When Zona came out with signature rods a few years back and they were all spin rods, I almost cried man. I was like, My old bud's gone around the bend! He's all tea 'n crumpets now! Is he a vegan too?? 🤣

Okay not really, but I for sure was a little relieved to see he has 2 new signature casting rods. That was my excuse to get him in here, let's go:

1. What up with these new(ish) Zona signature baitcasting rods?

> "Basically they are the perfect actions...whether it's the Finesse Jig/Ocho Rod or the Swim Jig Rod. The Swim Jig Rod especially is not only one of the best swim-jig rods I've ever used – several different people have had their hands in getting those tapers correct – it is one of the most versatile all-around baitcaster rods in the Lew's signature lineup.

> "The main thing I can say about both rods is [something that's] very hard to find – they're great for the technique written on the rod, but most of all they're unbelievably versatile to where you can do several different things with both."

2. Do you think forward-facing sonar is causing more use of finesse techniques or just showing how effective those techniques really are?

> "It's definitely showing more use of finesse techniques, but at the same time it's also proving how quickly offshore fish become conditioned to forward-facing sonar [FFS]. They become very conditioned.

> "I'll give you an example. If I was offshore fishing suspended fish 2 years ago – fish in 30' over 60' of water – I would catch 9 out of 10. Now I catch 1 out of 10.

> "...I have watched some of the masters with FFS, and when they hook one they're very aware of not keeping their beam pointed at the others. I believe they – and definitely myself – feel that once you really pressure them with FFS, they absolutely can feel that beam."

3. What is the biggest change you've seen in Elite Series competitors since you muscled your way into the Tommy Sanders gang?

> "[Laughs] ...I started back when you could be Kevin VanDam a cranker, or you could be Denny Brauer a flipper, you could be Dean Rojas a sight-fishing frogger. [Now] you can't do that. If you're a 1-trick pony and just okay at the other stuff, you're fixing to get every single tooth in your mouth kicked in. You have to be good at everything everywhere you go.

> "What I've seen the most is that the anglers that come out of college right now are completely prepared to not do okay at the Elite level, they are prepared to come and hurt you at the Elite Series level.

> "...sure there's been a Jordan Lee here or a Jay Przekurat there, even back in the day a Derek Remitz...it used to be you'd see one of those anomalies here and there. But you see that all the time now.

> "It's not shocking to see a rookie or a sophomore come in and always hang in the top 10 throughout the season. It's almost the norm instead of the rare, where it used to be the rare instead of the norm. And they know they're that good."

Couple weeks ago I went out to IA – aka, the land of dumb bass because no one fishes for 'em – to get a sneak peek at the new Minn Kota trollers, meet the MK folks and get a tour of their ginormous manufacturing plant. After all that I can say: It's REAL tough to beat the deep jig bite in IA.

😆 Okay yep that's true but about the MK deal:

• The motors are real impressive. Like if you stepped on one you would be impressed no matter what motor you're running now.
• They are brushless, but not only. They rebuilt the whole deal (for some motors) and call the new platform: QUEST. Took 2-3 years to get to here.
• The MK folks actually tournament bass-fish, so they're not just peeps building stuff for folks they don't know anything about.
• After seeing the 100% American manufacturing of those MK motors, plus the R&D, I have a new understanding of why these deals cost what they do – meaning the new/best ones. The "lower" models will still be made.

That said, here's a few more tiddybits – it's hard to communicate it all because it's not really just a new trolling motor, and if you spent time with it in a boat you would get more out of it. In no particular order:

1. QUEST models of Ultrex include all of the same updates as brushed options with the addition of an all new technology platform: QUEST. QUEST gives anglers everything they love about Ultrex with a more robust and powerful brushless motor capable of enduring the most punishing environments.

QUEST Technology availability: Ultrex, Ulterra, Instinct, Terrova, Riptide Terrova.

2. New features for Ultrex models:

> Enhanced GPS Suite Including Drift Mode [you can program a drift, like making your own current and]...combats current and wind by automatically adjusting speed and direction to keep the boat on a true drift. Drift Mode acts as a gps drift sock.... [If my notes are right, you do NOT need a Humminbird unit to run drift mode...?]

> Out of the box connection to Humminbird via the One-Boat Network by including all necessary adapters required for networking without additional need for setup.

> One app for everything [no longer multiple apps] – The One-Boat Network App can control everything on the boat from the trolling motor and shallow water anchors to the Humminbird head units.

> Enhanced Built-in 2D Sonar with Dual Spectrum CHIRP adds Humminbird’s sonar clarity to every Minn Kota motor.

3. 30% longer runtime and 50% greater torque (torque = more control, sheds weeds better_

4. For the 36v motor, you can go from 36v to 24v if a battery goes down.

5. Redesigned and upgraded mount NOT for weight but because of the torque increase.

6. New lift assist makes dropping in and pulling out easier.

7. Carbon fiber-infused shaft that is NOT round – helps with transducer brackets staying true.

8. Improved battery life with a real-time battery monitoring system, option to enter a power-saving "eco mode" when batteries get to 20%. Also updated props.

9. MSRP for QUESTs: $3699.99-$4199.99. MSRP for brushed motors: $2999.99-$3499.99. I think this is about $500 more overall? Available July 1.

Here's a little vid rundown of SOME of what's new, on the BB YT:

A few more things from my notes:

1. Elitist Bob Downey says he's 1-1.2 mph faster with new motor and weedless prop. With the new power prop add 0.2-0.4 mph more. He runs a Bass Cat Eyra fyi.

2. Someone said they went from mostly running at about 40% power on the old motor to 15-20% on new one and get the same speed.

3. It's WAY quieter.

4. Minn Kota still will have/make brushed motors.

5. I didn't know this: Minn Kota made the first troller in 1934, also had the first lift assist, the first GPS, the first remote control and the first integrated transducer.

6. It's incredible how much investment goes into developing and testing a new motor. Aside from all the engineering and software, they stress-test every thing – water, saltwater, heat, UV, cold, etc and use robots like this one:

How Brett caught 'em:

> Dirtier water protected many of his fish...but it did make them harder to catch. ...in addition to using a flogger, Carnright had to catch some with his ActiveTarget alone.

> "...I knew my best bet was to sit there with ActiveTarget and catch those fish. I was able to catch all the fish I had marked, and I actually found a few bonus ones.

> “You have to be really strategic with which fish you catch. You have to hope they’re not leaving, and during this tournament a lot of fish acted like they wanted to leave. ...with the cooler weather this spring, probably the biggest wave of fish the lake had came this week.”

He dropshotted a Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm for spawners, and fished a Megabass Spark Shad on a 3/16-oz head for post-spawners.

The Top 10's baits broken down:

Dropshot = 40% – MaxScent Flat Worm 20%, Samatis Baits HTW (Hollow Tip Worm), Strike King Baby Z Too

Check cuz Ryan with that HTW in the color "burnt retina" (okay I made that color up):

Small swimbait = 40% – Megabass Spark Shad 20%, Keitech Fat 20%

Topwater = 30% – 13 Fishing Power Slide, One Knocker Spook, Super Spook Jr

Ned rig = 20% – Samatis HTW, Berkley MaxScent Lil Trooper

Wacky rig = 20% – both Yamamoto Senkos

10% each = Finesse jig, Jig, Crankbait, Jerkbait

This one got a lotta views – I wonder why? 🤔

Adrian Avena got his win, he flogged to do it (what's a flogger?), another Z-Man mopin' win (in June! in OK!), heavy soft-plastics ARE a thing and...maybe how to STOP any CHEATING going on?

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