Inside Elite Boats: Keith Combs

Here is Keith Combs’ 2014 Ranger Z521C. It’s a battleship that’s powered by a 250-horse Yamaha VMAX SHO.

When he’s trolling, Combs relies on a 112-pound thrust Minn Kota Fortrex.

Here’s the transducer for the Humminbird 360 Imaging he uses.

On the front of his front deck are twin Humminbird 1198 units. The unit on the right is dedicated to the 360 Imaging. The other is used for mapping and 2-D sonar.

Here’s Combs’ work space along the Bassmaster Elite Series, and in those Toyota Texas Bass Classics he’s so fond of winning.

In the port side rod locker Combs carries about 15 rods at any given time. The rod socks stay on his sticks at all times. “You can double your rod capacity with them and you don’t mess up your line with nicks and cuts,” he says.

Here he grabs one.

This is typical of his cooler box on most tournament days; jerky, an energy drink and some water.

Although it looks empty, Combs’ center box is full until tournament day. “In practice I fill this up, but when the tournament comes around I take out all the stuff I’m not going to use and put just the lightweight stuff up here to make my boat run faster,” he says.

Along the sides of this hulking box are spools of line, some main line and other to be used as leader.

Down in the middle is an assortment of Strike King crankbaits, plastics and jigs.

Creature baits occupy this box.

Here is his terminal tackle box. Combs prefers Owner hooks.

Although these are usually in their own box, Combs grabbed them from his truck at the last minute so they’re still in the package.

Combs’ boat is neat and tidy. He likes to be efficient when searching for something on the water.

Plugs, plugs, plugs!

Check out how much some of these have been loved on. Also, note the olive ones with custom Sharpie markings.

These are some of his favorite KVD squarebill colors.

He carries around some of his 2.5s without hooks so he can hold more in a box and reduce tangles.

In the starboard rod locker is a PFD, a helmet for running in crummy weather…

…a butt seat, jumper cables, a paddle and a spare PFD.

You know theweather is bad when Combs dons this sucker.

Directly in front of his console is rain gear…

…and some extra clothes. “I usually take three different kinds for different conditions, and also an extra in case one gets completely soaked,” he says.

Here he is at the console.

This is a Tournament Saver Pro jumping system. If Combs’ cranking batteries ever go dead, all he has to do is push this button to momentarily get power from his trolling batteries.

The graph at Combs’ console is usually split between 2-D sonar and Side Imaging. This mount is a factory Ranger one.

The box between the seats has necessities for culling and signing autographs.

He’ll record weight of fish on this notepad so he never makes a mistake when culling.

On the lid that covers his livewell is his culling system. “I always have five of them in here at the start of each day. That way I tag each fish and never have six in the well,” he says. ” I do keep six tags in the boat, and I’ll put two tags on the smallest fish.”