Hot on the heels of Bobby Laneβs Bassmaster Eastern Open win, Stephen Browning wins Bassmaster Central Open with help from Raymarine Axiom
Ridgeland, MSΒ (March 7, 2018): Just last month, Raymarine pro Bobby Lane went wire-to-wire at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Eastern Open on Floridaβs Kissimmee Chain. After years of finishing near the top but never first on his hometown waters, it was a very significant win.
A similar story played out this past weekend on Mississippiβs Ross Barnett Reservoir, where Arkansas-based Raymarine pro Stephen Browning took top honors at the 2018 Bassmaster Central Open after finishing second on Ross Barnett in 2013 and fifth in 2015.
The other commonality between the two wins can be found at the console and bow of each proβs boatβRaymarineΒ Axiom ProΒ multifunction navigation displays.
On Kissimmee, Lane credited Axiom Proβs excellent high-speed sonar performance for helping him locate hurricane-rearranged hydrilla at boat speeds up to 65 mph. Once located, heβd quickly jump to bow, keeping grass lines in view on his bowΒ Axiom Pro 12
βThe clarity and speed of Axiom is absolutely amazing. If it looks like thereβs a fish there, itβs a fish. The CHIRP Sonar, DownVision, SideVision,Β RealVision 3D, and how fast the mapping responds is just amazing,β said Lane.

Similarly, Arkansas-based bass pro Stephen Browning attributed much of his recent Ross Barnett Reservoir win to his electronics. βMy Raymarine Axiom units really helped me hone in the right areas,β said Browning. βIn my chart view, I had the tracking system on to make precise runs to and from the areas I fished, which were largely shallow three- to four-foot flatsβeither stump fields or eel grass edges.β
βDuring Monday morning practice I idled two miles or more with the intention of finding fish-holding stumps, also marking them for quick and safe navigation. Every time I found one, I would drop a waypoint on my Axiom ProβsΒ Navionics Platinum+Β map and then idle around the stump in a tight circle to make sure that was the only stump there. Then, once I found a good route that I could take, I could save a good 15 minutes a day by not having to idle through these areas.β
Browning also credits Raymarineβs SideVision technology for helping him locate fish-holding grass edges.
βDuring Tuesdayβs practice I spent a lot of time looking for and marking grass edges with my SideVision. Then I would back out and look closely at my SideVision screen for any kind of grass edge irregularities. Iβm always amazed with what Raymarine can do in the shallow zone. I can see all the little details that often set you apart from other anglers. That translates to 100% confidence in my electronics.β
Browningβs experience with Raymarine SideVision goes back 2015, the year he finished fifth at the same BASS Central Open.
βWhen I fished Barnett in 2015, I learned to dial back the SideVision range on my RaymarineΒ eS seriesΒ units to look 25β to 30β off each side of the boat. It performs better in that extremely shallow three- to four-feet of water than any other side-looking technologies Iβve used in the past,β said Browning.
When using SideVision, Browning prefers the copper palette. βIβve always used it. My eyes just see that particular color better, even in the sun, and I can identify cover, fish, and bottom irregularities.β
Not only did Browningβs Axiom units help him find the right cover and navigation routes, the time he saved was critical to this particular tournament win.
βThe fifth fish every day came within minutes of me having to leave. It was really fishing for five key bites a day. Had I not had the confidence that I could run in and out of that place quickly and safelyβrather than having to leave 15 or 20 minutes earlier to idle outβthen I wouldnβt have caught those fish. I wouldβve been idling, not fishing. This was a tremendous key to winning the event.β

Presentation-wise, Browningβs key bait was a 3/8-ounce Z-ManΒ ChatterBait JackHammerΒ with Z-ManΒ DieZel MinnowzΒ orΒ Razor ShadzΒ trailer fished on Β St. CroixΒ Legend Tournament BassΒ rods with Lewβs baitcasters and 20-pound fluorocarbon.
Browning finished the three-day event with 15 bass for 44 pounds even, jumping from fifth place on Saturday to first on the final day, edging out second-place finisher Ken Iyobe by just over two pounds. Following this win, Browning proceeds to the 2018 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Championship, Oct. 18-20, location TBA.