Unfortunately most of us don't have a repair crew waiting to fix our boats as soon as we get them off the water. If I tear something up I may be out of commission for a few weeks.

+1

If I was fishing for 1/2 Million in a sponsored boat, I would probably be fearless in how and where I go also. As it stands, I fish for a couple hundred in a boat that I bought and paid for with my money, and I incur all costs of tearing up my stuff. Therefore, I idle a lot if I am not sure where I am going and the hazards that may be there.

+1

That is exactly why I asked about this. The TBF Divisional is there in June. If I made the state team, is it worth the damage that could happen? I try to turn a boat every couple of years, I don't think it's worth it to tear up my equipment (09 Z520). Call me a wuss, but I don't have a fiberglass shop as a sponsor.

I have to say, I live in Bossier City and I don't do the river. At any time you could crater your trolling motor, hull or anything else expensive. I know several guys who regularly fish the river and their boats always look beat up.
Of course if I was in a boat that Skeeter, Ranger or Legend gave to me or if I was a serious contender for 500k I would consider it a cost of doing business.

The Red river is a place where you are going to hit things, run shallow water, and all the stuff no one wants to put a boat through to get to fish. The best thing you can do is go out there and take your time and learn it..slowly. that way you don't have to stay puckered up the whole time you fish a Tournament and need to move. you have to get back in those places to find fish, the key is to do it the right way and limit the damage.

"if you can't see it you can't hit it" has turned into "if you can't se it then its not there." Unfortunately it has a big down side. Makes you want to buy a used Elite Series boat.....lol.

U can run on plane all the way to cris lanes spot in pool 4 where he caught the 6+. Not a single stump