Gary Yamamoto’s Ezine Newsletter 7-19-2010
gengberg July 19th, 2010
July 19, 2010 ~ Vol. 11 No. 18
Yamamoto’s Ezine is the best way for our customers, friends, anglers, tackle shops, retailers, distributors, the press and the media to stay ahead of the power curve on Yamamoto’s new products, hot new colors, top pro tips and exclusive, industry-leading research on innovative fishing tactics.
Gary Yamamoto Returns to U.S. Open Competition on Lake Mead in Las Vegas Today
Story by Jamie Cyphers
Gary Yamamoto may arguably be the most famous angler in the world. Many anglers on the planet are familiar with his name and the incredible product line that Gary has produced for the past three decades. He was instrumental in starting organized bass fishing in Japan. He will always be warmly remembered in Europe as one of the first USA pros to ever fish in competitions there, and Gary has made a lasting impression wherever he’s pioneered fishing in other countries also.
At 67 years of age, Gary has basically done it all in the sport of fishing. He’s a very accomplished multi species angler, a legendary lure inventor, promoter, and even cattle rancher. Many might not realize, that the quiet Texas-based pro is originally from the west coast and even got his start in lure manufacturing on the shores of Lake Powell, a massive reservoir that is one of majestic jewels crowning the 1,450 mile long Colorado River. Driven by a need to produce better lures for his own tournament success, Gary started GYCB in the early eighties with a small product line of grubs. That original line of baits would soon transcend the world’s oceans and become one of the most innovative and popular brands worldwide. The Yamamoto Hula Grub with its realistic colors and salt impregnation basically became a mainstay in every pros box from the USA to Japan. Later the Senko would literally become industry defining, bringing an entire new style of rigging and presentation into play. Over the years the Yamamoto name and product line has continued to grow around the world. One thing that has fueled that growth is the competitive spirit that drives Yamamoto to constantly look for perfection.
Gary Yamamoto is still looking for that perfection, and this year marks Yamamoto’s return to the prestigious U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada on Lake Mead, which is the next massive reservoir downstream on the Colorado River from GYCB’s headquarters in Page, Arizona.
Get online coverage of the U.S. Open at: www.wonbass.com.
Gary may not go as far as Rick Clunn in stating that the US Open is quite frankly the biggest and toughest event on the planet, but make no mistake, Yamamoto believes it may have been one of the most important events in the evolution of organized bass fishing. “The US Open was the first event to really put big cash on the table. It drew every big name in the country at that time because of the size of the purse and the tough conditions,” states Yamamoto.
For Gary the U.S. Open is nothing new. He’s had top finishes in the event over the years and in 1995 was crowned US Open champion. That event only furthered the Yamamoto name and increased the international awareness of just how deadly his products are. Following that accomplishment, Gary decided like many western anglers to compete back east on the Bassmaster and FLW tours. Gary found major success on both tours and even internationally in Japan and Europe.
But even with 118 degree day time temperatures the allure of winning a second U.S. Open title was just too much for Yamamoto to miss out on. Continue Reading »
