Motorguide Renews 26-Year BASS Sponsorship

May 9, 2004
B.A.S.S. News - Archived

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, today announced that MotorGuide, its longest-running current sponsor, has renewed its premier sponsorship with the world's largest fishing organization.

   "I am very happy to announce that MotorGuide will be with us well into the future," said BASS Vice President and General Manager Dean Kessel. "We continue to partner with brands who share our collective vision and passion for BASS and the sport of bass fishing."

   As part of the agreement, MotorGuide will continue as the exclusive, official trolling motor sponsor of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, Classic, and the BASS Federation.

   "As the longest running sponsor of BASS, MotorGuide is honored and excited to renew our longtime commitment to the sport of bass tournament fishing and the BASS/ESPN initiative to grow the sport," said Mike Phillips, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for MotorGuide. Phillips noted that MotorGuide has been a BASS sponsor since 1978.

   MotorGuide's heritage of building trolling motors has also been renewed with the recent introduction of MotorGuide's new digital Tour Series motors. Digital represents a shift in trolling motor design. Many top names in tournament bass fishing use MotorGuide trolling motors every day to make a living. Pro anglers Gerald Swindle and Jay Yelas each won the Bassmaster Angler of the Year title using MotorGuide's new digital Tour Series motors in the last two years.

   "We are committed to tournament bass fishing, the BASS Federation and their conservation efforts and appreciate the long-term partnership we have had with BASS to grow the sport," Phillips added.

   MotorGuide is now located in Tulsa, Okla., and has manufactured trolling motors since 1961 the year G.H. Harris invented the first bow mount trolling motor. At this summer's Bassmaster Classic featured on ESPN2, MotorGuide will showcase their Tour Series TR109P Trolling motors with built-in transducers designed to optimize sonar performance.