Inside Elite Boats

Inside Elite Boats: Luke Palmer

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Take a tour of Luke Palmer's Pheonix 21 PHX powered by a Mercury Pro XS 250-horsepower outboard.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Take a tour of Luke Palmer's Pheonix 21 PHX powered by a Mercury Pro XS 250-horsepower outboard.
Phoenix offers many different models, but Palmer prefers the 21 PHX because it rides well in rough water without losing the top-end speed.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Phoenix offers many different models, but Palmer prefers the 21 PHX because it rides well in rough water without losing the top-end speed.
The bow of the boat is home to two Garmin EchoMAP Ultra 106SV units. Palmer uses one unit strictly for LiveScope and the other for mapping.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The bow of the boat is home to two Garmin EchoMAP Ultra 106SV units. Palmer uses one unit strictly for LiveScope and the other for mapping.
A Minn Kota Ultrex is Palmer's trolling motor of choice.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - A Minn Kota Ultrex is Palmer's trolling motor of choice.
An elevated view of the bow of the boat. The area has a very clean look.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - An elevated view of the bow of the boat. The area has a very clean look.
Palmer shows off the layout of his 21 PHX.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer shows off the layout of his 21 PHX.
The rod locker is loaded down with Abu Garcia rods and reels.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The rod locker is loaded down with Abu Garcia rods and reels.
Palmer takes his rod organizer out of the rod locker, which allows him to carry more rods. He keeps roughly 20 to 25 rods in the boat.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer takes his rod organizer out of the rod locker, which allows him to carry more rods. He keeps roughly 20 to 25 rods in the boat.
A Heddon Super Spook Jr. is one of Palmer's all-time favorite baits to throw. You can tell this one has been bit a few times.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - A Heddon Super Spook Jr. is one of Palmer's all-time favorite baits to throw. You can tell this one has been bit a few times.
Like most tournament rigs, the center compartment of his Phoenix is home to the majority of his tackle.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Like most tournament rigs, the center compartment of his Phoenix is home to the majority of his tackle. "I try to keep everything compact so I know where everything is at," Palmer said.
A Gill lifejacket is also stowed away in the center compartment.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - A Gill lifejacket is also stowed away in the center compartment.
Being an Oklahoman, Palmer keeps a healthy amount of squarebill crankbaits in the boat.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Being an Oklahoman, Palmer keeps a healthy amount of squarebill crankbaits in the boat.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - "This is my go-to box when I'm back in Oklahoma," he said. "The Booyah XCS is probably my favorite all-around squarebill."
Palmer shows off his favorite flipping bait – the Yum Bad Mamma.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer shows off his favorite flipping bait – the Yum Bad Mamma.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - "I've probably made more money off of this box than anything I have," he said. "It's my complete confidence bait when I'm flipping or punching."
Another must for any Oklahoma angler is a box of spinnerbaits. Although Palmer owns a ton of different spinnerbaits, he tries to keep it pretty simple with what he keeps in the boat.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Another must for any Oklahoma angler is a box of spinnerbaits. Although Palmer owns a ton of different spinnerbaits, he tries to keep it pretty simple with what he keeps in the boat.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - "I love my War Eagles and my Booyah spinnerbaits," said Palmer. "I don't get too far out there with my selection because I'm going to be burning it or slow rolling it, so I try to keep it pretty simple."
The large starboard compartment is home to a little bit of terminal tackle, spare line and a rainsuit.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The large starboard compartment is home to a little bit of terminal tackle, spare line and a rainsuit.
Palmer keeps a wide variety of Sunline fishing line in the boat so he can make adjustments and respool his reels on the fly.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer keeps a wide variety of Sunline fishing line in the boat so he can make adjustments and respool his reels on the fly.
Palmer always keeps his Gill rainsuit in the boat.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer always keeps his Gill rainsuit in the boat.
To keep the suit dry and fresh, Palmer stores it in a Gill dry bag.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - To keep the suit dry and fresh, Palmer stores it in a Gill dry bag.
A removable tray in the day box is handy for quick access items. Palmer stores baits that he knows he will throw in the tray.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - A removable tray in the day box is handy for quick access items. Palmer stores baits that he knows he will throw in the tray.
Below the tray he stores a few extra Abu Garcia reels.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Below the tray he stores a few extra Abu Garcia reels.
Palmer shows off a new bait that he's excited about. YUM teamed up with Scottsboro to create an injection molded copy of the Scottsboro hand-poured swimbaits.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer shows off a new bait that he's excited about. YUM teamed up with Scottsboro to create an injection molded copy of the Scottsboro hand-poured swimbaits.
Currently, Palmer has one Garmin EchoMAP Ultra 126SV at the console but plans on adding a second for the upcoming season.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Currently, Palmer has one Garmin EchoMAP Ultra 126SV at the console but plans on adding a second for the upcoming season.
The compartment between the two seats is a place where he keeps several pairs of sunglasses, gloves, beanies and a portable speaker.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The compartment between the two seats is a place where he keeps several pairs of sunglasses, gloves, beanies and a portable speaker.
The step to the front deck actually serves as three separate compartments. Two of the compartments are home to smaller tools and miscellaneous items while the third compartment is the cooler.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The step to the front deck actually serves as three separate compartments. Two of the compartments are home to smaller tools and miscellaneous items while the third compartment is the cooler.
Typically Palmer keeps the co-angler rod locker pretty empty. Just a few rod socks were in there at the time.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Typically Palmer keeps the co-angler rod locker pretty empty. Just a few rod socks were in there at the time.
Palmer takes a seat in his
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer takes a seat in his "office."
The back starboard compartment is a place he stores extra lifejackets and an Angler Aid, thanks to Brandon Palaniuk.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The back starboard compartment is a place he stores extra lifejackets and an Angler Aid, thanks to Brandon Palaniuk.
The back port side compartment is where Palmer stores his toolbox.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The back port side compartment is where Palmer stores his toolbox.
Take a look at the Phoenix livewells.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Take a look at the Phoenix livewells.
The battery compartment has two sliding trays where Palmer stores rope as well as smaller tools.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The battery compartment has two sliding trays where Palmer stores rope as well as smaller tools.
Inside the battery compartment he carries extra Mercury four-stroke oil.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Inside the battery compartment he carries extra Mercury four-stroke oil.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - "Gotta have your Power-Pole Blades," he said in regards to his 8-foot Power-Pole Blades.
Palmer has been a huge fan of his four-stroke Mercury ProXs Outboard.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Palmer has been a huge fan of his four-stroke Mercury ProXs Outboard.
An overhead look at the back of the 21 PHX.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - An overhead look at the back of the 21 PHX.
The mudline on Palmer's Bobs Machine Shop hydraulic jackplate should be a dead giveaway that he's an Oklahoma native.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - The mudline on Palmer's Bobs Machine Shop hydraulic jackplate should be a dead giveaway that he's an Oklahoma native.
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Photo: Kyle Jessie - ...
Thanks for the tour, Luke!
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Thanks for the tour, Luke!