FLIPPIN, Ark. (June 8, 2016) – Ranger Boats Pro Mark Rose won the Bassmaster Southern Open Angler of the Year title. The angler’s 579 points accrued from competing in the three Southern Open events gave him the title and qualifies Rose for the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Rose started strong at the first Southern Open event on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Florida. His third-place finish put him in a good position in the Angler of the Year standings. Rose’s followed up with a 15th-place finish on Smith Lake in Alabama and ended the Southern Open trial with a sixth-place finish on Douglas Lake in Tennessee.

In addition to fishing the Bassmaster Southern Open, Rose is competing in the Bassmaster Northern Opens, FLW Tour and MLF. The invitation to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series opens the door for Rose to broaden his territory and open up new possibilities.

“I like to have my feet in a little bit of everything,” said Rose. “I really like fishing all three trails.”

Rose has had a long-standing relationship with Ranger Boats. Since his college years and throughout his 17-year professional career, Rose has always driven a Ranger boat.

“I had always heard about the prestige of Ranger Boats,” said Rose. “So, when my father bought me my first boat, we actually went to Flippin. I have never made a cast out of another glass boat.”

Rose cites dependability as one of the most important qualities of Ranger Boats.

“Confidence build success in my book,” said Rose. “I’ve got so much confidence in the reliability of a Ranger boat. Never in 17 years of fishing has my Ranger let me down. When you are fishing for angler of the year and championships, reliability is huge.”