Sunline Pro Kyle Welcher Smashes Records with Century Belt Win at Pasquotank
Torrance, CA- Sunline pro Kyle Welcher delivered a dominant and historic performance at the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, weighing in a staggering 118 pounds, 12 ounces over four days to secure his first-ever Bassmaster Elite Series victory and his place in the prestigious Century Club.
Welcher showcased his river-fishing roots and confidence in heavy cover by relying on 22-lb Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon throughout the event—a decision that proved pivotal in a tournament where precision, sensitivity, and durability were key.
“Shooter is my go-to line anytime I’m flipping in heavy cover or around big fish,” Welcher said. “This stretch of the Pasquotank had stumps, cypress knees, and everything that can test your gear. With Shooter, I never had to worry about abrasion or line failure. I boat-flipped multiple 6- to 7-pounders without a second thought.”
Welcher’s winning campaign was a wire-to-wire performance: he dropped 30-11 on Day 1, added 30-3 on Day 2, weighed the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament at 34-0 on Day 3, and closed with 23-14 on Championship Sunday. His winning margin of 45 pounds, 7 ounces is the largest in Elite Series history.
Fishing within a couple miles of takeoff, Welcher identified a mile-long stretch of the Pasquotank River that featured the only concentration of stumps and cypress trees in the area—ideal staging and spawning habitat. Using forward-facing sonar, he located precise pieces of cover where fish were positioned, then used a black and blue Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug rigged on a Gamakatsu G-Power Heavy Cover Worm Flip and Punch Hook with a pegged ¼-ounce tungsten weight.
But it was his choice of line that gave him the confidence to fish with full power and precision.
“Shooter has that perfect combination of sensitivity, strength, and abrasion resistance,” Welcher explained. “When you hook a 6-pounder under a cypress knee and it wraps you around a stump, most lines are done. Shooter eats that up. I never lost a fish all week.”
Welcher spooled the line on an 8:1:1 gear ratio reel paired with a 7’6” heavy-action Khaotic Kustom Rod, a setup he trusted completely in close-quarters combat with trophy-class largemouth.
Yoshi Mitani, Vice President of Sunline America is excited about Welcher’s record breaking victory. “Kyle has accomplished so much in his young career and we are proud to have him be a part of our team at Sunline. We look forward to working with him for years to come and being a part of his outstanding accomplishments.”
Sunline maintains a top share in the line market in Japan, where it was founded, and exports its line to more than 40 countries worldwide. Sunline America is a subsidiary of Sunline Japan and is responsible for distribution and marketing in North American markets. For more information, please visit http://www.sunlineamerica.com
