Two-Time Bassmaster Classic Champion Collaborates with Iconic Fishing Brands on New Rod, Reel, Line and Bait Offerings

COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 31, 2019) – Two-time Bassmaster Classic winner Jordan Lee is partnering with Abu Garcia^® and Berkley^® to design a series of signature baits, line and rod and reel combos. The new product lineup by Jordan Lee features three incredibly lifelike Berkley^® PowerBait^® soft baits, a signature spinning and casting combo and a new color to the x5 and x9 braided lines.

“The amount of testing, design and validation that went into all these new products from Abu Garcia and Berkley was almost overwhelming,” said Jordan Lee, Bassmaster Classic champion and Abu Garcia and Berkley pro staff angler. “From the lifelike designs of the Berkley PowerBait softbaits to the durability and performance of the Abu Garcia rods and reels, I am confident that this product offering gives anglers more tools in their arsenal across the board.”

Jordan Lee’s new PowerBait offerings include The Champ Craw, The Champ Minnow and The Champ Swimmer. The new softbaits feature lifelike profiles with a new HD Tru Color technology to mimic real bait and appeal to a fish’s sense of sight with precision detail. All three baits feature the exclusive Berkley PowerBait formula that drives fish to hold on to a bait 18 times longer* than a traditional soft plastic, giving anglers the time and confidence to feel more bites.

The Champ Craw, a 3.5-inch finesse craw, features large claws that float for lifelike action and has an aggressive defensive posture when resting on the bottom. The body shape is ideal for Texas rigs, punching rigs and jig trailers. The Champ Minnow, a 3.4-inch small-profile minnow imitator, features an anatomically correct tail that mimics live baitfish and is the optimal shape for drop shot rigs and jig heads. The Champ Swimmer is 4.6-inches and features a large thumping paddletail that displaces more water, for more action. Its flat back design makes it great for hiding hook points and weedless rigging. Each of the new Berkley PowerBait The Champ Series softbaits is available in 12 HD Tru Color options.

The new Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Combos are designed by Lee and packed with many iconic Abu Garcia features. The Jordan Lee low profile baitcast combo features a custom Winn® advanced polymer Dri-Tac grip, five stainless steel HPCR^TM bearings and one roller bearing, Power Disk^TM drag system and a MagTrax^TM brake system. The Jordan Lee spinning combo also has a custom Winn grip with six bearings and one roller bearing, proprietary Rocket Line Management System^TM and Everlast^TM bail system.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with Abu Garcia to create these quality combos,” said Lee. “These combos were designed with college and high school anglers in mind. A high quality combo for upcoming anglers at a great price.”

Jordan Lee values high visibility colors when he’s on the water, allowing him to make more accurate casts and see more strikes, which is why his signature Berkley x5 and x9 Braid offering is a high vis Flame Green color. Both braids are available in 10 sizes (6-, 8-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 65- and 80-pound test). In addition, the Berkley x9 Braid will have a 100-pound test option, for a total of 11 sizes. Berkley x5 and x9 will be available in spool put-ups of 164-, 328- and 2,188-yards. Berkley x5 and x9 braid is uniquely differentiated with an additional carrier in the core making for a rounder, more manageable braid and 10 percent more line on the spool. Both braids offer higher knot strength with x5 braid excelling in abrasion resistance and x9 braid pushing the bounds of smoothness and casting.

“Working with pros like Jordan on new Berkley and Abu Garcia products is an exciting part of the overall product development process,” said Jon Schlosser, vice president of marketing for Abu Garcia and Berkley. “It allows us to continue to utilize science and real-world application, as we work with inspiring anglers to develop new product innovations for the angling community.”

The Jordan Lee Champ Series will be available in retail stores in late July 2019.