Hey SUF! If money were no object, I would make this purchase. UPDATE: I will pass on this boat; it is a fantastic deal! If you are interested, let me know, and I will put you in contact with the dealer. 

Currently running: 2009 Stratos 294XL (19'6", 91" beam) with 2009 Evinrude ETEC 150HO flashed to 175HP on a single axle trailer. The boat's paid off and tournament-ready.

Considering: New leftover 2023 Falcon F215 (21'5", 99" beam) with Suzuki 250SS brand new

- Dealer asking $53K

- Monthly would be $580-680 (versus $0 on Stratos)

- Interest rates are around 7-10%

- Trade-in value on Stratos: $12-20K

Main pros: Wider deck, more power, bigger fuel tank (50 gal)

Main cons: A Higher payment than wanted, 7-10% interest rate

Would you pull the trigger or keep the paid-off Stratos? I'm especially interested in tournament performance difference, newer age, and whether the wider deck is worth the monthly payment.  BTW, a Stratos re-power would be $23-24K. One major sway factor - I hate debt. 

Thanks for any insights!

It’s never too early to start lake and river breakdowns. I am researching the Potomac River now, followed by Champlain, Oneida, and St. Lawrence. 

Thought of the day:

<Embrace the Grind: Growth Mindset + SUF(Support) + Adversity = Excellence on the Water>

When I began tournament fishing in 2022, I was overwhelmed with information. That's when joining SUF changed everything. BLat's KISS (Keep It Simple, Silly or Stupid) approach helped me cut through the clutter, build confidence in my abilities, and learn my confidence baits.

It reinforced that Adversity isn't our enemy - it's our teacher. When you shift from trying to beat others to being 1% better than yesterday, the pressure transforms into fuel for growth. SUF gave me the support system and framework to embrace this mindset in my tournament fishing.

Remember:

</Growth Mindset + SUF Support + Adversity = Excellence on the Water & Life>

Thank you Brian Latimer and the SUF School community for this incredible opportunity to fish the MLF BFL's in 2025! I'm honored to represent SUF and promise to work hard to make y'all proud. Did I use y'all correctly? Looking forward to sharing my journey and giving back to the community that has helped me grow as an angler. Thank You!!!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1007865317874208 - This is, IMHO, why some dedicated younger folks are better fishermen. 

Hey SUF Community!

Thanks, Tim Dodson and Ken Pfeiffer, for kickstarting this! They sent me deep into a rabbit hole regarding the Alabama Rig MLF rules question!! There has to be more than just that question, so I developed an AI chatbot loaded with: - The complete MLF BFL rulebook - Current fishing regulations (PDFs) for all 50 states + DC. You can ask it anything about MLF rules AND check how they align with state regulations where you'll be fishing. It's like having a tournament rulebook expert in your pocket! Try it out here: https://www.bassfishingtips.net/MLFRules.html Note: I've put a $15 credit on this bot, so it'll be available for a limited time. Get your questions in while you can! Let me know if you find it helpful and if my sleepless night rabbit hole was worth it.

Fellow SUF School Members!

Let's try this - gathering info on how we all use our boat electronics to hopefully help the community learn from each other. Set up a sharing section, etc. Your input would be helpful if you're new to electronics or an expert!

A fairly quick survey here: [https://forms.office.com/r/qerrgRD5xW]

The goal is to understand common challenges and settings across different units (Lowrance, Garmin, Humminbird) so we can share knowledge and get some targeted help from BLat and more experienced members/guests.

It should only take a few minutes. Thanks in advance! Let me know what you think.

SUF Family! 

I am thrilled to support Brian's Angler Development Program! As an SUF member and rod designer at BardeRodz, I will provide a precision-engineered Workhorse or Slick Stick rod (winner's choice) to both the selected boater and co-angler for the MLF Phoenix BFL tournaments.

I am also applying for the boater position (fingers crossed! 🤞). If I am selected 🤞, my rod will be raffled off to another SUF member!

Each rod features premium components and comes with a one-year warranty. Good luck to all applicants! This community is fantastic!