Tackle Trade World - May 2023

NEWS IN BRIEF
Walleye honour
for ambassador
Part-time fishing guide and St
Croix Rod ambassador Steve
Everetts of Janesville, Wisconsin,
has been inducted into the US
Walleyes Unlimited Hall of Fame.
The citation says Steve has been
recognised for his quiet, deliberate,
and selfless work on behalf of
anglers.
Huk adds pros to
team
US-based apparel brand Huk
continues to build its presence
across the nation and has
recently added top-tier anglers
and industry professionals to the
brand’s Prostaff Team.
The latest members include
Briana Tucker, Matt Massey, Drew
Gill and Luke Palmer.
Huk says it continues to develop
meaningful connections with
the nation’s leading anglers and
fishing personalities.
A taste of country
for fishing
Country singer Chris ‘Abby’
Abbondanza schedules his
concert dates around the fishing
competition calendar in the USA.
The former frontman of the
PovertyNeck Hillbillies and now
a Z-man Pro Staffer sold his bass
boat to tackle competitive kayak
fishing full-time and spends as
much time slinging ChatterBaits
and Elaztech soft plastics as
strumming his guitar or singing.
MUSTAD HOOKS PAUL RUDA
TO HANDLE NORTH AMERICA
Hook and tackle brand
Mustad has strengthened
its North American
strategy further
with the
appointment
of industry
stalwart Paul
Ruda as its
general manager
for the region.
He brings
23 years of
experience in the
outdoor industry
with some key
tackle names,
adding invaluable
insight to develop
the Mustad
brand family in
the company’s key
market.
Mustad says his
extensive experience in
sales at established tackle
brand houses including
Pure Fishing and Rather
Outdoors plus his passion
for fishing will give it an
edge in market acumen and
commercial practices.
After six years with
sports retail giant Scheels,
Paul climbed the ladder at
Pure Fishing for 12 years in
expanding sales roles.
Following valuable time
in the hunting sector,
Paul shifted back to sport
fishing as vice-president of
sales at Rather Outdoors,
before finding his next step
with Mustad.
Mustad CEO Kenni
Riise said: “With our
eyes set on growth in our
current and additional
brands under the Mustad
umbrella, there is no
question that a profile like
Paul’s interests us.
“Paul’s sales-oriented
personality strengthens
Mustad’s competencies
in retail, B2B and B2C
sales, as well as further
brand development and
acquisitions. I am confident
his skills will take us further
in the right direction.”
Paul added: “The Mustad
team has an exciting
journey ahead of them and
I am honoured to be joining
them. With a strong legacy,
solid standing in the fishing
industry and increasing
relevance among sport
fishermen globally, I’m
thrilled to help drive the
company towards continued
growth in one of sport
fishing’s strongest markets.”