At a time when sonar technology is easily the most debated topic in bass fishing, Vexus Boats® anglers and Lake Sam Rayburn hammers, Derek Mundy and Jason Bonds, swung toward the opposite field during the season opener of the lucrative Brandon Belt “The Show” Team Series event, by turning their sonar completely off with hopes of spooking fewer bass.
The longtime team partners proceeded to catch 47 pounds of bass in two days and won the $50,000 first-place prize, a $10,000 Rev Rewards bonus from Vexus, and a commemorative 2024 REV Rewards™ belt buckle for the trophy shelf.
"I'm not trying to rain on the effectiveness of forward-facing sonar, but I'll tell you it was a total non-factor in this win. We turned all our sonar units off to eliminate as much noise as possible around fish we knew were highly pressured and easily spooked," explains Mundy, a 35-year-old pipeline welder who grew up on Rayburn near Pophers Creek.
Mundy is undoubtedly no stranger to big limits on Rayburn. His monstrous run in 2021 featured a 39-pound limit and a 40-pound limit in BFL and Toyota Series wins that still stand as two of the Top 10 heaviest limits ever weighed in during a Major League Fishing-sanctioned event.
He won’t hesitate to tell you his hands down favorite lure of all time is an Azuma Shaker Z lipless crankbait, with the Z Boss 22 deep diving crankbait being a close second, and when asked what he loves most about his Vexus, that answer comes easily too.
“I bought a Vexus because I have a lot of trust and respect for the craftsmen that run the company. Their heritage for quality is unmatched in bass boats, and that’s proven by the fact I don’t feel like my back needs a chiropractor every time I battle big waves on Rayburn or Toledo,” smiles the happily married father of two young sons.
“I can quarter through big waves in this Vexus better than any boat I’ve ever been. It’s comfortable, and it’s dry. Even if you’re just idling around graphing, looking for fish, the higher sides on a Vexus keep you from getting splashed all day with wave spray,” adds Mundy.
Mundy has now collected four Vexus belt buckles and $40,000 in Vexus REV Rewards™ since buying his VX20 from Pete Jorgensen Marine in Beaumont. So, understandably, he probably won't be trading rippin' lipless baits for pinging dainty minnow imitators with forward-facing sonar anytime soon.
To learn more about the quality he and Jason Bonds love about their Vexus boats and ensure you're signed up for REV Rewards like they are, please visit https://vexusboats.com/.
