Dakota Lithium signs on as new Bassmaster Rookie of the Year sponsor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dakota Lithium, a U.S. battery manufacturer founded in 2008 and the Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster, has expanded its partnership with B.A.S.S. and will serve as the title sponsor for the hotly contested Bassmaster Rookie of the Year award through 2025.
“Powering the future of fishing, one battery at a time,” said Craig Storms, Dakota Lithium national sales representative and pro staff manager. “Dakota Lithium is a proud sponsor of Bassmaster’s Rookie of the Year race, where the best and brightest anglers rise to the top, just like our high-performance lithium batteries.”
The 2023 Elite Series rookie class is already making a huge impact. In just the second event of the season, Joey Cifuentes III took home a win on Lake Seminole, while the other rookies have already amassed 10 Top 20 finishes. After four events, Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points, but he holds just a one-point advantage over David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala.
Along with the coveted Rookie of the Year title, the winner will take home a $10,000 prize.
“We’re excited that Dakota Lithium has decided to encourage and reward up-and-coming anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series by sponsoring Rookie of the Year,” said Lisa Talmadge, Bassmaster Elite Series tournament director. “The 11 rookies who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series this year are incredibly strong and include veteran Opens competitors, a highly decorated and successful college angler, celebrated international competitors and even a former Bassmaster Junior champion.”
Earlier this year, Dakota Lithium signed a three-year sponsorship deal for the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award. In addition to entitling the Kayak Series Angler of the Year and Elite Series Rookie of the Year points races, Dakota Lithium also serves as a premier sponsor of the six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail and iconic Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.
About Dakota Lithium
Founded in 2008 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, by two pilots and a chemical engineer, Dakota Lithium is the leading consumer lithium battery brand in the U.S. and Canada. Built on a culture of relentless improvement and reliability, Dakota Lithium batteries have twice the power, half the weight and five times the lifespan of traditional batteries. Backed up by DL’s best-in-class 11-year warranty.
Here at Dakota Lithium, we believe that quality makes the difference. And that quality is measured by lifespan — how long a battery lasts. That’s why we focus on building batteries that last a long, long time. By harnessing Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry and our engineering know-how, Dakota Lithium lasts five to 10 times longer than traditional batteries, providing lasting value for our customers and reducing e-waste and the impact on our planet.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.