Doug Yohe and Charlie Brant Sign with Zippo Outdoor
OutdoorHub 04.08.14
Zippo Outdoor has signed Walleye Angling Pros and 2012 Master Walleye Circuit Mille Lacs Lake Tournament Champions Doug Yohe and Charlie Brant, to their 9th consecutive sponsorship agreement for the 2014 Cabela’s Master Walleye Circuit Tournament Series.
“It all started back in 2006 when I still owned my restaurant”, commented Doug Yohe. “I had fished a tournament in Henderson Harbor, NY, and it was being televised in my restaurant in Bradford, PA. I had asked some of the small local businesses if they would be willing to sponsor me. George Duke, the owner of Zippo, just happened to be in the house that night and offered to sponsor me in a big way”, adds Yohe.
“Zippo has continued to support Doug Yohe and teammate, Charlie Brant, since then because they are gutsy guys in a sport fishing category known for extreme conditions. This kind of adventurous lifestyle is a great fit for our Outdoor product line”, says Chris Funk, Zippo Outdoor Brand Manager.
“We are really excited about our MWC Tournament prospects this year!” Yohe offers. “And now there is a whole Zippo Outdoor team to support us! Two products we really like are the Rugged Lantern and Hand Warmers. They are absolute must-haves when it’s dark, or when you are jiggin’ in cold weather. Charlie and I always have one, or two of the Warmers in our pockets. They keep us comfortable and in the game on those extreme weather days we have in early Spring”, he adds.
When the fishing day is done and the pair head to their motel, Yohe and Brant drop down the tailgate and do an impromptu fish fry for anybody who happens to be at the drive-in. “Charlie deep fries some of the best walleye I’ve ever eaten”, says Yohe. And as a former restaurateur, that is saying something. “Yeah he won’t even tell me what makes up his secret batter.”
“Well, it’s Town House crackers, hot sauce, vinegar, sugar, and eggs. But the magic is in the measurements.” And that’s when Charlie gets tight lipped. “You just dip ’em, roll ’em, and fry ’em” , says Brant.
“We are the best marriage of a team I’ve ever seen”, comments Yohe. “We have this unspoken understanding and mutual respect. We take our wins together and our lumps together. There is no squabbling, or finger pointing.”
“Yeah, I’d say we are more like brothers than fishin’ partners.” Brant adds.
Whatever the relationship, one thing is certain: both Charlie and Doug agree that Zippo Outdoor engineers and designs products that make the Great Outdoors Greater, by helping them get on the boat earlier, and keeps them out catching fish, longer.
