7 ways to Trick Out a Small Boat for Better Fishing and Performace 

This man doesn’t stop, even at his age. Incredible.

Fantastic video. I have been watching your show for decades, I thank you for everything you have taught me about fishing.

Thanks for the tip Roland. I have pretty much the same boat and use it in both fresh and salt water. Maintenance IS the key.

👍 Roland’s always keeping us informed on fishing and equipment. Thanks.

Nicely done! For someone wanting a shallow flats boat without spending a ton of money, this is a great way to make a small boat work for those shallow flats and still not break the bank! I wouldn't have thought to use this particular Tracker boat as a flats boat. Something designed as a flats boat is going to cost at least twice this amount just for the base model without any of the extras. Thanks yet another great video, Roland!

I love the jackplate and the micro power pole. That's awesome Roland!

Son! I grew up watching ole Roland. Good tips and glad you remember not everyone can afford a nitro. From illinois and walleye fishing the mississippi river, happy new year.

My life time and your still out there excited as ever. Cheers.

Wow Roland Martin I just found your channel I thought by now you would be out of the game. I wanna say thank you for every episode you have ever films you and bill dance Were my heroes growing up I looked forward to every to weekend to watch your shows Keep doing what you do you're a legend!!!

Cannot tell you how much I've enjoyed you and Bill.

Wow... That's so coooool. I'm thinking of the metal boat with the wood deck to start... Thanks for sharing. You're an excellent teacher.

Really enjoying your videos on smaller boats. thx Roland.

Great vid Roland. I've been a fishing fanatic all my life and grew up watching you and Mr. Dance. Good to see you still have tremendous passion for the sport and still teaching. Keep them coming.

lots of info in 10 min! thanks Roland!

Good advice on saltwater and aluminum!

“Son”. Love it!

Roland taught me dang near everything I know about fishing! He is still the coolest fisherman that I know. I wish I had his hair!!!

Thank you Mr Martin. Grew up watching your show. You're the greatest.

That's a lot of nice features packed into a small package.

I have to say that I am a huge fan of yours and I'm a huge fan of your trolling motor prop. I always carried extra on my boat. And let me say I had never had a single problem going through anything that the water thrown at me. Very glad to see that you are still making videos.

I’ve always been a fan of the flat bottom John!! And you’ve just added to the reason why!!

The most often used improvement to my aluminum Jon boat is a piece of aluminum angle-iron welded to the boat so I can clamp rod holders mounted on a board to the boat. I originally made the rod holders for spider rigging for crappie I quickly realized the spider rig was great for live bait fishing of any kind.

I just bought this boat today the black classic xl actually but thank for letting me know what my first 4 upgrades should be. Your the best.

These videos are awesome!

Hi Roland, I love watching your shows and youtube videos. I just was at Bass Pro and I asked them to help me trick out my Tracker 175 the way you did the Heritage. They laughed when I said "you know how much I spend after watching Roland Martin" then they said they do the same. I can't wait to try out the power pole sand Bobs Jacplate!! I've been to your Marina twice and can't wait to go back. Keep up the great work. Thanks

Great looking boat Sir!

Thank you so much for putting this video together. Great info. Beautiful boat sir!

You are a good fishing men

Great Video Man!

Son! I don’t know how you do it, never seem to age! You must have found the fountain of youth, Fishing!

Mr Martian I'm n my 50s now I've watched a lot of your fishing shows but never thought I'd see you on RU-vid lol happy fishing and fish on brother from the Gulf Coast

Love your boat! I wish I could go fishing with you.

I have the same boat I fish hopedale Louisiana with it works great

Awesome video. I'm looking into doing something similar. Thanks.

Awesome! Thanks. Great info...

I think if you told me that you bought the truck to match the boat then I’d buy it too. Your a great salesman brother.

Such a legendary fisherman you mister Martin 👍🏻

Super video!

You did all that stuff to be able to take me fishing I'm ready to go when you are roland

Been wondering if this boat would work for the flats! Thanks!!!

I LOVE his videos.

Thank you!

Love to hear the details of the 4 blade like brand, diameter and pitch and it's performance. I'm buying the 2019 Bass Tracker Classic based on this review of the Heritage. In this video you show the stainless 3 blade, what are details on that one?

My mentor awesome....

Thanks for sharing the knowledge Roland! If you ever want to sell that boat I'm your guy!!! God bless.

There are several guys on Bass Resource that have recessed the trolling motor foot pedal. To me, that is huge. Great video!!

Someday...a boat and gear like that...for now ..I'm a novice..just got a little kayak...and a couple zebco ...but went out the other day . first time ...used 5 inch worms and fished whacky and Texas rigs..the way your videos taught ...and caught .25 at least bass...no really big ones....but I filled my 5 limit string..with...3 1/2 to 4 pounders....filleted and cooked em and fed the family....thanks Mr Martin.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) are great batteries. I'm investing in some for my boat.

LOVE YA ROLAND BUT... DANG! Your 7 tricks cost more than my whole boat, trailer & motor combined! I'm sticking to the KISS way of fishing! Love your family!

Would you use a jack plate on a 2001 bass tracker 175 since it already has an offset transom? Also, would na micro power pole be too light weight for a 175?

Your a champ!

Nice rig

Great stuff son...

Hi there. I have the exact same boat (new to me) do you have a link for that cavitation plate? Fishing in shallow Calavares Lake in S.A. Tx.

What size outboard is that Roland. All I could make out was a zero. Been enjoying you since I was a young man. I'm now 65. Enjoy your regular RU-vid series how too's as well. Thank you for the years of enjoyment.

