BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gamakatsu, a leading manufacturer and innovator of fishing hooks and terminal tackle, has signed on as the tournament title sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Seminole. The 2023 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole will be held February 23-26 in Bainbridge, Ga.
“Gamakatsu has had a great relationship with B.A.S.S. over the years, and we are excited to advance this year with the title sponsorship of the Seminole event,” said Ted Thibault, sales manager at Gamakatsu USA. “The Seminole event will feature big bass caught with a wide range of techniques. We are excited to showcase the Gamakatsu brand and our wide range of products inside of this great tournament.”
While Seminole was once a familiar stop on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail — B.A.S.S. has visited the 37,500-acre Chattahoochee River reservoir 15 times since 1968 — there hasn’t been an event on the fishery since 2015. The lake has historically been known for some of the best sight fishing for bedding largemouth in the country, and the timing of the event in late February could play right into that storyline.
Gamakatsu has deep relationships within the Elite Series ranks, with 17 current Elite Series anglers on their pro staff, including 2022 Elite Series champion Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., who has been fishing Seminole for most of his life.
“I'm very excited to have a company that has believed in and been with me my whole career sponsoring an event on my home lake,” said Cook. “Seminole is fishing great, and I think we will see some really big weights fishing multiple patterns.”
Live coverage of all four days of the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole starts Thursday, Feb. 23 on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
About Gamakatsu
From humble beginnings as Japan’s smallest fishing hook manufacturer in 1955, Gamakatsu® Ltd has evolved to become the world’s preeminent hook manufacturer. Over the years, manufacturing upgrades and cutting-edge innovations have fueled Gamakatsu® USA’s rise as a top producer of fishing hooks, apparel and fishing-related items.
When anglers purchase Gamakatsu® hooks, they are buying an original product made exclusively by Gamakatsu®. Gamakatsu® is continuously testing new materials and striving to improve its products, which already sets the standard for the rest of the industry.