Pelican's Ultimate Match Fishing Season 19 Returns to Outdoor Channel This Summer

Published June 28, 2022


pelican joe thomas fishing lake erie

Torrance, CA -

Pelican Products, Inc., the global leader in rugged, mission-critical protective cases and coolers, returns as primary sponsor for Ultimate Match Fishing (UMF) on Outdoor Channel this July.

UMF showcases competitors squaring-off one-on-one on the same boat, casting their line to see who can capture the largest catch. The show is hosted by Joe Thomas, professional angler, hunter, archer and Pelican™ Ambassador.

The action-packed 19th season features eight of the top professional bass anglers in the world, including defending Ultimate Match Fishing Champion, Jonathan VanDam. Other anglers include past champions Dave Lefebre (2017) and the world’s number one ranked bass angler Jacob Wheeler (UMF champion 2015-2016). Also featured in this year’s competition is Bass Pro Tour veteran and former Army drill instructor James “Worldwide” Watson and legendary pro and 1992 Bassmaster Classic champion Paul Elias. Also appearing are UMF newcomers Fletcher Shryock, Mark Daniels Jr., and Dustin Connell, the 2021 Major League Fishing Redcrest Cup Champion.

This year’s competition takes place on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, one of the premier bass fishing destinations in America.

Pelican’s Ultimate Match Fishing will air Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. EST beginning July 2, 2022, with additional airings Friday mornings at 8:30 a.m. EST and Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m. EST.

About Joe Thomas
For over 30 years Joe Thomas has made a living with a rod and reel. As a BASS Elite Series and FLW Tour pro, Thomas has competed at the highest level of the sport of professional bass angling. Today, Joe Thomas can be found fishing on "Stihl's Reel in the Outdoors" and hosting “Pelican’s Ultimate Match Fishing” on the Outdoor Channel. From the Amazon to Alaska, Thomas travels to incredible destinations to discover the people and places that make fishing a uniquely American pursuit.


About Pelican Products

Pelican Products, Inc. is the global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance protective cases, temperature-controlled packaging solutions, advanced portable lighting systems and rugged gear for professionals and outdoor enthusiasts. Their products are used by professionals in the most demanding markets including fire safety, law enforcement, defense / military, aerospace, life sciences, industrial, entertainment, and in numerous outdoor markets. Pelican™ products are designed and built to last a lifetime. The company operates in 27 countries, with 23 international sales offices and eleven manufacturing facilities around the globe. In Europe, the company does business under the name Peli Products, S.LU. and the division which manufactures temperature-controlled packaging for the healthcare industry, does business worldwide under the brand Peli BioThermal. For more information, visit www.pelican.com.

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