Finally got the Jaguar on the water! Jag vs Lynx.

[proptwister]

I posted earlier in the month about picking up my 25' Jaguar. Got all the rigging done as far as installing the Stealth charging system and lithiums. Between this over-rated thing called work and the REALLY crappy and cold weather last week, I hadn't had a chance to get it on the water. Finally had a break in the weather and I got to put several hours on it this weekend. Coming from an 18' Lynx, here are my initial thoughts between the two. Now, I'm nitpicking here, as both of these are top-quality rigs!

• The STS hull is fantastic. While the Lynx rode good, this Jag is in a class all to itself. It's like riding on a couch! Pretty calm this weekend so I have't had a opportunity to realy test it but it's in a class by itself. Carves corners like it on a rail. Still in the break-in so I didn't push it hard but will quickly climb to 70 and is very stable. While my Lynx was quick with the 300R, anything over mid 60's required you to drive the boat. Not that I minded that, but the STS is very stable.
• The 400R is a beast! Came with a 26" Bravo 1 XS with all 8 plugs removed. I was running this prop on my 300R as well but with 4 vents plugged and 2 of the other vents with 1/2 plugs. It pulls hard on launch but then I can feel it slipping excessively. When the water temperature isn't 37, I'll add a few plugs that should help with this. Ran like a champ!
• The tackle storage is massive! The rear is identical to my Lynx, although somehow the two outside boxes are slightly smaller? All my heavy stuff goes here. Jigs, olastics, trailers, ect. The front rod boxes are massive but not to my liking. I'll get to that later. The takle boxes with the trays in them are going to work great for all my light stuff, crankbaits and the like. The 2 boxes in the front hold all my ropes, buoy, line, ect.
• Ok. Here is where I'll probably ruffle some feathers. I'm really missing the center rod box of the Lynx. I would sometimes here people complain about it's odd shape but it makes perfect sense to be wider at the bach to allow for the reels while narrow at the front for the rod tips. I could easily STAND in the floor of my Lynx and reach any and every rod I needed. I never understood why people didn't like this? With the Jag, the rod box on the left is good for about 8 rods, and while it's is very deep, how is KNEELING down on the deck and digging for rods from the abyss better? It's not. Box on the far right is equally massive and deep, but it doesn't have any rod keepers in it and you will be standing on your head digging for anything in the bottom. I'm hoping I will get used to it, and at a minimum, I won't be carrying as many rods as I used to, but right now, I don't like. Also, these two boxes lids go almost all the way to the gunnel. With my Lynx, I could easily have 3-4 rods on each side and still open the side boxes. You won't do that on the Jag as the front corner particularly, creates a pinch point. You can open these with 1 rod on the deck, 2 max. Not a fan of that.
• Did I mention how much I'm going to miss the center rod box of my Lynx?

Again, I'm nitpicking. As expected, the build quality of everything I've seen is top notch. It's a beautiful rig and the fishability is fantastic. Have a jerkbait tournament in a couple weeks so that will give me a couple days of hard fishing that will really help me settle in with it.

I'll report again after the tournament and I've attached a few pictures, snow and all!

Did I mention how much I'm missing the center rod box?20250221_143906.jpg20250222_112133.jpg20250222_124843.jpg20250223_144132.jpg

[1958]

It's a beautiful rig. Specs say the Jag is 2" narrower than the lynx which may be why back boxes are smaller.
I have a puma sts which I believe is not as deep as the Jag When accessing rods I just sit on the deck no problem. I use to have a puma ftd and put rod straps on the lid. When I opened the lid the rods would swing out with it. Just had to make sure strap was on before you did though ha. Strap was a heavy rubber that held rods down tight. One thing I've always wished bass cat would do is have a space between console and gunnel to place rod tips in. Would make free space up front.
Just curious though - did you like the center rod box on the lynx?

[rockmudder]

did you get this boat from ross motorsport think this might be the boat they have long video on youtube

[mactlman]

[mactlman]

did you get this boat from ross motorsport think this might be the boat they have long video on youtube

he did

[Bass Cat Boats]

Just curious though - did you like the center rod box on the lynx?

[JoeAZ]

Speaking of center rod boxes, I have a 23 Caracal SP. It has a center rod box and it is incredible. It also has a small box next to the step-up cooler that I use as a trash bin. Also fantastic.

