The 620VS, part of Ranger’s acclaimed Fisherman Series, proved to be the perfect multispecies platform. Rigged with planer boards, the duo trolled crankbaits as slow as one mile per hour to secure a seven-fish limit on both days of the event.
“They’re not used to seeing planer boards down there but my 620 handled the Southern reservoir just as well as it does any Northern lake,” said Skarlis. “My boat is kind of like me, I guess. It doesn’t care what species it is, it just wants to catch fish, and it has the layout and fishing features to go after them all.”
With the win, Skarlis and Steinfeldt claimed a pair of fully rigged prize boats and $1,344 for weighing in the largest crappie of the tournament (2.67 pounds). They now take the crappie-fishing world’s biggest honor back with them to their native Iowa. “The fact that we did a bunch of stuff we’d never done before and with the learning curve and the newness of it all, I don’t know if I truly understand the magnitude of this feeling,” Skarlis said.
Historically a tournament dominated by Southern anglers, Skarlis and Steinfeldt also became the northern-most anglers to win the Crappie Masters National Championship, which they did by a margin of more than two pounds.
About Ranger Boats
Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation’s premier manufacturer of legendary fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, which include series of bass, multi-species, fish ‘n play, water fowl utility and saltwater boats. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to RangerBoats.com.
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