|
Norman,
OK. - Japan's Megabass tackle company has long occupied a unique niche on the American lure scene. Their products are well-known on the tournament trails, but have always been hoarded by ultra-competitive anglers who've found them to be difficult to obtain.
The company's wares reflect the vision of Mr. Yuki Ito of Hamamatsu, Japan, a renowned angler, lure designer and businessman, and they were truly the first high-end "enthusiast" tackle company to enter the US market, shortly after the company formed in the late 1980s.
While their products have been known by top anglers for years, the company never made a major push to penetrate the broader market here. The result has been feverish Ebay bidding wars among those "in the know" for the rare and highly-effective lures.
"The only reason that they're not perceived as number one over here is by their choice," said long-time pro-staffer Randy Blaukat, of Missouri. "I'm not speaking for them here, but they were a pioneer of high-end tackle in Japan and had it been on their mind, I have no doubt they'd be at the top here too."
Now the company has focused its sights firmly on the American market, and Blaukat is at the forefront of that effort. He's been affiliated with the company since 1992, and credits products and support from Megabass for the fact that he's qualified for a combined 16 Bassmaster Classics and FLW Tour Championships.
He's been with Team Fuji for several years, but will now run a Megabass-wrapped boat and truck.
"I have nothing bad to say about Fuji at all," Blaukat said. "But (Megabass) had been telling me for several years that they wanted me in a wrapped boat. The timing was everything in this deal. Within a month of when the Fuji deal went away, this came up. I've been with them since 1992, so I know it's a real stable relationship."
"By having Randy run a fully wrapped boat, we hope to trigger a new interest in Megabass in the United States," said Masaki Murayama, the company's point man in the states. "Megabass Japan has been very successful in adapting to the Japanese market, but now we're turning serious attention to overseas markets."
Blaukat's Ranger Z20 will also be distinctive insofar as will have Yamaha's new four stroke motor hanging from the transom.
"There will be two or three of us running four strokes this year to showcase their environmental benefits," he said.
The other big news coming from Megabass is that they've signed FLW Tour angler Luke Clausen, past winner of both the FLW Tour Championship and the Bassmaster Classic, thereby bringing their US pro-staff to a total of four. The two other anglers are Aaron Martens and Danny Correia. It was Blaukat and Correia who recommended Clausen to Mr. Murayama.
"I didn't know Luke very well, but I was very impressed by his humility," Blaukat said. "I hate cockiness among the high-level professional anglers. At both of his major wins, he was so humble and laid back, it really impressed me. That showed me how he is as a person and that's why I pushed Masaki hard to bring him on board."
Clausen will be affiliated with the company's hard baits. Blaukat represents both their lures and their line of rods.
While Clausen's formal relationship with the company may be new, he said that Megabass products have been part of his arsenal since before he burst on the national and international radar screen.
"I use that Vision 110 (jerkbait) a lot. It's a large part of where I'm at today. Before I embarked on my pro career, I won a boat on it and that was what inspired and allowed me to fish professionally."
While Blaukat has been to Japan on the company's behalf five times, Clausen has not yet traveled there, but hopes to do so soon in order to learn more about the Megabass production process.
In the meantime, the four members of the US pro-staff will work closely with Murayama to develop an "American Line" of Megabass products, lures tailored to the wide variety of waters and conditions that confront anglers in the US.
"Megabass already has a great lineup, but there's room for new baits, and I look forward to helping Megabass to expand," Clausen said. "A lot of the success will be based on the credibility of our results. We have a lot of opportunity to get the word out."
Blaukat's only worry is that he may lose a slight edge over his fellow competitors who've been unable to obtain certain baits, but he stressed that his commitment to the company outweighs that concern.
"So many people have asked me over the years to get them some. It's been like a Porsche. Everybody wants one, but not everybody can have one," he said. "The quality is there, and once the word gets out to weekend anglers, BFL anglers and club guys the lures will be number one here like they are in Japan."
|
