Berkley has announced that it has expanded its pro staff roster for 2019, adding 11 new anglers to the team. The new pros will represent Berkley throughout the 2019 season on various tournament trails, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour, and the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour.
“This year will be an exciting one for Berkley as we’ve been investing heavily in the brand," said Berkley marketing VP Jon Schlosser. "In the last few months we have added 226 colors across 54 shapes in the legendary PowerBait range, as well as an outstanding assortment of new topwater baits. Our pro staff loves the new baits and we’re excited to see them do well on the tournament trail."
He adds, “Having these elite bass anglers on our team is an honor, and we are proud to have such strong representation throughout the professional tournament trails for Berkley. We look forward to working with our pro team and supporting them on their respective tours this year.”
Among the notable additions is MLF anglers Edwin Evers and Anthony Gagliardi, both of whom will use Berkley hard and soft baits along with Berkley hooks.
“With the recent success of Berkley Powerbait Maxscent and Berkley Powerbait there is no way I couldn’t be using the product," Evers said. "Berkley has been a staple in the fishing world for a long time and I am really happy to be a part of the team.”
“To me, Berkley is an icon in bass fishing," added Gagliardi. "A name that has been there since I was old enough to read bait packages as a young kid. They have been passionate about what they do and about growing the sport, but more recently they have shown a desire and commitment to be even more creative and more innovative, which is what really excites me about joining their team. Quite simply, Berkley is producing baits that just plain work.”
Also added to the Berkley team are:
> Bobby Lane (Bass Pro Tour): Hard baits, soft baits, line, hooks
“If you want to beat the best in the world, you have to fish the best fishing products in the industry," Lane said. "That’s why switching to Berkley hard baits and Fusion19 hooks was a no brainer for me.”
> Keith Poche (Bass Pro Tour): Hard baits, soft baits, line, hooks
“I am truly honored and excited to be working with Berkley," Poche said. "This company has been around as long as I can remember and I’m proud to align myself with the best in the business.”'
> Hank Cherry (Elite Series): Hard baits, soft baits, line, hooks
“Excited to be a part of the Berkley pro staff," said Cherry. "The opportunity to work hand-in-hand with some of the best people in the business is very exciting. Not to mention I get to fish with the most innovative plastics in the business.”
> Chris Groh (Elite Series): Hard baits, soft baits, line, hooks
“So excited for the continued support from Abu Garcia, but the added bonus of Berkley, I’d say I’m pretty jacked up,” Groh said.
> Mike Huff (Elite Series): Hard baits, soft baits, line, hooks
“I’m extremely excited about being a part of the Berkley team," said Huff. "I’ve used their products my whole life and now to be a part of the team is a dream come true. Just to be part of such a great company is an honor. Looking forward to the 2019 season with Berkley.”
> Joey Cifuentes (FLW Tour): Hard baits, soft baits, line
“I’m excited to join the Berkley team because they have been around a very long time and they have many years of experience in their products," Cifuentes said. "That gives a professional fisherman like me the peace of mind in knowing I have the best products on the market to catch fish with.”
> Bradley Dortch (FLW Tour): Soft baits, line, hooks
“I’m excited to be apart of Team Berkley," Dortch said. "I have been fishing with Berkley products since I started fishing and have continued to do so throughout my professional fishing career. Berkley is an industry leader and I can’t wait to have much success with the help of their products. I look forward to representing Team Berkley in the 2019 fishing season.”
> Matt Stefan (FLW Tour): Hard baits, soft baits, line, hooks, tools
“I’m extremely excited to become part of the Berkley family. I’ve used their products throughout my career and rely on them every tournament," said Stefan. "I look forward to helping develop new products to continue to help meet the high expectations of the fishing community.”
> Andy Wicker (FLW Tour): Hard baits, soft baits, line, hooks, tools
“I am excited to get on with such a great company like Berkley," Wicker said. "They have the right baits for every lake we will fish this year from Florida to up north and everything in between.”
