never know it if you met Jesse Wiggins. He’s a down-to-earth guy from Cullman, Ala., and pretty happy when we show up to get a tour of his 2017 Bass Cat Puma.

We start on the front of the deck, where Jesse has been doing quite well in the past two years (winning two Opens, and finishing third and 40th in his first two Elite Series events).

Jesse runs a Minn Kota trolling motor.

Currently a Fortrex, but…

…he is extremely excited about what’s sitting in his garage. The new Minn Kota Ultrex is certainly igniting a lot of enthusiasm among anglers these days.

Jesee is a TH Marine pro (if you can’t tell by his shirt), and he really loves the KVD Kong mounts that hold his electronics on the front of the boat and at the driver’s console.

He also has a Hydrowave H2 ready to go whenever he wants to fire up the bite.

Jesse had just finished guiding all day on Smith Lake when I showed up, so he didn’t get a chance to clean his screen. He loves the Lowrance HDS 12, not only for its size but its 3D Structure Scan.

Another thing Jesse is passionate about is this G Force trolling motor cord and handle. “This thing is invincible!”

Here’s a look at the back of Wiggins’ boat.

Another important part of Jesse’s boat is the Atlas jackplate. He said he really needed it in some skinny water at Okeechobee a few weeks ago.

Jesse is one of two Elite Series anglers who have a Honda Marine motor. The other is Paul Elias. Jesse has been really impressed with the reliability and fuel economy of the Honda.

Two critical elements to his early season success were the twin Power-Pole blades on the back of his boat. He didn’t use them much on Cherokee Lake, but they got a workout in Florida.

This umbrella rig monstrosity was on the back of his boat. He said this chandelier will catch ’em on Smith Lake.

I told him to take it to Conroe and ask B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon if he could use it in the Classic. He laughed and said he’d just leave it at home.

Another Kong mount keeps one of the two HDS 12s in the right spot behind the console.

Under the console are the killswitch, some speakers and a well-placed cup holder.

These cool handles light up at night, but we couldn’t really test that out in the early Alabama afternoon.

Anyone who starts out on the Elite Series has to look for sponsorship help, and Jesse was fortunate to find some local companies to help make his dream come true.

This may be a new boat, and Jesse may be a young guy, but don’t let that fool you. This guy’s been fishing for a long time, and he’s got the rusty tools to prove it.

One of the best parts of seeing Jesse’s boat was his…interesting… tackle management solutions. Such as this open cardboard box for his soft plastics.

Hey man, it works for me.

Under his soft plastics are more baits, jigs and hooks.

These are the hooks that helped Jesse to a 40th-place finish at Okeechobee.

I’m not going to say Jesse needs a tackle storage sponsor, but I will say that some of his boxes have some real character.

He ties on Seaguar 12-pound test almost exclusively. It works in a lot of situations for him.

One of Jesse’s favorite topwater lures to walk-the-dog with is the Jenko Fishing Fleabag 110.

Another one of his favorites is the Jenko CD Squared.

Jesse made this in Vacation Bible School when he was a kid, and his mom gave it to him to put in his boat.

Seems to be working for him, so it made it over to the new Bass Cat.

Jesse keeps his spare line in a Wal-Mart grocery bag.

It provides easy access and holds a good amount of product. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

More boxes…

Jigs…

Jesse’s box of big baits. His Spro rat has seen some things in Smith Lake.

Jesse keeps an eclectic collection of larger hard baits in here.

The rust doesn’t bother Jesse â when it’s time to use those specific baits he’s going to change the hooks anyway. Why waste time removing hooks? Also adds some character to his tackle storage.

This Jenko Rip Knocker 75 is new enough to still be in plastic. Jesse will fix that soon enough.

On to the rods and reels on the deck of his boat. He had about 10 out after a day on Smith Lake.

Jesse uses Shimano reels paired with one of his new sponsors…

St. Croix rods.

Jesse is extremely happy to have St. Croix in his corner.

He told me how much he likes all of the Legend Series.

Including this cranking rod.

With all the rods out, he could show me some more critical components on his boat.

This tool box has seen some days on and off the water, for sure.

These channellocks recently changed his prop, and he wouldn’t leave the house without them.

Sometimes a Phillips-head screwdriver is the only thing between you and cashing a check.

Never hurts to have an extra trolling motor prop.

And, of course, duct tape.

Important to have a spare life vest for anyone else who jumps in the boat.

In the compartment in front of the Jesse sits the Structure Scan 3D box and a fire extinguisher.

Under Jesse’s seat is his first-aid kit. He still works as a respiratory therapist so he clearly knows how to use medical equipment too.

And some more tools that came with his Bass Cat. Never hurts to have a backup.

He hasn’t used it yet, but he is looking forward to trying out the G Force culling system by TH Marine on Conroe in a few weeks.

Hopefully some monster bass will be hanging from it soon enough.

He keeps a pair of jumper cables on board in case he needs to give his trolling motor batteries a jumpstart.

More baits under the passenger seat, including this Jenko 8-inch Sticky Spoon, which adds a hook in the middle to catch any fish that sideswipe it.

He says these gigantic swimbaits work great on Tennessee River lakes.

The Booty Shaker!

Behind the passenger seat is an anchor and some rope…

And a spare weigh-in bag.

The cooler is full of water and ice from the morning on Smith Lake. Jesse really likes how the handle for the cooler is separate from the lid so it doesn’t transfer heat into it.