Our November/December Featured Sponsor is L&B Props

Larry Blankenship of L & B Props

Bass fishermen abuse their props. Maybe it’s the fact that we can’t see them, or that we don't understand exactly how they work, but we simply do not pay adequate attention to the part of the motor that is essential for the motor to run at all.

Larry Blankenship of L & B Props offers bass fishermen a service which will not only counter our pattern of abuse, but also enables us to maximize our boats performance. By providing improved holeshot, better top end speed, and overall better handling, a properly tuned prop will improve your fishing and get you back to weigh-in safely and on time.

Blankenship says he started repairing propellers over thirty years ago “the way a whole lot of others did, by beating them on a trailer ball.” After less than optimal results, however, he figured there had to be a better way. He investigated prop repair, got the proper equipment, and began a business endeavor that is half science, half art.

L & B Props has been a sponsor of the Virginia BASS Federation “since the beginning.” Blankenship himself was an early member of the Henry County Bassmasters, one of the first state federation clubs, and sponsorship was a natural outgrowth of his own participation. He continues to actively fish in federation events, as does his wife, Region 5 Director and Tight Lines Editor Joan Holmes.

Prop repair and refinishing can be done to all types of props, including stainless steel, aluminum and bronze. Blankenship can even put a blade on a prop that has lost one. Additionally, he helps anglers with set up work.

Virginia anglers, especially those who fish tidal waters, are eventually “gonna tear up their props,” Blankenship says, so an off season refinishing may be crucial. Even before you put the boat in the water, though, he cautions that some work or consideration may help performance. When anglers buy a new boat, he says, the dealers “try to over prop ‘em, and 99% of the time I can straighten ‘em out.”

After running through mud and sand flats typical of our region, props can look sandblasted. This causes them to lose speed. One tip Blankenship offers to minimize performance loss is to use 80 grit sandpaper to feather sand the blade edges instead of using a file.

In the thirty plus years that Larry Blankenship has been working on propellers, he has seen a substantial improvement in their initial quality, to the point that they can provide “high performance right out of the box.” Still, in order to maximize performance, minimize the problems caused by abuse, and in turn improve the odds that you’ll come out on top at the scales, a good prop man can be your best friend.

Blankenship’s substantial experience with propellers and knowledge of our local waters makes him an indispensable resource for federation members. Furthermore, his guarantee to federation members of no more than one week turnaround time means that improved performance won’t require substantial downtime. L & B Props contact information:

L & B Props
3459 Lee Ford Camp Road
Ridgeway, VA 24148
(276) 957-3444
lbprops@sitestar.net