BEMIDJI, Minn. (April 8, 2021) – Since 1994, Classic Bass’s mission has been to support bass tournament anglers of all skill levels with access to comprehensive information on tournaments, techniques, results and products. To further support tournament anglers, Classic Bass added a tournament series to its portfolio in 2017.
The Classic Bass Champions Tour, presented by Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards, was launched, and thus began the most exciting tournament circuit in the Upper Midwest. A four-event regular season schedule plus a year end Championship captivated and engaged bass fishing anglers as they watched the Champions Tour events unfold via live scoring updates, photos and video via the Classic Bass website and social media channels.
The tournament series was created by Classic Bass owner, and longtime bass tournament angler, Scott Bonnema. The goal of this circuit is to bring the finest anglers from various regions of the Midwest together to compete.
Support of the tour has been massive with the likes of Skeeter, Yamaha, Minn Kota, Humminbird, and other fishing companies sponsoring the circuit. The big news now for the Classic Bass circuit is Bagley Baits has stepped on as the official hardbait sponsor of the Classic Bass Champions Tour for the 2021 season.
Classic Bass marketing specialist Glenn Walker of Providence Marketing Group remarks, “Scott Bonnema and Classic Bass are looking forward to helping Bagley become more well known in the bass community here in the Upper Midwest. They’re definitely great baits that anglers need to know about. Bagley has a fish-catching past and all the different crankbaits have application today to produce big fish in a lot of different conditions.”
Bagley baits at Tackle Warehouse
Along those lines, Classic Bass has created a special Bagley Baits Champions Tour Pro Team with anglers Tony Hatten and Noah Schulz as the face of Bagley Baits on the tour. Walker comments, “Noah Schulz was our Championship winner in 2019 and Tony is a seasoned tournament angler not just in Minnesota but has spent time down south and is currently fishing the MLF Toyota Series circuit in addition to the Classic Bass Champions Tour. We couldn’t be happier to have these anglers represent Bagley on the water.”
Classic Bass founder and owner Scott Bonnema remarks, “Personally, I am very excited to have Bagley Baits come onboard. They’ve been a staple to the Midwest region for many, many years and they’ve grown their product line to cover a very large base of anglers.
The exciting news of Jarmo Rapala serving as chief bait designer for Bagley Baits and Northland is truly exciting. I had the chance to meet him many years ago, and he’s a man of integrity and has done a lot for the fishing tackle industry. And they’re still known as one of the finest original lure manufacturers, period. I’m excited to see it all come together. I think our anglers will benefit greatly from this relationship.”
CEO of Bagley Baits and Northland Fishing Tackle, Gregg Wollner concludes,” Bagley Baits is honored and proud to be associated with Classic Bass. At Bagley, we are committed to serving the markets where these anglers live and compete with products that are uniquely made for their success. I look forward to working with the entire team at Classic Bass.”
In 1975, a young Northwoods fishing guide named John Peterson started pouring jigs and tying tackle for his clients in a small remote cabin in northern Minnesota. The lures were innovative, made with high quality components, and most importantly, were catching fish when no other baits were working! Word spread like wildfire, the phone started ringing… and the Northland Fishing Tackle® brand was in hot demand!
For 40 years now, John and the Northland® team have been designing, testing and perfecting an exclusive line of products that catch fish like no other brand on the market today. Manufactured in the heart of Minnesota’s finest fishing waters, Northland® is one of the country’s leading producers of premium quality jigs, live bait rigs, spinnerbaits and spoons for crappies, bluegills, perch, walleyes, bass, trout, northern pike and muskies.
ABOUT Bagley Bait Company
The personality of any company comes from its founder. Jim Bagley was an inventive, fun-loving, passionate fisherman who became one the most respected legends in the fishing tackle industry. In late 2010, Jarmo Rapala and a group of investors bought Bagley Bait Company.
As an admirer of Jim Bagley for his attention to quality and of his product ingenuity and innovation, Jarmo initiated significant changes in operations, enhanced production processes and quality control. Now in 2020, Northland® Fishing Tackle, along with Jarmo as its Chief Lure Designer, maintain the legacy of creating premium balsa crankbaits and topwater lures, as well as jigs and spoons for both freshwater and saltwater anglers.