Arroyo Grande, Calif.
– Jared Lintner is a step ahead of the game this year. Unlike the beginning of last season when he was scrambling to get his boat wrap and his jerseys completed to be ready for his sophomore year.
“I’m not sure what to do with myself,” Lintner told The BASS ZONE. “My boat is all wrapped, my jerseys all designed, and I am just looking forward to the Classic.”
Lintner revealed that his graphics for the 2008 season have changed, and instead of the Skeeter dominated wrap of 2007, his boat’s primary branding will be Tackle Warehouse; although Skeeter and the rest of his team will be prominently represented. “The base color is black and it features a skeleton fish backdrop with a Picasso Finesse Jig on the side,” he said. “It’s different, but it looks really good, I am really happy with it.”
The canvas for his Tackle Warehouse masterpiece is a Skeeter 20i powered by a 250Yamaha VMAX Series 2 outboard. “I love this boat,” Lintner said. “It rides great, is plenty fast, has great storage, and fishes really well. I like that the deck allows me to see the water better, and the low gunnels make it easier to present baits to targets.”
Lintner announced that he has reached an agreement with WileyX Sunglass Company of Livermore, Calif. If that name sounds familiar, it is the same company that Skeet Reese recently signed with. “I actually started working with them after Lake Toho, the final event of 2007,” Lintner said. “We just had a pro staff gathering at their offices, and they took us through the whole product line; it was a very productive meeting.”
Lintner said that WileyX is a family owned company that is run by brothers Miles and Dan Freeman who took over for their father; he also said that the company feels like family. “Everyone who works there is either a family member or friend of the Freeman’s,” Lintner said. “They took the time to walk us through their products, but also wanted our thoughts on making sunglasses for the fishing industry.”
He said the whole approach reminded him of working with another one of his sponsors. “Keith Bryan at Powell Rods is similar in that he wants us to have the tools we need to be successful,” he said. “One example is the new 754 CB Glass. I told him about an old Lamiglas cranking rod that I used to throw lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and he came up with a rod modeled after my specs.”
He said that the rod is his new favorite reaction bait rod. “I use it for throwing my TN40 lipless crankbaits and 3/8 and 1/2-ounce Picasso Spinnerbaits,” Lintner said. “I have
been able to find that kind of commitment from companies like WileyX and Powell, it’s great to work with them.”
He also said that his relationship with Tackle Warehouse has been something he enjoys, “Rich and I have been friends for so long, that working together is natural,” he said. “He does a great job of bringing great products into the store, and I get to help him with that, it’s a great partnership.”
“Whatever happens between now and the Classic,” he said. “I know I have a great support team around me, and I am looking forward to where we will be going in 2008.”
Look for Lintner’s new wrap to unveil at the Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C. February 22-24.
