Tournament bass fishing comes down to small margins. One fish, one cast, one good decision can be the difference between a trophy and a long drive home. Jacob Wheeler has spent his career winning those small margins, and for years he’s trusted MillerTech batteries to keep his boat powered while he does it.

Who Is Jacob Wheeler

Wheeler won the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup at 21. Since then he’s done just about everything there is to do in the sport: a Bassmaster Elite Series win, 12 Bass Pro Tour wins, and four Angler of the Year titles (2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025).

This April, he added the one title that had slipped away from him for years. Wheeler won REDCREST 2026 on Table Rock Lake with 21 bass for 51 pounds, 11 ounces, and took home $300,000. It was emotional. He dedicated the win to his late father, who had asked him to win one for him.

“It means the world. It really does,” Wheeler said after the final weigh-in.

With that trophy, he joined MillerTech teammate Kevin VanDam as the only anglers ever to win multiple tour championships and four or more Angler of the Year titles.

Years on MillerTech Power

Wheeler’s history with MillerTech goes back well before REDCREST. When he won Bass Pro Tour Stage 4 and $100,000 in May 2023, he’d already been running MillerTech batteries for four years. He’s been part of the MillerTech pro team ever since.

That trust comes from real days on the water. Before he won on Dale Hollow Lake in April 2024 (his eighth Major League Fishing win at the time), a breaker failed overnight and his batteries didn’t charge. Most anglers would be in trouble. Wheeler had a plan.

“MillerTech batteries, I’ve been running them all year. I run three 36V MillerTechs, so I had a backup … plugged that in and I was good to go.” — Jacob Wheeler

Another time, on Lake Erie, Wheeler ran out of gas far from the ramp. His MillerTech batteries had enough left to get him back on the trolling motor, and he made it in as the last boat of the day.

“I Need to Rely on Power”

When Wheeler rigged his new boat for the 2026 season, he posted a video walking through it. He skipped past the electronics and tackle to show what he called “one of the most important pieces in my boat”: his batteries. His caption put it simply:

“When it comes to the new rig for the 2026 season I need to rely on power, which is why I only run MillerTech batteries.” — Jacob Wheeler, Jan. 9, 2026

That season, he went on to win REDCREST.

What He Runs: 36V Trolling Motor Power

In that video, Wheeler walks through his setup. A few years ago he was running two 36V lithium batteries, but fishing as much as he does, he wanted a backup. Now he runs three MillerTech 36V 60Ah Sport Series batteries (#3660-BT) on a quick-disconnect system.

“Now I run three 36-volt, 60-amp-hour MillerTech batteries. … I can quick disconnect two of them that are running parallel and connect it to a backup 36-volt system.” — Jacob Wheeler

Two batteries run his trolling motor in parallel, and the third stays ready as a backup. On the road, that backup has bailed him out more than once. It’s the same backup that saved his morning at Dale Hollow.

“When you’re out there on the road … you’re in an Airbnb a lot of times … storm comes through, you always have backup power. If I went hard on my batteries the day before, now I’m still good to go with that backup 36, and it has saved me a lot of times.” — Jacob Wheeler

The 36V 60Ah Sport Series battery he runs weighs 41.23 lb and replaces three Group 27 lead-acid batteries, cutting more than half the weight. It fits a Group 31 tray. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) holds a steady voltage as it drains, so your trolling motor pulls as hard in the afternoon as it did at sunrise.

Bluetooth is built in, so you can check every battery on the MillerTech app, up to six at once. It also comes heated (#3660-BTH) if you charge in cold weather, and like every Sport Series battery, it carries our 10-year warranty with shipping paid both ways. We also make 36V batteries in 50Ah and 105Ah.

Team MillerTech on the Water

Wheeler doesn’t just run MillerTech. He fishes for us.

2025 Patriot Cup: Wheeler and MillerTech pro Dustin Connell won the Major League Fishing (MLF) Team Series Patriot Cup as Team MillerTech.
2025 Black Bass World Championship: Wheeler fished for Team USA in South Africa, and Team USA won team gold.
2026 Heritage Cup: On Tims Ford Lake this October, Wheeler and MillerTech pro Adrian Avena won Elimination Match 3 with 40 pounds, 9 ounces of scorable bass and moved on to the Knockout Round.

Power Your Boat Like Wheeler

You don’t need a REDCREST trophy to need batteries you can count on. Whether you run a 24V or 36V trolling motor, we’ll help you match the right MillerTech batteries to your boat.

Call 855-MAX-LITH (855-629-5484) and a real person on our Support Team will pick up in about 10 seconds. You can also email [email protected] or visit millertechenergy.com.