The One-Boat Network emerged as a game changer for the pros when it debuted in 2018, and it has become increasingly popular for recreational anglers for many reasons. It is more than just a high tech means of communication between fish finders, trolling motors and anchor systems.
When every cast counts, the One-Boat Network enables anglers to make more casts, and focus more on the mental side of the game and not positioning the boat.
“Just having your trolling motor, shallow water anchors and fish finders made by the same companies makes everything run more efficiently,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen. “With everything talking to each other you have total control of the boat from any location with the One-Boat Network.”
The One-Boat Network also makes fishing less stressful and more enjoyable by keeping anglers focused on the fishing.
“One of the most difficult things I see is anglers having lack of control over their boat while they are fishing, because they are so distracted by adjusting all their different devices,” Jocumsen said.
Making time management more efficient on a given tournament day is a given with the One-Boat Network. So does how it can make an overall game plan more effective when fishing offshore.
Jocumsen can use all of the One-Boat Network to make his game plan come together. When a school fires, he can activate Minn Kota Spot-Lock, which is linked to his Humminbird fish finders. Working together, Spot-Lock holds the boat in place, regardless of wind or current changes, while the Humminbird unit saves the location as part of Jocumen’s pattern. He can do it all with the touch of a button, and resume casting — and catching — a limit of bass.
“The next morning, I can use the Humminbird GPS to take me back to the same exact spot, without wasting time trying to find it again,” Jocumsen said. “But what makes the One-Boat Network different is that my fish finder and trolling motor are already set up to get me fishing.”
The One-Boat Network also shines in other scenarios. A textbook example is running a shoreline pattern with submerged wood or rock as the holding areas for bass. Jocumsen can’t see the structure, but he can create waypoints of those casting targets with his fish finder, which is linked to his trolling motor and tells it where to go. Jocumsen can then identify the targets on his screen, and even use Humminbird’s MEGA Live feature to see them. When reaching a spot, he can use the Humminbird to deploy the Minn Kota Raptors and lock into the location.
“If you think the strike zone has expanded from a productive sweet spot, you can set the trolling motor and fish finder to circle an area in a 5- or 10-foot radius, or you can go back to the original Spot-Lock location,” Jocumsen said.
The pros use the One-Boat Network to win tournaments, but it also has great benefits to weekend anglers.
“What we are doing as pros is continuing to refine all these technologies to help recreational anglers make the most efficient use of their time,” Jocumsen said.
Setting up the One-Boat Network is made to be simple, just like how it does the work for you on the water.
“I spend one day on the water setting up my electronics, and then I rarely touch the settings after that,” Jocumsen said. “It’s actually very little work, kind of like setting up a new smartphone.”
Networking diagrams can help you or a professional rigger route, run and connect cables between the units and the Ethernet switch box, which is usually located below the console. There are 11 diagrams for downloading that include the parts needed for the installation. Find the diagrams here at Humminbird.com.
Add it all up, and the One-Boat Network allows you to spend more time fishing, and less time managing fish finders, trolling motors and anchor systems, the three most important accessories on your boat.
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