New collaboration delivers world's-first integrated angling experience with connected fishing rods

Bluetooth device, powered by ANGLR, in the rod butt © Andrew Golden

ANGLR, Lowrance® and Abu Garcia®, announce the successful collaboration between the three brands to blend their cutting-edge technologies to create a powerful new way to plan, record and relive fishing adventures - all while using precise data to catch more fish. Giving anglers a previously unavailable level of control, the ANGLR app acts as a bridge between the new Abu Garcia Virtual™ Rod and compatible Lowrance chartplotters/fishfinders. This new functionality lets users privately capture key fishing data with a click of a button - without the need to stop fishing to access navigation displays, logbooks or mobile devices. This new functionality will be on display at both the Lowrance (#3200) and Abu Garcia (#2207) booths during the Bassmaster Classic Expo, which runs March 6-8 in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Abu Garcia Virtual Rod includes a Bluetooth device, powered by ANGLR, in the rod butt that fully integrates with the ANGLR smartphone app. One click from the rod marks catch locations along with coordinates, date, time, weather, water and other key details; two clicks marks a waypoint at the user's current location; and a button press and hold automatically time stamps and records users' gear changes. Recorded trips, weather and water trends, statistics, photos, coordinates and more are securely stored and accessed through the ANGLR user's profile in their private logbook.

Building on this powerful functionality, the ANGLR app can simultaneously and seamlessly transfer waypoints bi-directionally onto compatible Lowrance multifunction displays. The wireless sync also allows data sharing from Lowrance sensors back to the app, providing greater precision by importing precise depth, water temperature, real-time GPS routes and other data to be added to the user's logbook.

ANGLR CEO Henry Gnad said, "We are really excited about the strength of the ANGLR platform to be able to support this one-of-a-kind collaboration. For the first time the technology exists, both in Abu Garcia's Virtual Fishing Rod and Lowrance's premier fishfinders, that when connected with our app anglers can auto-record fishing trips, without missing a second of the action and save the entire story in the palm of their hand to retell for the rest of their lives."

Navico CEO Knut Frostad said, "This innovative partnership is the perfect complement of three experts in our respective fields. Together, we are giving anglers the easiest and most streamlined way to drop waypoints on their charts and save vital details to be analyzed later."

Abu Garcia Vice President of Marketing Jon Schlosser said, "We knew that adding integrated communication technology to a fishing rod was going to be a significant evolution within our sport. Now, with our partners at ANGLR and Lowrance, we are able to use this powerful functionality to help anglers maximize their time on the water with the most accurate data detailing how and where they fish."

With a profile on the ANGLR app, users can better plan, record and improve their fishing. Redefining mobility and reliability, ANGLR removes the guesswork from a day on the water and provides data to help catch more fish for any level of angler. With a digital fishing log, users can quickly analyze trends and recognize patterns to improve their skills, plan how to approach upcoming fishing trips by exploring weather and water conditions, temperatures, GPS locations, moon phases, barometric pressure and more. The technology also allows anglers to replay and relive each memory with their closest friends.

Compatible Lowrance fishfinders include the HDS Live and Elite Ti2, as well as legacy fishfinders like HDS Carbon, HDS Gen 3 and Elite Ti. This integration makes HDS Live the ultimate fishing system, a fully connected ecosystem for control of every system on the boat. The Elite Ti2 provides an affordable yet powerful option for standalone or dual display installations offering wireless networking capabilities.

The Abu Garcia Virtual Rod series consists of 12 total conventional and spinning rods ranging from 6-foot, 6-inch Medium Fast spinning to 7-foot, 6-inch Heavy Fast conventional to cover most bass angling techniques. The rod's replaceable battery does not require charging and delivers a 2-year battery life. It works regardless of cell service for off-the-grid fishing.

For more information visit www.anglr.com, www.lowrance.com or www.abugarcia.com.