Taking another step in its involvement in 
tournament bass fishing, Shimano has signed ‘Elite’ anglers Jared Lintner, Cliff Pace and David Walker to fish select tackle from its stable of fishing brands, announces Bob Mahoney, marketing manager for Shimano. All three anglers will begin the new relationship at the upcoming Bassmaster Classic on February 22-24 on Grand Lake in Oklahoma.
Lintner, from Arroyo Grande, Calif., and in his eighth year as a pro angler, will be fishing with Shimano reels, G.Loomis rods and Jackall lures. “Fishing with Shimano Chronarch and Calcutta-D reels – matched with G.Loomis GLX rods – will provide me with an extra edge of confidence when I’m casting Jackall hard and soft baits,” said Lintner.
Going on nine years as a pro angler, Pace is from Petal, Miss. and is fishing Shimano rods and reels, along with Jackall baits. “I started using Curado reels going back to one of my first tournaments on Sam Rayburn in 2003 so I’m very familiar with Shimano quality – I’ll be using the new Shimano Cumura rods to cast Jackall Squad Minnow jerkbaits in hopes that my fifth Classic is my time,” Pace said.
Both Lintner and Pace have a lengthy background with Jackall Lures. Shimano took over the sales and distribution of Jackall in the U.S. and Canada this month, notes Mahoney.
A long-time user of G.Loomis rods and a winner of more than $1 million on various bass fishing circuits, David Walker from Sevierville, Tenn., will now also be using Shimano reels. “The first baitcasting reel I ever bought was a Shimano Bantam back in the early ‘80’s,” said David, “and I look forward to using Chronarch reels on GLX 894C FPR flipping stick, and the Core reels on GLX worm rods to help me become a better finesse bait angler.”
Along with using the various Shimano tackle brands during B.A.S.S. Elite tournaments and other fishing events, “we’ll look forward to Jared, Cliff and David providing input on and field-testing new tackle,” Mahoney said. “David has been of great help to our G.Loomis crew for a more than a decade, and Jared and Cliff have had a big hand in the success of Jackall Lures. We’ll have them involved in various opportunities at fishing events and with our dealers as their travel schedules fit.”
