AIM Angler of the Year Marianne Huskey is the pro staff coordinator for Matzuo. She said, “We’re excited to be a supporting partner with NPAA. They’re doing great things within the fishing industry. We will work with NPAA to reach out and educate grassroots and tournament fishermen about our products.”
Many anglers are familiar with the Matzuo Kinchou minnow. “It really tore the walleyes up on Oahe, Erie and Green Bay the past couple years,” she said. The Marianne Huskey signature series have been a big hit. “Expect new colors soon,” she said, “But what we’ve found is they’re not just for walleyes. Trout and salmon love ‘em.”
The lipless Ikari crankbait for bass and walleye was introduced at the ICAST tackle show last July, and will hit the store shelves soon. It’s designed for covering water and she said, “We’re looking forward to fishing it vertically for walleyes this winter. It really thumps.”
A new multi-jointed crankbait will join the Matzuo family in 2015. New saltwater, pike and musky lures are being added to the line. Also new is the only Quick Change bottom bouncer that slides on the main line. “With changing depths, wind and speed, anglers can switch to lighter or heavier bouncers quickly,” she said.
All Matzuo lures are now featured on the Precision Trolling App dive curve. On her drawing board is the formulation of a new pro staff team. “This will be multi-species just like our line-up of tackle,” she said. “The crappie guys really like our sharp Sickle hooks with their light wire. They’re perfect for minnows. Take a look at the Matzuo website; it’s loaded with new lures, new colors and features all species,” she said.
Huskey will have a Matzuo product display at the NPAA conference Jan. 2-4 at the Minneapolis Crowne Plaza near the airport. She will also be announcing a NPAA member’s only program
NPAA Supporting Partners include: Advanced Tex Screen-printing, Cabela’s National Walleye Tour, The Walleye Federation, Evinrude Outboards, Fishouflage, Plano Synergy, Great Lakes Sea Grant, Lund Boat Co, Matzuo, Mercury Marine, Muskie Expo Chicago & Milwaukee, Navionics, Nebulus Floatation, Optima Batteries, Outdoor First Media, Pure Fishing, Ranger Boats, Skeeter Boats, Stratos Boats, Triton Boats, U.S. Forest Service, Wildlife Forever, Worldwide Marine Underwriters, Yamaha Motor Co., Arrowhead Promotion and Fulfillment, Bait Rigs Tackle Co., DuraSafe Locks, Fish on Kids Books, G2-Gemini, Kingfisher Boats , Larson Boats, Liddle Marketing Company, Moonshine Lures, Motor Guide, Mutual of Omaha, National Fleet Graphics, Northland Fishing Tackle, Off Shore Tackle, Pasha Lake Cabins, Powrtran, Simms Fishing, Smooth Moves, Strike King, Target Walleye, The Next Bite, Warrior Boats, High Tech Fishing, Fishing the Wildside, and Financial Planning Services. More NPAA annual conference news, member and association news can be viewed at www.npaa.net.