FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 22, 2001) — Minn Kota, the world’s leading manufacturer of bow- and transom-mount trolling motors, has joined Operation Bass, the nation’s premier bass tournament organization, as the exclusive trolling motor sponsor of the $4.4 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour bass fishing series.
The company has also signed on as a sponsor of the $2.5 million EverStart Series and $5.7 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League as well as the newly formed $1 million Texas Tournament Trail and $2.9 million Wal-Mart  Walleye Series. All told, Minn Kota will sponsor 149 bass and walleye fishing tournaments across the United States.
“At Minn Kota we have been driven to improve the fishing experience by offering high quality, innovative products,” said Kelly Grindle, vice president of Minn Kota. “Our sponsorship of these world-class fishing tournaments is a natural extension of that principle. It is an ideal way for us to add value to our product line by supporting the passions of our customers.”
Grindle said that Minn Kota plans to use the sponsorship as a platform to promote its full line of motors including its most recent new product, GenesisÒ. 
“Minn Kota is a superb company with the most well known brand name in the trolling motor business,” said Irwin L. Jacobs, chairman of Operation Bass. “We are honored to have them join our group of industry leading sponsors.”
Minn Kota bow-mount electric motors will be featured on the official FLW Tour and EverStart Series boats used during televised events that are broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and the Wal-Mart Television Network, which is featured in 2,400 stores nationwide. Minn Kota will also receive exclusive ad placement within the broadcast and in Bass Fishing magazine, the official publication of Operation Bass.
Minn Kota will be able to capitalize on marketing synergies and cross promotions with other Operation Bass sponsors including Wal-Mart, CITGO, Mercury Marine, Yamaha and Ranger Boats. The company will also use interactive displays in the popular FLW Tour Family Fun Zone that is set up in the Wal-Mart parking lot at each tour stop. The Family Fun Zone is an outdoor-themed festival that enables sponsors to promote products to thousands of consumers in an unconventional, entertaining way. 
 “The Fun Zone provides us with a unique opportunity to build personal relationships with potential customers in this industry leading tournament series,” Grindle said. “It’s an opportunity to build the kind of relationship that will influence future product purchases for years to come.”
Bass fishing is the most popular type of fishing among the nation’s 55 million anglers. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the number of days annually spent fishing for bass among anglers 16 and older has increased 21 percent since 1991 to 196 million. Research also shows that bass anglers are, on average, wealthier and more educated than the U.S. population as a whole, making the group a prime consumer base for Minn Kota.
Anglers in general spend nearly $40 billion annually in pursuit of their sport. This number represents a 37 percent increase since 1991 and signals an impressive opportunity for traditional industry sponsors and non-endemic sponsors alike. 
“Anglers are passionate about their sport and extremely loyal to the companies and brands that support it,” Jacobs said. “Sponsoring events such as ours should have a tremendously positive influence on consumer purchases of specific brands.”
To date, Operation Bass has assembled what is arguably the strongest lineup of sponsors in professional fishing thanks to exclusive deals with leading consumer goods companies. Sponsors of the company’s flagship Wal-Mart FLW Tour series are ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Black & Decker, Chevrolet, CITGO, Coleman, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Lowrance, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Pepsi, Plano Tackle Systems, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers Cruncher Bar, Timex, US Bank, Visa, Wal-Mart, Weed Eater, Wrangler and Yamaha Outboards. ACT II microwave popcorn is an associate sponsor.
Operation Bass and its sponsors could collectively award more than $16 million to anglers during the 2001 Tournament season.
For more information on Operation Bass, visit www.operationbass.comor call 270-362-4880. For more information on Minn Kota, visit  www.minnkotamotors.com.