Gene Larew Lures announces the addition of Walmart FLW Tour pro Jacob Wheeler to its pro-staff, bringing together one of the oldest names in soft-plastic lures with one of the youngest million-dollar earners along the top tournament trails.
Wheeler, 24, is the 2011 Walmart Bass Fishing League All-American and 2012 Forrest Wood Cup champion. He’s earned more than $886,000 with FLW alone.
“Jacob has a lot of reasons to be sporting that grin of his that's as big as the flat bill on his cap; he's had an amazing start to his career,” says Gene Larew owner Chris Lindenberg. “While we of course like what we see in his fishing skills, I can honestly say that we like even more the Jacob Wheeler person we've come to know better in recent months.
“He's a humble young man that is quick to credit his success to life lessons learned from a hard-working family that struggled to make it through tough times, and who's been giving back ever since to his loving parents who taught him to fish,” Lindenberg adds.
“As a bass-fishing fanatic, I knew about Larew, and of course the brand's relationship with legendary angler Tommy Biffle, but I didn’t know the folks behind the company name," Wheeler says. “When Upshaw [fellow Tour pro Andrew Upshaw] introduced me to Chris and his team at ICAST last summer, I felt right at home. Larew is a great fit for me and my fishing style.
“Larew has a history of great products, but what they have introduced through innovation in recent years is proof that these guys really 'get it,’” Wheeler adds. “As a result, I’m expecting great things to continue to come and a shared success throughout my 2015 season and beyond.”
