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WINN MAKES ITS BASSMASTER CLASSIC DEBUT IN GREENVILLE, S.C. , HOSTS CUSTOM ROD DRAWING

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California –Winn Inc., manufacturer of the world’s finest fishing rod grips, will unveil its latest generation of rod grips to American anglers at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, S.C., on February 20-22, 2015.

Winn made its formal debut to the fishing tackle industry on three continents last year, but its appearance at this year’s Bassmaster Classic expo still will be a coming out party of sorts for the California-based sports product innovator.

“American bass fishermen -- the most avid anglers on the planet – will see the high-tech performance benefits Winn has put in the angler’s hand with our latest generation of grips and innovative grip system,” said Winn owner and founder Dr. Ben Huang, whose patented polymer and design technologies revolutionized tennis and golf before taking the fishing tackle industry by storm. “We are excited to introduce these during professional fishing’s biggest event and give bass fishermen this opportunity to see the blend of function and fashion that Winn rod grips put in the angler’s hand.”

Winn and Mud Hole Custom Tackle, rod component supplier and distributor of Winn rod grips, will host a drawing for custom-built rods featuring the new Winn grips during the three-day expo held during the Bassmaster Classic tournament on Lake Hartwell. One winner each will be chosen on Friday and Saturday. The Sunday Grand Prize Winner will receive a custom-built rod used by Bassmaster Classic contender Brandon Lester.

The companies encourage expo attendees to stop by their booths and enter the contest.

Winn grips are made from Dr. Huang’s patented polymer and design technologies, which have had profound influence in sports equipment for golf, tennis and bicycling. The WinnDry polymer used in Winn rod grips eases hand and arm fatigue, improves casting accuracy and control, and maintains its tacky feel even in rain and snow and temperature extremes.

Winn’s appearance at the Classic coincides with its signing of two Bassmaster Elite Series anglers – Brandon Lester and Russ Lane -- to its pro staff in the month leading up to the Classic.

The new 2015 line-up of Winn rod grips and components will be available March 1, 2015.

For additional information on Winn grips, see the Winn Grips Fishing website (www.winngrips.com).

BASSMASTER ELITE PRO RUSS LANE JOINS WINN PRO STAFF

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California – Premium fishing rod grip manufacturer Winn Inc. has named five-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Russ Lane to its pro staff.

“I am definitely excited to be working with Winn,” said Lane. “A lot of people know my reputation for getting maximum performance out of all of my equipment. And Winn grips bring advantages in performance and comfort that you just can’t get from other materials.”

Winn’s handsome multi-textured rod grips emerged from the patented design and polymer technologies of Dr. Ben Huang, who worked under “the father of rocket science,” Dr. Wernher Von Braun, in the development of the Saturn V rocket that took Apollo astronauts to the moon. Winn, a world leader in golf and tennis products, introduced its first full line of high-tech rod grips made from the patented WinnDry polymer in 2014.

“Russ Lane’s love of Winn products comes from his passion for tackle improvements that add to his fishing performance,” said Dr. Ben Huang, Winn founder. “He was one of the first fishermen in the Bassmaster Elite ranks to recognize the new high-tech benefits that Winn has put in the angler’s hand.”

Lane’s first introduction to Winn came through his rod sponsor, CastAway Rods, which introduced the premium Invicta rod line with Winn grips in late 2013.

“I absolutely fell in love with the Winn grips on those rods,” Lane recalls. “I noticed, first, that the grips feel tacky and give me more control. The Winn grips really shine when they get moist…I also found that my hand feels less fatigued at the end of a day of fishing. I don’t have to grip the Winn rod handles quite as firmly to maintain control.”

Now Lane has retrofitted other tools in his rod arsenal with Winn grips as well.

Lane installed the grips himself to learn as much as he could about the product. He made a pleasant discovery along the way.

“I figured it out quickly that replacing grips is really easy to do,” said Lane. “After I did the first one, it took me no more than 10 minutes to install each grip after that. It just takes several steps and a couple of small, inexpensive tools.”

Russ Lane’s love of high-tech equipment runs deep. Known to optimize his fishing reels by replacing standard reel parts with high-performance components, he also added HawgTech (www.hawgtech.com) carbon fiber reel handles featuring Winn reel knobs to his reels this past season, further familiarizing himself with Winn’s advanced technology.

Winn currently markets its grips to OEM and custom rod builders as well as to retailers, rod builders and rod repair services for after-market rod grip replacement.

Winn’s latest generation of grips will debut at the 2015 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, held in conjunction with the Bassmaster Classic on February 20-22, 2015, at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina. The complete 2015 line-up of Winn rod grips and components will be available March 1, 2015.

