BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Bass
fishing fans will be seeing a new name linked to Bassmaster tournaments in the
2013 season: Shimano.
Maker of precision fishing tackle, Shimano has become an official Supporting
Sponsor of the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open,
Cabela's B.A.S.S. Nation and Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.
"Two of the best names in bass fishing just joined forces, and I think
B.A.S.S. members and bass fans are the biggest winners here," said Bruce
Akin, CEO of Birmingham-based B.A.S.S. LLC. "Shimano will be a great
addition in 2013 to all Bassmaster events and media."
Shimano and B.A.S.S. have partnered before. One recent collaboration was in
early 2012 in the creation of bassmaster.com/Shimano,
a site that helps educate anglers about Shimano products, then directs them to
local retailers to make a purchase. Sponsorship of Bassmaster events is a
further step into the bass market.
"While we have relied on the support of B.A.S.S. and its members for a
good number of years in order to become a prominent brand among bass anglers,
this new sponsorship takes Shimano to a new level," said Carey Graves,
fishing division vice president for Shimano. "We'll be interacting with
anglers and fans at most of the B.A.S.S. tournament venues and events, plus
we're very pleased to be able to support the B.A.S.S. efforts with its live-release
boats. It's inherent to our success to do all we can to ensure a thriving,
healthy bass fishery."
Shimano will wrap Bassmaster live-release boats, continuing a long-standing
tradition of support of smart catch-and-release practices, and especially of
the use of release boats, which Shimano helped to pioneer. Shimano also will
wrap the giant video screen on the Bassmaster stage used at Bassmaster Elite
Series events.
At many of the more than 30 Bassmaster tournaments of 2013, fans will be
treated to displays and demos of the company's newest products. With events
across the country in 20 different states, fans will have multiple chances to
cast the company's bass reels.
"B.A.S.S. members and others can expect to see a Shimano demo team exhibit
at all the Elite Series events, and select Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation and College
Series tournament sites," noted Bob Mahoney, Shimano's fishing division
marketing manager. "We want anglers to be able to experience Shimano reels
- the feel, the sensitivity, the smoothness, the power - rigged and ready to
cast, whether they've come to watch their favorite pro anglers or are competing
themselves in an event."
Up first in 2013 will be the Jan. 31-Feb. 2 Bassmaster Southern Opens on
Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga. Next will be the
Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 22-24, on Grand Lake out of Tulsa, Okla. Then the
Bassmaster Elite Series season gears up March 14 in Orange, Texas, on the
Sabine River System. Shimano plans to be there, too, with its well-known reel
series bass anglers instantly recognize, like the new Calcutta D and proven
Curado baitcasters, and Sustain and Stradic spinning reels.
"We're anxious to showcase Shimano to bass anglers everywhere,"
Mahoney said. "We obviously think we make the best bass reels out there,
and we can't wait to take our message to the best bass anglers in North
America."
For more information about Bassmaster events in 2013, visit www.Bassmaster.com. For information about Shimano
bass products, go to bassmaster.com/Shimano
or fish.shimano.com.
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing.
The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive
tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of
bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to
serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster
Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2
and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich,
leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro
Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela's
B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the
Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and
remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The
organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.
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