Ranger Boat's Shake Up Results in Bass Boat Sponsorship Switcheroo

Ranger cancels contracts

By Luigi De Rose

Takahiro Omori joins Bass Cat as scores of 
other Ranger Boat pros move on. (Photo: Facebook) 

Has the penny finally dropped? With the acquisition of Rangers boats by White River Marine Group in 2014, fans and pros alike wondered how that would change the face of bass fishing. Immediate change never transpired but under the strain of Covid, a changing market place and an upsurge in popularity in fishing and boating, 2021 has become the year of change. Ranger Boats has always held the largest pro-bass boat team in the industry. That still holds true but to the shock of many fans and pros alike, there has been a shake up. Surprisingly, some of the most popular and successful Bassmaster, MLF/ Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit were not shielded. 

Boat companies cannot take the brunt of the blame for change. Engine companies hold tremendous power and money. Competitive anglers must go with whom is willing to feed them. Much like boat companies, the engine market is ruled by a few key figures. Mercury is king. Yamaha is a strong second with Honda and Suzuki grabbing slivers of the market share from these two giants.  

Keep a look out for your favourite angler on social media as they might be sporting a new boat title sponsor for the upcoming season.

Here is the current list of anglers as of January 27, 2021

Takahiro Omori: Ranger to Bass Cat

Bill McDonald: Ranger to Bass Cat

Scott Suggs: Ranger to Bass Cat

Cody Meyers: Ranger to Blazer

John Murray: Ranger to Caymas

James Watson: Ranger to Charger

Luke Clausen: Ranger to Charger

Charles Sim: Ranger to Falcon

Tom Redington: Ranger to Pheonix

Ish Monroe: Ranger to Skeeter

Scott Martin: Ranger to Skeeter

Brett Hite: Ranger to Vexus

Jared Lintner: Ranger to Vexus

Jason Christie: Ranger to Xpress Boats

 

Non-Ranger Pros who have switched

Fletcher Shryock: Nitro to Caymas

 Carl Jocumsen: Bass Cat to Falcon

Brandon Coulter: Triton to Falcon

Keith Poche: Triton to Gator Trax Boats

New Diawa LT Series of Spinning Reels with Dave Chong

The Diawa LT series of spinning reels were designed lighter and stronger in a more compact package. The strength of the Zaion housing is an example of the LT design concept of Light but Tough. At the heart of the reel is a machined Aluminum Alloy DIGIGEAR designed for smoothness, strength and durability. The main shaft utilizes the Magseal, which prevents water and debris intrusion. The reel is long-casting and extremely smooth.

New Diawa LT Series of Spinning Reels with Dave Chong

The Diawa LT series of spinning reels were designed lighter and stronger in a more compact package. The strength of the Zaion housing is an example of the LT design concept of Light but Tough. At the heart of the reel is a machined Aluminum Alloy DIGIGEAR designed for smoothness, strength and durability. The main shaft utilizes the Magseal, which prevents water and debris intrusion. The reel is long-casting and extremely smooth.

Legendary Angler Ken Cook Dead at 68.

Super Bass Winner and 1991 Classic Champ Passes. 
By Luigi De Rose

Cook was a six time BASS champion during his career.
(Photo: BASS)

With great sadness the bass fishing industry mourns the loss of Ken Cook of Oklahoma.

While visiting one of his three sons, he suffered an apparent heart attack early last Friday morning. Ken's career started in the early 1970s but winning the 1983 Super Bass event on the St. John's River in Florida cemented his legendary pro status. He continued to fish BASS until 2009 and notched six career wins on that circuit including the 1991 Bassmaster Classic. Most will associate him flinging spinnerbaits while he steered his Skeeter bass boat with one foot on his hand controlled trolling motor in the early years.

A fisheries biologist by trade along with tournament angling, he later became an owner of a successful big game ranch. He is survived by his wife Tammy, three sons and their families.

Here's a great BASS video of the 1991 Classic which he won doing what he did best, casting a spinnerbait.

Link here for video

2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC Day 2: Pace Leads by 7 Pounds!

By Deb Johnson

BASS PRESS RELEASE

TULSA, Okla. — A consistent Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., not only kept his first-day lead in the Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, he pulled away from the pack by 7 pounds in the second day of competition for $500,000 and the biggest trophy of pro bass fishing.

Pace shook off the angler who tied him for the lead Friday, Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J.

Pace has had two amazing days. Will Day 3 be the same?
(Photos: BASS)

With a Saturday catch that weighed 21 pounds, 12 ounces, Pace has racked up 43-4 over two days of competition on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. His second-day weight was 4 ounces more than the 21-8 he brought to the scales Friday.

“I didn’t fish differently today at all,” Pace said. “For me, it’s been all about committing to the way I can catch the big ones. I took a big, big risk to do that. I think I’m doing something that has potential and will hold through tomorrow.”

He said Saturday started slowly for him, with his first bass coming about 10 a.m. He ended up catching the day’s largest bass, a 7-2 largemouth.

The Grand Lake event marks Pace’s fifth Classic appearance, but he’s never won one. He came close in 2008 on Lake Hartwell when he was second to Alton Jones of Texas.