BASS Elite Angler Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson Joins Z-Man Team!

You might call it the ultimate tackle testimonial.

Long before Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson flashed the Z-Man logo—or cashed a sponsor check from the cutting-edge South Carolina tackle company— the versatile tournament angler was already boating big sacks of bass with ChatterBaits and other Z-Man creations, under the radar.

Actually, at the March 2018 FLW Tour event at Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes, Gussy made no secret of the fact he and fellow Ontario angler Chris Johnston wielded identical Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammers to finish 2nd and 1st, respectively. (In truth, Johnston' tourney-winning ChatterBait came from Gustafson's personal stash.) At the time, neither angler was sponsored by the company whose lure earned them a cool, collective $155,000.

The lure Gustafson calls the 'crankbait of grass fishing'.

On the heels of the 2019 season, Gustafson's first in the Bassmaster Elite Series, Z-Man has legitimized the alliance, inking an endorsement deal with the popular Canadian angler.

"Formally linking up with Z-Man is especially cool because I've been friends with these guys and have fished their baits for years," said Gustafson, while packing for inaugural Elite Series events, two-thousand miles from his Keewatin, Ontario home. "These days, you almost have to fish ElaZtech softbaits and ChatterBaitsto stay competitive. Z-Man makes some high-level stuff that helps a lot of guys cash checks."

"First time I fished with Gussy about five years ago, I immediately knew we needed to have him on the Z-Man team," said company president, Daniel Nussbaum. "Gussy's genuine, engaging personality perfectly matches his intense passion for the outdoors. But what also stood out to me was his ability to succeed in tournaments from Ontario all the way to Florida. That level of fishing intuition and versatility is a special gift."

Beginning almost two decades ago, Gustafson began an incredible run of tournament success, winning the ultra-competitive Kenora Bass International in 2000 and 2008. He also claimed first place at the 2005, 2010, 2011, 2017 and 2018 International Falls Bass Championship and won the Fort Francis Canadian Bass Championship in 2013 and 2014. For the past six seasons, the star Canadian angler has achieved success on the nationwide FLW Tour, claiming numerous top-10 finishes.