Mercury and the best bass anglers – the perfect formula
Mercury Marine has partnered with many of the world’s greatest tournament anglers to win more Bassmaster Classic championships than all other engine companies combined. Since its earliest days, Mercury has been recognized as a world leader in speed and acceleration. Combining that power with awesome reliability and forward-thinking innovation provides Mercury-sponsored anglers an advantage that continues to deliver win after win. Watch the videos below to learn about some of Mercury’s top pro team members and their remarkable stories.
Skeet Reese
West Coast winner
Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, has done it all: 2007 Angler of the Year, 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion, $3 million in earnings, eight wins, and 15 qualifications to the Bassmaster Classic. Now he can rest a bit . . . or can he? “I’ve won Angler of the Year, I’ve won the Bassmaster Classic. But if I want to put myself in the record books I need one more Classic . . . at least.”
Kevin VanDam
Born to win
Kevin VanDam has earned the right to aim as high as he wishes – including winning an unprecedented fifth Bassmaster Classic title. With a record-tying four Classic wins already on the shelf next to seven Angler of the Year titles, KVD is driven and motivated rather than satisfied. “Everyone wants to win the Classic,” he said, “but I want to win my fifth. When I won my first, I was overwhelmed, but each one after that became even more special.”
Edwin Evers
Letting up is not an option
Edwin Evers of bustling Talala, Oklahoma – population 273 – is a heck of a pecan farmer and a wonderful family man, but perhaps even more he’s a sensational bass tournament competitor. Evers, 44, won the 2017 Bassmaster Classic in his home state to go along with 11 B.A.S.S. Elite championships. He fished professionally a long time before winning the Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa. “For it to finally happen in front of my hometown crowd in Tulsa made it nothing short of amazing,” he said.
Randy Howell
Some things can be fixed only by winning
After more than 200 professional bass tournaments, perennial fan favorite Randy Howell pulled everything together in perfect fashion to win the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. His family, like always, was there to see him do it. “I had always wanted to win the Classic and when I finally did I thought, ‘Well, I’ll be satisfied,’” said Howell. “But when you win it gives you the fire to win it again, over and over, because that’s the only way to get that feeling back – by winning it again.”
Casey Ashley
…and he’s just getting started
Casey Ashley of Donalds, South Carolina, muscled his way into the top ranks of professional bass fishing as a youngster, kicking down the door and hitting the throttle full on until he won the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. And no one who knows Casey Ashley thinks he has won his last Classic championship. “I might not win (the Classic) again or I might win 10 more times, but that first one will always be special,” said Ashley, now 34 years old.