Koppers Fishing and Tackle Corp. of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is the newest sponsor of the seven-event Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.

 

“Koppers Fishing is very proud and excited to expand our relationship with B.A.S.S. by supporting the college fishing segment this year. We feel this is a natural progression for our growing company to support youth and grass-roots anglers who are vital to the future of our industry,” said Koppers Product Placement Specialist Tom Chopin.

 

As an official College Series sponsor, the maker of LIVETARGET lures will have a strong presence at the circuit’s events scheduled for 2013. The season kickoff will be Jan. 4-5 in Tavares, Fla., on the Harris Chain of Lakes. The competition not only will mark the collegiate season’s start, but also will be the first of 30-plus events scheduled for the entire 2013 Bassmaster Tournament Trail.

 

Koppers also will be on board for the other College Series stops of 2013: Texas’ Lake Amistad in Del Rio; California’s Clear Lake out of the city of Clear Lake; Santee Cooper out of Manning, S.C.; the Mississippi River out of Fort Madison, Iowa; a wild-card championship qualifier on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala.; and the season closer, the national championship, at a site to be announced. A schedule is available at www.Bassmaster.com/college.

 

“Koppers can expect a big welcome at College Series events,” said Hank Weldon, College Series manager. “Hard baits with cutting-edge design are always going to get the attention of any angler, but collegiate anglers are especially tuned in to how technology can help their fishing. Koppers makes that kind of lure.”

 

Among the hottest of those hard baits for the bass market are the new LIVETARGET Popper Frog and LIVETARGET Crappie.

 

Voted “best hard lure” at ICAST 2012, Popper Frog is part of the family that also garnered back-to-back ICAST product awards in 2010 and 2011. Those were a hollow body frog and field mouse, while the new lure is a hard topwater bait that features a lifelike leopard frog profile with an action that marks it as a serious popper.

 

Also new, LIVETARGET Crappie has the finish and shape of a real slabside. It is offered in two versions: a flat-side crankbait in 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 inches and a slightly larger lipless rattlebait of 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 inches.

 

Grant Koppers, an avid angler and lure maker since the age of 8, produced his first LIVETARGET model in 2005. A former professional fishing guide, he bases his creations on realistic finishes, lifelike colors and 3-D textures. Today the lures are available at major retail chains and at independent retail shops across the country. More information can be found at www.livetargetlures.com.

 

Owned by B.A.S.S. LLC and based in Birmingham, Ala., the College Series offers structured, quality competitions for college teams. In the few years since it was first operated by B.A.S.S., the collegiate division has grown to reach anglers from about 100 colleges and universities spread throughout the country.

 

In 2013, a new conference-style structure lends a coast-to-coast reach with the goal of making tournament participation easier for more anglers. The circuit offers a Bassmaster Classic berth to the successful angler in the postseason bracket competition between the top finishers of the annual College Series championship.