News

Pelican acquires Confluence

One more major announcement for 2019 from two of the industry leaders in kayak manufacturing

Canadian company Pelican International, Inc.  (Pelican) announced that they have bought out Confluence Outdoor LLC (Confluence) and all their assets. Confluence, based out of South Carolina is a collection of premium brand kayaks and accessories including the well known Wilderness Systems. 

This places Pelican as one of, if not the largest brand name kayak manufacturers in the world. In kayak bass fishing, Wilderness Systems kayaks were one of the first to introduce a kayak built with that specific purpose in mind. Although many more have followed, the Wilderness Systems ATAK kayaks as well as the Helix pedal drive option for the Radar have made the brand wildly popular in the competitive fishing arena. Wilderness has also recently announced their new Recon model that will be available in Spring of 2020. 

Pelican has working on its own successful line of fishing specific kayaks with the Pelican Catch series. The new Catch 130 comes equipped with the Hydryve, which is a a “Hobie” style fin drive. The Hobie’s drive patents had expired for this drive allowing for other companies to jump in on the drives early designs. Sadly this drive doesn’t have the reverse option and obviously does not have the 360 degree capabilities of the new Hobie Pro Angler 360. 

What the merger means for now is that there is a monster company with far more reach than ever before. Danick Lavoie, president and CEO of Pelican International stated that “The acquisition aims to capitalize on the strengths and capabilities of two synergistic businesses and brands, from the products that make their success to the people that make them shine, in a consolidating and globalizing industry.”

This makes Pelican a 800 employee strong company with three manufacturing facilities in Canada and the U.S. expanding the total distribution network. Both companies have been in the forefront of engineering, and hopefully will compliment each other going forward. 

As with all mergers, we will have to wait a bit to see how this works out. As for me I have a long history with Wilderness Systems with the first kayak I ever owned being a Wilderness Systems sit-inside purchased for small pond fishing. That kayak was purchased over 15 years ago when I upgraded my Jon boat to a bass boat. Currently I use a Wilderness Systems Radar, and have my eye on the new Recon for 2020. I’m hopeful this merger will ensure the long tradition of quality kayaks from both Confluence and Pelican brands that all kayak enthusiasts appreciate.

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Eric Nelson
Professional Kayak Bass Angler

Biography

I was born in Southeastern Massachusetts, where I began fishing for bass when I was in my early teenage years, graduating to competitive bass tournaments in my late 20’s. I moved to North Carolina in 2015 and found the passion for bass fishing from a kayak, and quickly became involved in both the local and national kayak bass tournament scenes. My fishing skills have allowed me to qualify for almost every major event since joining the clubs, be it at a club, state and even national level.

Being a professional in the online web development and design field for publications, I have always used my skills to help promote the clubs and the sport as a whole in my spare time.  I have been a part of the club directors for Cape Cod Bass, and now for Carolina Kayak Anglers, one of the larger kayak clubs in the country. I am also a part of the national KBF tournament advisory board.

The Kayak Bass Fishing (KBF) format has allowed me to travel across the United States, fishing against the best fisherman in the country. Now with the KBF Pro format, and the merging with the FLW organization, I am looking forward to where this adventure takes me in the future.

Highlights

Total Career Earnings - $3,250

Competition Highlights
Inaugural FLW / KBF Cup Championship Qualified 2019 - Hot Springs, AK
KBF National Championship Qualified 2020 - Lake Guntersville, AL
KBF Challenge Championship 2018 - Toledo Bend, LA
2019 KBF National Championship - 57th overall out of 462 anglers - Shreveport, LA
KBF Regional Trail Championship Qualified 2019 - Lake Wheeler, AL
KBF National Trail Championship Qualified 2019 - La Crosse, WI
2nd Place 2018 KBF National Trail - High Rock Lake, NC
2nd Place 2019 - Plastic Pirates - Randleman Lake, NC
11th Place - 2019 KBF Southeastern Region Trail - Santee Cooper Lakes, SC
13th Place - 2019 KBF Southeastern Region Trail - Chickamauga Lake, TN
46th Place 2019 FLW / KBF Cup Qualifier - Nickajack Lake, TN
2nd Place - Plastic Pirates - Randleman Lake 2019
1st Place - Cape Cod Bass,  2002 - Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
1st Place - Cape Cod Bass, 2008 - Glenn Charlie Pond, MA