Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jonathon VanDam, who notched his first Elite Series win this past season, will fish with Shimano reels, G. Loomis rods and PowerPro line going forward, Shimano announced today.
“Not only are we pleased to support an angler who has used our tackle for most of his young life,” said Brian Nolte, Shimano American Corp.’s retail services senior manager, “but he also knows the Shimano, G. Loomis and PowerPro products well and will be a great product advocate on the tournament trail and when helping anglers at D&R Sports Center, his family’s tackle shop in Kalamazoo, Mich.”
In addition to using the products in competition, VanDam will help promote the brands at events and shows and assist in new product development.
VanDam credits his father and grandfather for introducing him to fishing many years ago.
“And because of that family support and the opportunity to learn about tackle from working in the family business, I now am able to represent three of the best brands in the fishing industry,” VanDam said. “I look forward to throwing big crankbaits with Calcutta D reels on GLX rods, working a dropshot rig with a Sustain reel on a NRX rod – and bringing a few additional Elite wins back to Kalamazoo.”
