Plano Signs On As Title Sponsor For Mississippi River Elite Event

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tackle storage magnate Plano Molding Co., Inc., has secured the title sponsorship of the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series season finale.

The final event of the regular Elite Series season will take place Sept. 8-11 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis.

“We’re pleased to partner with Plano Molding Co. on our finale Elite event,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “B.A.S.S. appreciates their dedication to equip anglers at every level with the tools they need for tackle management to make the most out of their fishing experience.”

“Plano is excited to again have the opportunity to join B.A.S.S. as a title sponsor of the Elite Series event in La Crosse, Wis.,” said Ben Rand, Plano Molding Co. director of marketing. “The Elite Series continues to be best in class, and brings the most talented anglers from across the country. Our partnership with B.A.S.S. allows us the opportunity to keep Plano front of mind for our passionate and valued customers throughout the year.”

The La Crosse tournament will be the third time for the city to host a Bassmaster Elite Series event. During the June 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series River Rumble, Texan Todd Faircloth caught 20 Mississippi River bass weighing 62 pounds, 4 ounces to win the tournament. The river also produced two more 60-pound totals as Mississippi’s Cliff Pace finished second with 61 pounds and Terry Butcher of Oklahoma took third with 60-11.

Catching more than 60 pounds was also the benchmark for the June 2013 River Rumble at La Crosse. Oklahoman Tommy Biffle clinched the victory by catching 20 bass totaling 64-2 while Aaron Martens of Alabama took second with 61-11. The average bass weight for the previous two La Crosse events was 2.61 pounds for 2012 and 2.46 pounds for 2013.

As part of the title sponsorship deal, Plano exhibited its products at the 2016 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods March 4-6 at Tulsa, Okla., and will also display them during the Elite Series season finale at La Crosse. Highlighted in Plano’s booth at the Classic and Elite event was the company’s cornerstone StowAway boxes and two new products — the A-Series QuickTop and M-Series tackle bags.

The A-Series QuickTop is equipped with a molded see-through ABS lid atop a soft tackle bag that includes four Plano StowAway 3600 or 3700 utility boxes. The new M-Series consists of two tackle bags, a Hydro-Flo Tackle Bag with the Hydro-Flo Base that allows water to drain out of the bag’s bottom for drying or rinsing lures, and a Messenger Bag featuring eight exterior pockets, a molded insert for storing a 3600 box and inside storage for up to nine StowAway boxes.

Plano Molding is a Plano Synergy Holdings, Inc. brand. The company revolutionized the tackle storage business in 1952 by creating the first molded plastic tackle box. In addition to Plano Molding, Plano Synergy brands include Ameristep, Avian-X, Barnett Crossbows, Caboodles, Creative Options, Evolved, Flextone, Frabill, GroundEFX, Halo Optics, Wildgame Innovations and Zink Calls. Information about all of Plano’s products is available at www.planomolding.com.

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 and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), 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, B.A.S.S. Nation, 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.