From NorthStar to Odyssey: Best Marine Batteries for Catching Bass
Accomplished angler Dustin Wilks fishes’ various bass fishing locations and teaches how to find and catch more fish on the wildly popular TV series Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks found on The Sportsman Channel.
An often-overlooked component to an angler’s success and subsequent enjoyment is having a reliable power source. Yes, the battery.
But, how do you know what battery is the best option for your boating situation? There are many variables including how and where you fish, selecting the correct battery type, a battery brands track-record and the upfront vs. long-term costs associated with your purchase.
We don’t think there is a one size fits all approach so we have asked Dustin to install and test various battery brands and chemistries throughout the seasons to help you determine what will be the best marine battery for your fishing setup.
Catching Bass Says Goodbye to NorthStar Battery & Hello to Odyssey
Dustin, along with fellow Bassmaster Elite veteran Rick Morris, have run NorthStar batteries for years and have solely come to rely on their steadfast performance. Sadly, the NorthStar name will be disappearing from shelves.
EnerSys acquired the NorthStar Battery brand in September of 2019.
Now, two years later, according to John Russo of EnerSys, late in 2021 they will be merging the Odyssey Extreme series label with the NorthStar Pro label.
They intend to keep the specs and plate design of NorthStar Pro along with the more widely recognized name of Odyssey Extreme. The NorthStar Elite series is already combined into the Odyssey Performance series.
So, in a few years, when it comes time to replace your boat’s NorthStar batteries, remember you will be looking for an Odyssey marine battery. For example, if you have the group 31 marine size NSB-AGM31M part number, you will be looking for the ODX-AGM31M as the direct replacement.
What Marine Battery Will Dustin Use Next?
We already know Dustin’s rigorous full-time fishing schedule puts these batteries through the ringer. The bar NorthStar (soon Odyssey) set, will be our standard for gauging performance and comparing the differences of the various battery contenders.
One thing we know for certain, if the battery installed in Dustin's Caymas boat can hold up to his demanding timetable, they can far surpass the needs of the weekend angler.
Some time ago, while talking with Dustin, I shared how often some form of this declarative question is asked, “what is the best marine battery for my boat? I only seem to get one or two good seasons out of my batteries.” As the host of Catching Bass will explain, taking time to select and set up the proper battery system in your boat will save you an incredible amount of wasted time, money and heartache.
Watch Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks on The Sportsman Channel to see what he did behind the scenes concerning his battery setup that allows him to 100% focus on fishing when he is on the water. As Dustin demonstrates and teaches techniques to finding top notch fishing locations coupled with how and why to use various baits, lures and tackle he’ll gently remind you why installing a reliable power source is a must!
