JL Marine Systems Inc., maker of the popular Power-Pole shallow water anchoring system, has signed on to become a premier-level sponsor for all Bassmaster tournament circuits, B.A.S.S. announced today.
The sponsorship includes the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, the Bassmaster Elite Series, all Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens, all Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation events presented by Magellan outdoors, the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The two-year contract will begin with the Southern Open on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Jan. 19-21, 2017, and continue through the end of the 2018 season.
“Power-Pole anchors are a big part of the strategies that many anglers use on all of our tournament circuits,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “They have changed the sport of fishing in a relatively short amount of time, and we’re very glad to have Power-Pole onboard as a premier sponsor.”
The idea for the first Power-Pole anchor came to Florida resident and lifelong angler John Oliverio during a saltwater fishing trip for snook in 1997.
While idling his 20-foot flats boat through a narrow channel, Oliverio noticed several big snook on a sandy flat. But using a traditional anchor to hold his boat in place near the fish proved problematic due to windy conditions and the skittish nature of snook.
Believing there had to be a better way, Oliverio built a model of the first Power-Pole out of LEGOs. Then with the help of his friend Len Mriscin, he eventually constructed a working prototype that he used during a saltwater fishing tournament in 2000.
He sold the first Power-Pole hydraulic anchor shortly after the event, and that led to the formation of JL Marine Systems, which now occupies a 38,000-square-foot facility in Tampa, Fla. Power-Pole has become a world-famous brand, and the shallow water anchors have become especially popular among serious bass anglers. The company’s pro staff now features Elite Series superstars like Chris Lane and Dean Rojas.
“It’s been amazing to watch the Power-Pole shallow water anchors spread across the bass fishing industry over the past several years, and B.A.S.S. has been a great partner,” said Robert Shamblin, vice president of JL Marine Systems, Inc. “We are thrilled to take our sponsorship to the premier level in 2017. We have a lot of exciting times ahead and we look forward to sharing them with the world!”
The new premier-level sponsorship entitles Power-Pole to prime exhibition space during all 2017 and 2018 B.A.S.S. events, including the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro scheduled for March 24-26 in Houston, Texas — an event that many are expecting to be the biggest Classic ever.
The Power-Pole Captain’s Cash Rewards Club program will also provide a $1,000 contingency award to a qualified angler at each Elite Series event and an award of $500 to a Rewards Club member at each Open. Those contingencies will total $13,500 for the 2017 season.
About JL Marine Systems, Inc.
JL Marine Systems, Inc. is the Tampa, Florida-based manufacturer of Power-Pole shallow water anchors. With a complete line of hydraulic plus the all-electric Micro, Power-Pole anchors are perfect for all small skiffs, bass boats, flats boats, bay boats, kayaks and more. Power-Pole anchors are available at more than 2,000 dealerships and retailers worldwide. Visit www.power-pole.com to find a local dealer.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines, Bassmaster website, television show (The Bassmasters), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
By: JamieDay Matthews
