Just bought a 2004 Lowe Tahiti Sun Cruiser 194 and I plan to be fishing a lot out of it. What are some must haves for boat fishing? And also let me see some of yalls set ups for some ideas on rod holders and such

Bee Ready rod holders are the only must have.

I have both bee ready and driftmasters on mine and like both. You need 2-3 different size drift socks, a couple of Texas box anchors, 6-12 rods, a decent graph, and deep hole cast net if you plan on chaising bluecats often.

Drift socks and rod holders as previously mentioned are a must! I used Monster Rod Holders and they do well for me.

Moster Rod Holders - Heavey Duty 33.5

A few other things to think about:

• Small ice chest dedicated for bait - shad are slimy

• Cutting board and a dedicated bait knife - help keep things clean

• Few dozen rags - I prefer the kind with carabiners so they don't blow out of the boat

• A set of hookouts and a catfish grabber for the small ones - I've been to the ER for that...

• Headlamps and a spotlight for night fishing

• A good fillet knife for your catch

If you plan on running setlines like jugs or trots, that's another list of gear...

Your most valuable tool is going to be a box anchor. After loosing too many fluke anchors to rocky lake bottoms, I visited a welder friend and got him to build one for me. $15 worth of flat bar, an hour or so of cutting, grinding and welding, and I had a 14" box anchor. They hold on any bottom and release when you need them to.
Also, be sure you have enough rod holders for the number of rods you are going to fish. I can put five driftmasters on each side of my Seaark and have a trolling bar across the back for six more. There are some quality rod holders out there. Stay away from the plastic ones like Academy sells.

I'm certainly not one to be advising anyone on this question but here is where I'm at in rigging mine. I fished with numerous guides since becoming landlocked in Central Texas. I decided what I liked and what I didn't with their rigging and techniques. I can't add much more than already said but I will second the box anchor front and back. Drift socks should be on every boat, good plastic dipped net, cutting board, and a large mesh cast net. Oh, and a Helix 12 w side scan is THA BOMB. Next add will be a nice trolling motor. Now if the dang crappie would quit biting I'd go catfishing.

5# box anchor will hold a battle ship
Anchor line needs to be 3X expected depth
Horizontal distance makes a box dig in deep

Looks like your gettin that boat rigged up right Curtis...no doubt it'll make a fine catfishin rig if you ever quit jiggin for baitfish! Lmao.

The most important item on a Catfish boat in my opinion is good strong quality rod holders. These from Monster Rod Holders are the best I have found.

http://monsterrodholders.com/shop/3345-rod-holder-with-economy-base-included/

Damn my bait tastes good! Much better than the usual shad. BTW, I see you live by the " don't put that soap in my boat" rule!

Those Bee Readys aint nothing to sneeze at
MANY will attest to that,all stainless steel really means something
MRH is a new kid in the game,you need a Bee Ready fail to move to their team
That aint happening I promise

The boat I'm running now had bee readys when I got it from previous owner. I tried them for about 6 months before switching to monsters. I know Bee Readys work for a lot of people, they just ain't for me.

Honeybuns, beef jerky and coffee!!!

No it won't Sarge...

Oh and Bee Ready rod holders are good but you do need to add some medium strength threadlocker to the screws of the rail mounted ones or they will get you in a jam!!!

And I'm gonna go ahead and get me some of these Jerry!!

Without Jerky and Honeybuns there would be a lot of hungry fisherman.. Get a good landing net from the get go that can handle monster fish. You will snap the cheapies like a toothpick when you try and boat anything over 35lbs. These aren't cheap but they are made in the USA and can haul in monsters no problemo.

I use 34lb and 22lb box anchors, and I have 500 ft of anchor rope. Usually you can get by with less weight, and length, but somedays that's not even enough.

A short length of chain will also help it stay set.

My must have (MinnKota Riptide w/I-Pilot) period
No more anchors or wind socks needed

No way your fishing the rollers with just I pilot and no way your keeping tight lines with spot lock...period.

