Today New Jersey-based BassFan.com announced that it completed a merger with Portland, Oregon-based ProBassAngler.com. Certain features, sponsors and ProBassAngler.com's (PBA) six-figure following will be merged into BassFan.
"This merger could not be more perfect," said BassFan founder Jay Kumar. "Like BassFan.com, PBA has provided independent, original-content coverage of professional bass fishing. And under Scot Laney's guidance it quickly gained a large, loyal following. I welcome Scot and PBA fans to BassFan."
"For me the merger was a no-brainer," said PBA founder Laney. "BassFan provides the most exciting coverage this industry has ever seen. Its content is far superior to anything else out there, and the statistical World Rankings are very important for the sport to be taken seriously by mainstream America."
Auspicious Beginnings
The merger is another stage in BassFan.com's rocket-powered launch.
BassFan went live on Aug. 1, the day before the BASS Masters Classic started, and over Aug. 2-4 the BassFan.com World Rankings were on ESPN's SportsCenter (night and morning editions). The following week BassFan.com was profiled in the coveted eSports section of USA Today.
Since BassFan's debut, its unique users (domestic and international) have been growing at 200 percent per week. In addition, several daily newspapers are now carrying the BassFan.com Word Rankings with more to follow.
PBA History
PBA, launched in 1997, quickly became recognized as the only independent voice in professional bass fishing. Fans responded to that voice, and last year PBA recorded a whopping 350,000 unique user sessions.
PBA's most popular features -- including the contest and Laney's editorials -- will be merged into BassFan. Look for Kumar and Laney to bring BassFans more exciting features in the coming months.
Top Pros Involved
PBA has been supported by several top pros, who will now support BassFan. They include Kevin VanDam, Denny Brauer, Paul Elias, Gary Klein, Skeet Reese, Tom Mann Jr., Gerald Beck and Gerald Swindle.
