BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A licensing agreement that grants American Bass Anglers Inc. (ABA) the use of B.A.S.S. marks with respect to the Weekend Series will not be renewed after 2013, ABA and B.A.S.S. LLC announced in a joint statement today.

“The agreement, which began in 2007, will end Dec. 31. ABA, based in Athens, Ala., will continue to conduct a series of one- and two-day professional bass fishing tournaments named the Weekend Bass Tour, or WBT,” said Morris Sheehan, president of ABA. “ABA will continue to offer well-run weekend tournaments for its members and other anglers throughout the country. The newly named tour will not be associated with B.A.S.S. or its brands.”

“The Bassmaster Weekend Series has enabled B.A.S.S. members to compete on fisheries in their local regions, and we are grateful to ABA for providing those opportunities,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “The time has come to consider other grass-roots formats, including some that will enhance the B.A.S.S. Nation network of competitive events. We wish ABA success in its endeavors.”

“We are proud of our association with B.A.S.S. and the Bassmaster brand over the past seven years,” Sheehan said. “American Bass Anglers, our staff and our tournament directors throughout the country have always been dedicated to serving weekend fishermen, and we will continue that tradition in the years to come.”