7:34 cut cut cut LMAO OMG Roland im dying over here laughing that would of been the Ultimate Super Bowl Commercial hands down LMFAO

Those polarized glasses what if you wear glasses and contacts are not an option is there any possibility to have a prescription added to them without damaging the polarization characteristics?

What prop did you put on it

This is just great Pops, I watch all your videos!

Takeaway: Have the right shades..! Yes, sir.

Legend 👍

Aluminum is fine on salt water, but the welds don't flex and that's typically the fracture point on the ribs in big water. The aluminum also vibrates and goes through fatigue. The heavy duty boats are fine, but some of the cheaper ones aren't that great. The rebuild forums show it pretty frequently with the 70's and 80's boats. I have a glass and aluminum. I've glassed and riveted both and I like them equally.

Roland, quick question, I have a 11 foot skiff that i use for very shallow saltwater. Because the boat is so small and not designed for a front trolling motor, I was wondering if the Bobs Prop nut would do anything for the cavitation even though its mounted on the back? Where I can run the trolling motor, I seem to spook a lot of fish because of it. Maybe a different prop? Trolling motor is a Riptide 45lb thrust and comes with your standard weedeater prop. Was thinking of trying the Bobs nut or a different prop. Seems the worst about 40% or higher throttle after Ive been moving for awhile. I was also thinking that it was too high on the boat but I cant bring it much lower without digging in

I think those boats are the best price budget boat. I would want a trolling motor with I-pilot.

Mr roland, where did u order your micro power pole from? If you can/ don't mind telling me. Thx

Everybody don't have the big bucks like you roland

2000 added cost i would double that sum. built a 16' war eagle last year the millenium umbtella and seats are great. Next upgrade spot lock.

buddy, you could have put all the links in the description. thanks

I want one of those boats. That would be perfect for me.

I'd love a link to the cavitation plate. Did adding that lack plate mess with the steering cable going under the metal of the boat gunnel?

The power pole remote looks like a medical alert...”I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”

Roland...what diameter and pitch stainless steel prop are you running.

Very cool boat for the price. I'm just learning to fish any advice

Whats the orange thing holding the prop on the trolling motor ? Nice boat, great info Mr Martin.........!

Roland Martin, what engine propeller are you using here (brand, diameter and pitch)? There are many of us Heritage owners that would like to follow your lead. Thank you in advance.

Looks like your cavatation plate is upside down but I'm probably wrong. Mine has them fins that's on top of yours but mine are underside.

Damn Roland put more in add one than the boat cost sounds bout right

What prop is that ?

I found Bob's website for the jackplate, but can anyone tell me who makes the cavitation plate and the micro pole?

Good info here, Sir! Roland, I've been a fan and have enjoyed you and your presentations for more years than many of your followers here have been around. "SON!" One question. Is this a painted trailer and if so what maintenance routine do you incorporate for saltwater use? Thanks, Sir.

WD40 >>>>> I had an aluminum Lowe flat bottom like that Bass Tracker for San Diego ocean - bay fishing and never had a problem with corrosion because I did what Roland does I rinse out the engine win t fresh water and wash the boat down AND >>>> I sprayed WD40 all over the motor and on any metal hinge- nut bolt clamp etc.......

What model jackplate is that? I got on Bobs site and it looks like they have a mini one good for up to 40 hp which you are running. I have a 60 and was wondering if you had the mini or the bigger one good for up to 300 hp.

this is the boat i dream about at night

I discovered the joys of light braid. A few years back. I like diawa J Braidx4 15lb. And the 10lb x8. Its THE REAL DEAL Son! I can't stand floro and am getting tired of respooling mono every month sometimes twice a month. Or getting bad spools of mono.

Man I grew up watching Roland ....OH SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How fast can it run with those motor upgrades?

What is your mph?

I want to know how they installed the trolling motor cable. Mine won’t work.

You left out motor flushing. Running fresh water through the water jacket flushed out salt. Plus come spring it’s good to run the engine a bit to make sure it’s ready. Checking the water pump. Flushing my older Yamaha from the river I notice brown river water color then after it gets up to temp and flushes good the water is clear. Then use a good fuel stabilizer like your son Scott says. That startron. Stabil works to. Don’t forget older engines that you can remove the fuel line run em dry. As the engine goes to. Quit use the choke to get any remaining fuel out. The fuel breaks down today after about a month. Plus it prevents engines from being gummed up. The old fuel will clog carb jets. So by spring after storage no fun for the grand kids to family trips. If the fuel is still good but needs to used up on a portable tank burn up the fuel in yard equipment start with fresh. Or keep a fuel stabilizer handy for storage. I have sat on the river bank in spring and listen for those that don’t do maintenance crank crank etc. plus with built in tanks fill em back up to full. Prevents water getting into the tank by sweating then add a fuel additive. If stored for a month.

It's amazing this boat was only $10k new 4 years ago.

Hard to beat a bass tracker aluminum boat. Many up grades for them. For those on a budget u can pick up an excellent used one . 3000 and under. Just have to look.

I have a classic 1983 Lowe 17 foot Bass Catcher Pro.

I use 15 pound braid to a 6 pound floro leader...works best for me.

Listening to an old roland martin saying tricked out is just hilarious to me. Idk why lol

He probably spent lot money on Jack plate its cool

One is available here in my state

Dang!

Absorbent Glass Mat

auto trim tabs are the best for the money

How about cleaning the bottom of the boat