Shimano To Extend Supporting Sponsorship Of All B.A.S.S. Tournament Circuits

Feb. 11, 2016

Shimano To Extend Supporting Sponsorship Of All B.A.S.S. Tournament Circuits

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Shimano, maker of precision fishing tackle, has signed a multiyear deal with B.A.S.S., LLC to extend the company’s support of all B.A.S.S. tournament circuits.

Under the agreement, Shimano will continue as a supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Costa Bassmaster High School Series for 2016 and 2017. Shimano’s partnership with B.A.S.S. began in 2013 when the company became a supporting sponsor of Bassmaster events.

“B.A.S.S. prides itself on associating with the very best companies, especially ones that are dedicated to preserving and growing the sport of bass fishing,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Shimano is an excellent example of that. The Shimano brand represents quality fishing tackle, and the company is known for leading-edge efforts to promote and improve catch-and-release bass fishing.”

Shimano helped pioneer the use of live-release boats to support effective catch-and-release practices with five generations of the company’s live release boats safely returning millions of bass, walleye and other fish to the water alive and unharmed. Bassmaster live release boats wrapped by Shimano show the company’s continued support for catch and release.

For more than 80 years, Shimano has concentrated on precision engineering of reels. Shimano’s products include many all-time favorites for bass anglers such as the Chronarch, Curado and Calcutta baitcast reels and Stradic spinning reels.

“As a returning sponsor, we recognize that one of the best ways to reach avid bass anglers is to connect with them at tournaments, events, and through the media B.A.S.S. provides,” said Chris Russell, go-to-market senior manager for Shimano. “We enjoy working closely with all the anglers — from Bassmaster Elite Series pros, to regional anglers, to high school teams. We gain valuable insight on the newest trends in the industry and get to interact with anglers across the country by attending all levels of B.A.S.S. events with our Shimano Experience Team. Working with B.A.S.S. provides the platform we need and helps us connect with the best bass anglers in an effective way.”

The sponsorship agreement provides Shimano with a large booth at the 2016 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods March 4-6 in Tulsa, Okla., where the fishing tackle manufacturer will have a chance to connect with thousands of bass fishing fans. Some of the newest products Shimano will reveal at the Classic include the Curado 70 baitcast reel, a small-spool, narrow-frame model and a Caenan baitcaster designed for the weekend-style tournament angler.

In addition to displaying new products, Shimano’s Classic booth will be set up as a technology tour focusing on the company’s Hagane concept.

“The idea behind this concept is that we work on highly durable metal products and our ability to form and make them with such precision allows you a reel to last a long time, be very durable and feel smooth for a long time,” Russell said.

An on-site reel tech support, Shimano Garage, will also debut at the Classic Outdoors Expo where Classic fans can have their Shimano reels serviced for free. Shimano’s trained staff will clean and lube the reels as well as provide maintenance tips for keeping the reels running smoothly throughout the year.

The Shimano Experience Team will also treat fans to displays and demos of the company’s latest products at Bassmaster tournaments throughout the season.For more information on Shimano bass tackle, visit fish.shimano.com or www.facebook.fishshimano.

About ShimanoShimano American Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Shimano, Inc., a worldwide leader in the manufacturing of fishing tackle and fishing lifestyle gear. Along with its sales, service and distribution operations in Irvine, Calif., and Peterborough, Ontario, Shimano manufactures PowerPro braided fishing line in Grand Junction, Colo., G. Loomis fishing rods in Woodland, Wash., and maintains a distribution center in Ladson, S.C. Shimano also handles the sales, marketing and distribution of Jackall Lures in the U.S. and Canada.

Since 1990, the Shimano Sports Fisheries Initiative ( SSFI) has supported scientific research, habitat improvement, educational programs for young people and fishery conservation efforts across the United States and Canada. For almost 30 years Shimano Live Release boats have returned hundreds of thousands of tournament caught fish to their home waters alive and unharmed. SSFI has been at the forefront of developing science based fish handling and live release methods which have significantly reduced fish mortality in competitive tournaments of all sizes and for multiple fish species across North America. For more information, please visit http://fish.shimano.com.

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