See Winn Grips Fishing website at www.winngripsfishing.com for more information.

WINN MAKES PRO STAFF AGREEMENT WITH BRANDON LESTER

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California – Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Lester will launch the 2015 season at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Tohopekaliga in January with the logo of his new sponsor, rod grip manufacturer Winn Inc., on his jersey and boat wrap.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity,” said Lester, a rod craftsman who has built two flipping/pitching sticks and a swimbait rod with Winn grips, to fish the Open as well as the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell this February. “Winn rod grips enable me to build the best rods possible!”

Winn rod grips spring from the patented design and polymer technologies of Dr. Ben Huang, who worked under “the father of rocket science,” Dr. Wernher Von Braun, in the development of the Saturn V rocket that took Apollo spacecraft to the moon. Winn, known worldwide for its high-tech golf grips, introduced its first full line of high-tech grips made from its patented WinnDry polymer in 2014.

Winn also provides custom grips for premium rod lines made by CastAway, Cabela’s and Hammer Rods and for the award-winning Vapen Red series of Redington Fly Rods.

“We are very pleased to work with a talented professional angler like Brandon Lester,” said Dr. Ben Huang. “That he is a student of fishing and makes his own rods will help us all the more and make fishermen aware of the advantages our ‘space-age’ grips bring to their sport.”

Lester noted that Winn brings an entirely new paradigm to rod building with its array of full and split grips.

“It seems that, ever since the beginning of time, fishermen have used grips made from cork or EVA foam,” noted Lester. “Now it’s 2015. It’s time for something new! Winn grips put control in the angler’s hand and relieve fatigue. Their tacky feel is unlike anything fishermen have had before, and they get even tackier when the weather is cold and wet… It is exciting to be on the cutting edge.”

Winn has redesigned its entire grip line for the 2015 season with elegantly designed straight, curved and elliptically tapered grips as well as fly rod and specialty grips and components. It has also added a “non-slip polymer overwrap” to this season’s offerings.

Lester, who credits another of his sponsors, Mud Hole Custom Tackle, with advancing his rod-building expertise, also will bring 15 rods retrofitted with Winn grips on his return to Tohopekaliga. In 2013, his third place finish at ‘Toho” in this very same event paved the way to his Bassmaster Southern Open points victory – his ticket into the Bassmaster Elite series.

Winn currently markets its grips to OEM and custom rod builders. Winn plans to work with retailers, rod builders and rod repair services to develop a program of after-market rod grip replacement.

Winn will exhibit its latest generation of grips at the 2015 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, held in conjunction with the Bassmaster Classic on February 20-22, 2015, at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina.

The new 2015 line-up of Winn rod grips and components will be available March 1, 2015.

See the “Where to Buy” menu on the Winn Grips Fishing website at www.winngripsfishing.com for the most current list of Winn rod grip distributors.

WINN ROD GRIPS NOW AVAILABLE

Winn Inc. has partnered with Mud Hole Custom Tackle to sell its full line of premium fishing rod grips.

Now fishermen and rod makers at every level will be able to purchase Winn products and enjoy the performance and design benefits of Winn rod grips!

Winn rod grips are made from the patented WinnDry polymer, developed by Dr. Ben Huang, who worked with Wernher Von Braun in the development of the Saturn V rocket that took American astronauts to the moon. Winn rod grips maintain their tacky feel and aid angler comfort and control even through rain and snow and temperature extremes.

As you know, CRBG members have taken special interest in the launch of Winn’s colorful array of multi-textured rear grips, split grips, fly rod grips, saltwater grips and other specialty fishing rod grips. Winn supplied test sample grips to attendees of the guild’s rod building workshop in Fort Worth, Texas, last spring as well as to select readers of RodCrafters Journal who had volunteered to build rods with the Winn grips.

RCJ reported on Winn’s market entry last spring and showcased rod projects employing Winn grips in the fourth quarter 2014 issue.

“Winn appreciates the valuable feedback from guild members,” said Mike Coelho, national sales manager. “Now, thanks to our distributors, custom rod builders everywhere will have access to Winn rod grips.”

All three distributors will carry the full line of Winn rod grips currently available as well as new products scheduled for 2015 release.

Mud Hole Custom Tackle (www.mudhole.com), with a 15,000 square foot facility in Oviedo, Fla., lays claim to being the world’s largest supplier of tackle crafting supplies. It provides rod-building supplies to small rod manufacturers, hobbyists and large OEMs around the world. Phone 1-866-790-7637 or 1-407-447-7637.

For more information on Winn Rod Grips, see the Winn Grips Fishing website at: www.winngripsfishing.com.