MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. – Oklahoma professional angler Zack Birge is making his return to the Bass Cat Boats family for the upcoming 2025 season. After spending a few years with a different boat brand, Birge realized that his longtime partnership with Bass Cat best supported his fishing style, values, and offered the best chance to achieve success on the water.Coming Back to Bass Cat: A Perfect Fit
“It feels so good to be coming back home,” Birge said. “I’m excited to run the products that I started my career in. My dad ran a Bass Cat in the past, and I grew up around a lot of people in the ‘family.’ I went directly from an aluminum boat into a Bass Cat and then ran one for 12 years.”
A Track Record of Success
Birge has had a successful career with three top-ten finishes in Redcrest Championships, two top-ten placements in Heavy Hitters, and a victory at a 2024 Bass Pro Tour event on Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula, leading him to a sixth-place finish in the Angler of the Year race. His career highlights also include winning FLW’s Rookie of the Year award in 2015.
Running the Eyra for 2025
For the 2025 season, he’ll be running a Bass Cat Eyra, which he describes as “the perfect hull” for its nimble, sporty design. Birge is gearing up for an ambitious schedule, competing in both the Bass Pro Tour and the National Professional Fishing League. His busy schedule is part of why he values the peace of mind that comes with a Bass Cat, a brand he calls a trusted constant in his career.
“It’ll give me peace of mind when I get back in one,” he explained. “As I said, I ran a Bass Cat for 12 years, and not once did I question the reliability or quality of the boat. That’s important, but it also comes back to the people. I know that I can call Rick Pierce and talk about just about anything—not just the boat and fishing, but life in general and business decisions. You get a family-type, honest answer. It’s unlike any other brand.”
Bass Cat’s Perspective: Family and Tradition
Rick Pierce of Bass Cat Boats shared that seeing Birge in another brand last season felt unnatural. “While I pulled for him, watching him last season in another brand was not normal,” Pierce said.
For Pierce, Birge’s return represents a continuation of a relationship that goes beyond business. “Some things just feel right. We are very glad to see Zack make a decision to rejoin our ‘family,’” Pierce said. “His father had a Bass Cat boat decades ago and still has a small one today. Knowing Zack since before he could know me makes this decision very special. We’ve watched him grow up, watched him date his now-wife, start a family, and the progression from the Bassmaster College Series for Oklahoma State, on through to his professional MLF BPT successes, has been an amazing process. He understands our values and will promote them wonderfully on and off the water.”
About Bass Cat
Bass Cat, owned by Correct Craft, manufactures the industry’s premier bass fishing boats from its headquarters in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Family operated since its founding in 1971, Bass Cat is the only bass boat company with over five decades of family involvement throughout its long history. For more information visit www.basscat.com.
About Correct Craft
Celebrating 100 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Ingenity boat companies, Pleasurecraft Engine Group, Indmar Marine Engines, Velvet Drive Transmissions, Mach Connections, Merritt Precision, Osmosis, Watershed Innovation, and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit www.correctcraft.com
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