Connell Joins 13 Fishing for Rod Confidence and Development Opportunities
Reigning Redcrest champion Dustin Connell, who has earned that title three times and twice in a row, has added 13 Fishing as a rod sponsor. The company is under the same umbrella as his partners Rapala®, CrushCity™ and VMC® Hooks, and he looks forward to the same collaborative process he’s enjoyed with those brands as a means of improving his on-the-water effectiveness.
“I’ve had a chance to fish with all kinds of rods for a while now and I am fired up to officially have 13 Fishing® as my rod sponsor. I’ve been using 13 rods for the better part of this season, and they’ve definitely contributed to my success,” Connell said. “This is the perfect atmosphere for a professional angler, working with these iconic brands. I’m on the phone with the engineers every week figuring out what new products we can introduce and how we can make little tweaks to make everything just that much better.”
Indeed, Connell’s already-established career took on a boost of rocket fuel with the development of the dominant CrushCity™ products. Along with his close friend Jacob Wheeler, he’s inadvertently exposed them to the wider public before the official release date through tournament victories.”
Now he’ll get to work with the team to develop rods that fit his exacting standards. Indeed, all of the 13 Fishing®, Rapala®, VMC® and CrushCity™ gear is purposely designed to help top echelon anglers win championships, and to give weekend warriors the tools to maximize their precious time on the water. Combined, they form a well-integrated machine that works seamlessly together.
“When you’re competing at the highest level, you need to have the confidence that you can get every fish in the boat,” he explained. “That means the actions of the rods have to be just perfect. I care about the guides, the reel seats, even the aesthetics. Even little things, like using a 7-foot rod versus one that’s 7’2”, can be the difference between winning and just getting a check. I’m pumped up to see the future of what we’re able to produce.”
For the team at 13 Fishing, this was likewise the natural evolution of a longstanding and complementary relationship.
“In a relatively short time DC has worked his tail off to become one of the biggest names in fishing,” said Field Promotions and R&D Director Dan Quinn. “But both anglers and tackle manufacturers need to keep on getting better as the competition continually improves. This partnership is a proven winner. I work with a lot of pro anglers and they all bring great things to the table, but with DC, he’s the full meal deal. From hoisting trophies and catching bass to filming content and bringing positivity to fishing, DC is a guy that 13 Fishing is proud to work with and his name will be etched in the history books.”
Keep an eye out for a number of new rods from 13 Fishing this week during ICAST, to include a series of “Shaker” rods in the Myth and Oath families that are dialed in for “shaking” a minnow like the Freeloader and Mooch Minnows. There’s no doubt they will help DC add to his stash of trophies and accolades in the near future.
