Elite Series angler Steve Kennedy, who for years has competed out of a boat wrapped with Auburn University-inspired graphics rather than one adorned with company logos, has been added to the Bass Cat Boats pro staff, the company announced today.
The veteran angler from Auburn, Ala., will compete in his eighth Bassmaster Classic in March and plans to run a Bass Cat Eyra during the 2017 season.
“I’ve always felt that Steve was the best angler at the tour level,” said Bass Cat team manager Kevin Short, a former Elite Series angler and longtime friend of Kennedy. “I don’t know anybody out there who understands how to find and catch fish as naturally as Steve. He’s extremely guarded and doesn’t easily forge relationships, so we are thrilled that he chose to join the Bass Cat family.”
Kennedy first became aware of Bass Cat’s family atmosphere during a tournament prior to the start of his tour-level career when he chipped a tooth. Bass Cat’s matriarch Jan Pierce immediately dropped everything to find him a dentist, despite having never met him.
“That really made an impression on me,” Kennedy said.
Equally important to him in making this decision was the company’s total commitment to quality. Kennedy added, “For most of my Elite experience I’ve had one of the slowest boats out there, but I won’t anymore. Now I’m expecting to be one of the fastest! I’m excited to be in a new boat and I’m going to have fun with it.”
Bass Cat president Rick Pierce added, “Steve, Julia, and their kids have been like family to us for years. Along the way we’ve watched him approach fishing in his own individual way, similar to the way we’ve always done business here at Bass Cat.”
