Minn Kota, which shook the fishing industry in 2017 with the introduction of its Ultrex trolling motor and again just last year with the addition of QUEST technology for all of its motors, will serve as the title sponsor for this year’s Bassmaster Elite Series event at South Carolina’s Lake Murray.

The Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray will be held May 9-12 from Columbia, S.C. It will be the fifth stop on the nine-tournament Elite Series schedule and should mark the point in the season when the race for Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year begins to really take shape.

The 50,000-acre fishery recently placed fourth on Bassmaster Magazine's 2023 100 Best Bass Lakes list after producing 49 limits of 20 pounds or more during the 2023 Elite Series event that was won by Florida pro Drew Benton with 87 pounds.

“The Minn Kota brand is proud to sponsor the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Murray, where we’ll be in store for an exhilarating tournament at a venue where our anglers consistently demonstrate exceptional skill,” said Brad Henry, senior brand manager for Minn Kota and Humminbird. “Lake Murray provides the perfect environment for showcasing the cutting-edge technology that makes our trolling motors so impactful for anglers. We look forward to being at the forefront of this event, supporting the anglers and witnessing the always suspenseful excitement that unfolds during tournament competition.”

Minn Kota and Lake Murray will truly be a pairing of two bass fishing heavyweights.

A Johnson Outdoors company, Minn Kota has been developing high-quality products since 1934 to help anglers get where they’re going, whether they’re fishing a tournament or just plain fishing. The company took its game to new heights in 2017 with the introduction of the Ultrex trolling motor which featured Spot-Lock, a revolutionary technology that helps an angler keep his or her boat in place with the simple push of a button.

In 2023, Minn Kota debuted QUEST technology while reintroducing new and improved models of its Ultrex, Ulterra, Instinct, Terrova, Riptide Terrova, PowerDrive and Riptide PowerDrive bow-mount trolling motors. Besides the GPS-guided navigational features anglers have come to expect from Minn Kota, all of the new and improved motors feature enhanced boat control tools to make the angling experience even easier, whether you’re fishing freshwater or saltwater.

“Our event last year at Lake Murray was one of the most entertaining on the Elite Series schedule, and we expect the same thing this year,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “When you say ‘Minn Kota’ and ‘Lake Murray’ together, it just sounds right. They’re two great parts of the fishing world that just fit together perfectly — and we’re excited to have Minn Kota as the title sponsor for this event.”

Live coverage of all four days of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray starts Thursday, May 9 on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.