Elite Series rookie has a long track record of success

Ben Milliken joins Bass Cat Pro staff © Bass Cat Boats

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ben Milliken, whose resume includes tournament success, longstanding multi-generational media popularity, big bait expertise and lure design, has joined the Bass Cat Boats pro staff for the 2024 season.

Milliken will technically be a rookie, but he's shown incredible ability and savvy both on and off the water in his rise to fame. The 34-year-old has finished in the top 10 in three of the nine Bassmaster events that he's fished, winning an April 2023 Open on Toledo Bend, and thereby qualifying for the 2024 Bassmaster Classic. Additionally, his longstanding YouTube channel has over half a million subscribers and has introduced thousands of anglers to innovative techniques and educated them with a distinctive style. Furthermore, his collaborations with 6th Sense Fishing continue to bring high-quality products to market at reasonable prices.

"I've been through eight boats from seven different companies over my career," he said. "Over time I've come to realize the substantial differences between boats that are essentially custom-built and those that are mass-produced. Everyone at Bass Cat, from Rick Pierce on down, blew me away with how helpful and hands-on they are, every step of the way. They knew my brand, too, and we both thought it was a perfect fit."

Bass Cat's Rick Pierce agreed that it was an ideal fit of cultures and personalities: "He was one of the most professional people I've ever dealt with when it came to discussions about career, his abilities and who he is. It was a no muss conversation that focused around the Bassmaster Elite Series, not his high exposure YouTube channel. A lot of people focused on the 402 logo jersey, and he definitely made his own way. He didn't need to trade product for exposure - what he needed was the right platform to experience success at the highest level of the sport."

For the 2024 season, Milliken will run a Bass Cat Puma STS, the company's 20'7" Soft Touch Series hull. It is a jaw dropper at the ramp, a high-performance sports car when driving, and an ultra-stable platform when fishing. Accordingly, it's popularity is off the charts, and after spending time in one Milliken believes that if he'd had it a year earlier it would've led to even more tournament success.

"It's a great fit for the way I like to fish offshore," Milliken said. "On top of that, it's an extremely fast ride. There were several Opens last year where I think I could have won if no one beat me to my spots. Now I shouldn't have that issue."

For more information visit basscat.com.