WON Bass, the operator of the U.S. Open, has announced a 2-year partnership with Bass Cat Boats, with the latter becoming the exclusive bass boat manufacturer for the organization.
Earlier this year, WON Bass announced that Bass Cat had partnered with the organization for the 2017 season. The company is offering its $63,000 Puma FTD boat powered by a Mercury 250 Pro XS as the grand prize for this year's tournament. This new agreement extends into 2018 and 2019 and includes a Bass Cat top prize at each of five major events over the course of the agreement.
Bass Cat will be offering two prize boats in 2018 – a Sabre FTD as the grand prize for the 2018 California Open and a Puma FTD as the top prize for the 2018 WON Bass U.S. Open. In 2019, the prize packages will be the same, along with an additional Sabre FTD to be the prize for a third WON Bass Open at Lake Havasu.
"The US Open is one of the premier bass fishing events in the country," said Bass Cat president Rick Pierce. "It's a tournament everyone in pro fishing would love to fish and many find the opportunity to do so. We are pleased to be a part of this event that extends beyond a Western legacy. It is a part of bass fishing's nationwide history, and the 200-boat field in 2017 is the largest in the modern history of the event and really shows the major momentum they've created."
Said WON Bass tournament director Bill Egan: "I can't be more pleased to announce that WON BASS has reached a new 2-year commitment from our partners at Bass Can Boats for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Bass Cat is an outstanding company run by some of the best people in the business."
