Stratos Boats announced today that Mike McClelland has joined the Stratos Boats Champion Elite pro staff. Wired2Fish had the chance to talk to Mike about the move. "I am thrilled to be joining Stratos Champion Elite" said McClelland. "Its really neat to know that I will be running a boat with the fit and finish, hull design and backing that Stratos has. Having my background with Champion really helps. The folks who build them are the best in the business and I know how good these boats are. Not only is the boat exceptional but it is exciting to be cutting new ground with the Stratos family from my perspective. The 210 Elite is one sweet boat!"
A familiar name at the top of the BASS Elite Series standings, Mike McClelland will continue to be a mainstay aboard his favorite bass boat following his recent addition to the Stratos Boats Pro Staff.
McClelland’s move to the Stratos Pro Staff ensures that he will continue to fish from his preferred fishing platform, the venerable 210 Elite. Previously manufactured under the Champion brand, the 210 will now be part of the three-model Stratos Champion Elite Series, a line of professional-level bass boats centered around highly acclaimed, performance-based designs.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” said McClelland. “The 210 Elite is an amazing design and is a big part of my overall confidence every time I’m on the water. Just as important, though, are the people at Stratos. They’re a great group with a huge love for fishing, an uncompromising product and total commitment to solid performance - just the kind of drive that delivers a lot of winning momentum.”
Reinforcing those accolades, the new professional-level fishing platforms allow Stratos and Champion loyalists to accelerate their competitive edge on the water by blending power, performance, first-class fishing features and aggressive styling while also reaping the competitive advantages of proven hull design. With 18-, 19- and 20-foot configurations in the Stratos Champion Elite Series lineup, anglers across the country will be able to match their new Stratos boat to suit their fishing styles and destinations. The new Stratos Champion Elite Series boats will be built in Flippin, Ark., with production slated to begin in July in accordance with the normal model-year changeover. While no official date has been set for dealer delivery, Stratos fans will begin seeing the new Champion Elite Series models at local dealers in Fall 2010.
"The addition of the Champion Elite Series helps solidify Stratos' position within the ultra-competitive world of professional-level bass fishing,” said Vice President of Marketing, Bart Schad. “It doesn't matter if you fish for a living, want to fish for a living or enjoy spending your weekends on the water trying to win some money and a few bragging rights, anglers want a boat that suits their personality. At Stratos, it's all about being aggressive, high performance – built to get the job done."
With four BASS Elite Series tournament wins, 22 Top-10 finishes and more than $1.2 million in career earnings, McClelland adds even more talent and star power to a pro staff that includes professional bass fishing legend, Larry Nixon, and reigning BASS Angler of the Year Skeet Reese. The mixture of proven performance, legendary reputation and competitiveness makes all three pro staffers an ideal fit for Stratos’ aggressive fishing platforms.