I realize that most people seem to be fine with the standard deck layout that all other boat manufactures use. I can understand why some potential boat buyers would shy away from center rod lockers. Only because they are different. If a boat dealer selling a boat with a different deck layout, doesn't have the narratives about why they are superior, I can see why they may demand standard deck layouts.

I understand in the past the difference between a Puma FTD and a Cougar was deck layout. A solution is to offer different front deck layout options for the STS line of boats. I've know there is massive expense in molds and lids to accomplish this, but again, with strong narratives about why a center rod locker and trash bin are relevant and meaningful, they will sell.

[caddyjoe77]

that thing is so sick! that white motor really makes it pop!!

video please when you get time of you running down the lake

[PatriotAW4]

Nice, however I think you can fit a whole lot more than 8 rods in the locker.

[rockmudder]

i know it none of us member business but us dreamers would love the hear the price range of this rig so we know how many kidneys and lungs and legs we will need to give up to own one

[Rich1]

I have a 2021 Sabre and i keep 12 rods in the rod box. (removed the tubes) Fishing for rods is not a problem. I plan my day, what type of lures/presentations I want. Remove the required rods take of the sleeves and put them on the deck. Almost never go back in the rod box until I am done for the day.

[mactlman]

here is a deal on a jag https://www.rossmotorsports.com/Pre-...90693?ref=list

[wjh]

Another vote here for the centre rodlocker It makes so much sense in the centre

[proptwister]

Nice, however I think you can fit a whole lot more than 8 rods in the locker.

Sure you can. Thats not the issue. There are 8 rod holder slots in the left side and you can certainly place a whole bunch more under those 8 holders. That locker is deep enough to hide a body in!

But the rods will all be lying on top of each other and would be an absolute mess trying to get them all untangled. With the center box in my Lynx, the holders were stacked 3 deep and about 6 wide. With the tapered box, it was wider in the back to allow for the width of the reels and worked fantastic. Easily accessible standing in the floor of the boat without kneeling down and standing on my head. It's just one of those things I guess I took for granted until it wasn't there. Box on the right is the exact same way except it doesn't have ANY holders. It's an absolute massive box. But invariably, what you are looking to retrieve from there will always be on the bottom and require you to take everything out to access it. The steep taper toward the keel will almost guarantee this as they are not flat on the bottom like my Lynx.

The boat is beautiful and the build quality is top notch. Tackle storage is massive and allows you to take way to much stuff, likely more than you could ever need. But the rod storage seems kind of like and after-thought and honestly, I still do not like it.

[proptwister]

Another vote here for the centre rodlocker It makes so much sense in the centre

That it does! Agree 100%!

[proptwister]

that thing is so sick! that white motor really makes it pop!!

video please when you get time of you running down the lake

I'll try to do that!

[apdriver]

You probably do this already but keeping a rod sock and a lure cover on all your treble hook baits makes things much easier accessing all those stacked rods. I prolly have 20 on the port side of a Cougar

But the rods will all be lying on top of each other and would be an absolute mess trying to get them all untangled.

[PatriotAW4]

Sure you can. Thats not the issue. There are 8 rod holder slots in the left side and you can certainly place a whole bunch more under those 8 holders. That locker is deep enough to hide a body in!

But the rods will all be lying on top of each other and would be an absolute mess trying to get them all untangled. With the center box in my Lynx, the holders were stacked 3 deep and about 6 wide. With the tapered box, it was wider in the back to allow for the width of the reels and worked fantastic. Easily accessible standing in the floor of the boat without kneeling down and standing on my head. It's just one of those things I guess I took for granted until it wasn't there. Box on the right is the exact same way except it doesn't have ANY holders. It's an absolute massive box. But invariably, what you are looking to retrieve from there will always be on the bottom and require you to take everything out to access it. The steep taper toward the keel will almost guarantee this as they are not flat on the bottom like my Lynx.

The boat is beautiful and the build quality is top notch. Tackle storage is massive and allows you to take way to much stuff, likely more than you could ever need. But the rod storage seems kind of like and after-thought and honestly, I still do not like it.

I never use the rod holders or tubes, just rod socks and lay them in there.

[proptwister]

I never use the rod holders or tubes, just rod socks and lay them in there.

Thanks. I'll have to give that a try.

[caddyjoe77]

Thanks. I'll have to give that a try.

definitely second the rod socks. Academy has some cheap ones if you have a store near you and also has decent X20 reel covers as well. Worth an experiment to see if you like that or not. I can get about 14 in the 8 rod handles and on top. and the tips with the covers allow 2 in each. the other 10 or so rods go in the bottom.