Got some video to prove it! 25mph winds three foot rollers taken em over the front and haven't been blown off a spot yet and if your in the back of the boat you can have tight lines. I'm a from way back !

My lines are always tight I'm vertical fishing live bait!!!!

Touch� my friend good stuff right there! Im the other boat out there fishing the rollers

Build a better box then,they aint all square tine design makes all the difference(s)

Sarg... Can you post a pic of your box design?

Up! I would love to find a better design box anchor. Photo please. Thanks!

Don't believe he has one, at least it doesn't seem like it!! Lol

Dang Tom, bust my bubble. Lol!

I was hoping to see it before I went and spent $600 on a windlass this fall!!!!

It's the brief interludes of horrible sanity that divide the smart grey guys from the elusive 5# box anchor.

Y'all are crazy!! 5lb box anchor holds my battleship just fine!

Yep! I can see his core strength! Musta been lifting 12 ouncers! Sweet ride!

+1

Every boat "must have" some SLIME!

NOW you know how CNN gets away with it

WOW!! they figured out media led them astray again
Easy to find those drowning in social media,they have no life without a keyboard
Like a bunch of turd sucking channel cats,suck it up and run . . . . .

your gonna need some pies....

I agree with Sam, and I can say this, I bought us all those dozen pies with the intentions of them making it through the day, but we had all 12 pies eaten in about 15 mins. It was epic, but caused a few coma's in the boat that day.
Sam and I were rushing around to lay claim to our 4, as Regan was in a frenzy, eating all he could get his hands on.

Got em in... Lol!!

And this isn't necessarily a catfish boat must have, but I finally broke down at the end of the trophy season this year and built a launch and load ladder. No more teeter-tottering on the nose of this thing...

Looking good Rick!!! No more dangling from one arm off the front of Optimus while you watch your phone slide down the ramp into the water......

Slick Rick be at it again! Redneck injenuity as its finest!

Dude is kind of a wizard at that stuff. The craftsmanship in some of his little projects is impressive.

Sweet! I had that exact boat for years. Mine wasn't as rigged. Does yours have the double lid hatch up front? Hell of a boat that I wish I still had. Where's the little air boat?

Right!!!

Tommy, when I get in the back yard, I turn into Inspector Gadget with a Torch sometimes... Thanks buddy!!!

Thanks!!! Cool Curtis and yes mine has the double lid hatch up front pardner. As for the little airboat, That thing sucked!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!! And I have never seen my wife hate something soooooooooooo bad Lol!!! Long story short, the company I bought the little engine from ended up buying it back from me and they we're the best!!!! I kept the little boat and ended up scrapping half the frame and rebuilt sections of it. I added a little t-tops too it, lol but I haven't got it all finished yet.





When I get these dern honeydoos done, I'm gonna try to get back on it and add a little Suzuki fuel injected outboard engine to it with hydraulic steering I think. But I'm not totally sure yet. I gotta get the wifes stuff done, add on another section to my boat storage and then get back on it. It might have to wait until next summer though. Lol! I am thinking about starting Toad chasing a wee bit earlier this year.

Thats a good pic...

Man that's some sweet bends. You obviously have a calculator and the bend formula. Real nice! I think the rig needs a 250 Yammahammer! That should get you there quick!

Prime STOP making stuff..... go ahead and fish during the summer months.... now that being said i have been told that during july when its cookin after 11pm the big ones come out and suspend......... and can be caught....the trick is staying awake all night I got friends that do it.....

Tell us more big Sam!!

I did a little bit of that two years ago Sam, but I had to quit. Turned out, I was gettin follered and the followers we're eatin my toad blue kitty for suppy!!!

I understand completely Mr Prime I quit also ..... i gotta take heart meds and as the summer sun gets stronger i begin to hibernate ... i dont like it either... i dont dig the " followers" either hacking the big ones but thats my personal opinion only...you can hack em if ya want just don't complain to me when there is none left...