CALEB SUMRALL

Hometown: New Iberia, LA

Hobbies: Spending time with family & bowhunting

Caleb Sumrall grew up fishing in southern Louisiana with his dad and grandfather. His interest was diverted to golf during high school, working a job and eventually starting a family with his wife, Jaci. At 25, he started fishing local tournaments and then B.A.S.S. Nation events. That decision put him on a path of opportunity that many can only dream of. Caleb qualified for the 2017 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell and won the event, which was a life-changing moment in his career, as it qualified him to fish the Elite Series the next season. In 2018, Sumrall finished in the money nine times — four times on the Elite Series (including a 13th place at Lake Oahe), four in the Bassmaster Opens (including ninth at the Championship on Table Rock) and his Classic debut. Caleb specializes in shallow water bass fishing, but understands that that technique won’t sustain him throughout an entire Elite season. Caleb joined the Xpress Boats Elite team in the fall fo 2019 and is excited for the new opportunities running the “Original” all-welded aluminum will offer him.

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DALE HIGHTOWER

Hometown: Mannford, OK

Hobbies: Deer hunting

Dale Hightower caught “the bug” as a youngster fishing with his dad for crappie and catfish in ponds around eastern Oklahoma. He began bass fishing in his early teens, which eventually lead to Monday Night Jackpot tournaments, near his hometown of Manford. “That’s where competitive fishing began for me, with my father-in-law Monty Troxell,” Hightower said. Dale and his wife Alicia own a successful heating, cooling and refrigeration business. He is thankful that she truly understands the demands of being a professional angler and fully supports him. He transitioned from fishing out of fiberglass boats to aluminum in 2018 when he joined Xpress Boats Elite team. In regards to running his X21 Pro, Dale Said “I love the way it rides and handles in extremely rough water and how shallow it drafts.”

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HARVEY HORNE

Hometown: Bella Vista, AR

Hobbies: Hunting & traveling

Harvey Horne has been chasing after his dream of becoming a professional bass fisherman his entire life. His win at the Central Open on the Arkansas River in 2018 opened up the door to fishing the Bassmaster Elites. Harvey was given the chance to turn his dream into reality. Running an Xpress Boats X21 Pro has allowed him the confidence to go shallower where other boats cannot go and opens up more water for me to explore, plus he has the confidence of being able to handle rough water too.

It’s actually intriguing to step outside your comfort zone because you can’t improve as an angler unless you are put in challenging situations.

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HIROFUMI NAITO – HIRO NAITO

Resides In: FL

Hirofumi is widely known as “Hiro” and has experienced fishing in various styles since childhood. Hiro currently lives in Florida, the sacred place of the black bass and is the Pacific Rim representative for one of the largest companies in the world. An expert in lure fishing, Hiro has been widely published, not only in the U.S., but also Internationally on lure design, presentation techniques and catching big bass. 

Throughout the years, Hiro has developed a close relationship with many professional bass anglers and keeps in touch with the latest information, such as their techniques and fishing styles. In 1983, Hiro became the first Japanese angler to participate in the world’s highest bass tournament, “Bassmaster Classic” as a press angler. “It’s kind of like a bridge between America and Japan” said Hiro (excerpt from HIROism profile).

Born in Gunma Prefecture in 1955. Hiro is revered in Japan as the “Bill Dance” of bass fishing, a true legend and a great friend of Xpress Boats. 

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CHRIS KINGREE

Hometown: Inverness, FL

Xpress was the first boat I found to meet all of my needs in a bass boat. From the power of my Yamaha 250hp SHO to the super shallow draft allowing me to quietly fish areas others can’t make it to. Over the last 5 years of owning Xpress Boats, they have gone above and beyond to make me feel like part of the family.

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TJ SHERRILL

Hometown: Granbury, TX

In 1997, my parents moved me to a neighborhood in the suburbs of Oklahoma City, which changed my life. I grew up next to two ponds where I spent most of my time. It was early spring when we first moved there, and I’ll never forget seeing my first largemouth siting on a bed. The determination to catch that fish as an eleven-year-old boy is something that I still carry today. I spent most of my childhood studying and fishing every single waking moment I had. The passion that was in me was something I couldn’t explain. That passion is how fishing became my life. From placing in the top 20 in the FLW BFL series on Toledo to the top 20 at an FLW Costa on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees I know it is my passion that will grow me in the sport.

My mission in the fishing industry is to show the younger generation that dreams are made to pursue. My goal is to take myself to the top of the industry, but most importantly is to be the best role model I can be.

Getting in an Xpress bass boat was one of the best decisions I’ve made when it comes to the way I fish. The whole buying process with Carey & Sons Marine, in Granbury, TX, was painless. It was very comforting knowing I was going through a dealer I could trust. From rigging to help with questions everything was on point.

When it comes to a motor that will keep me on the water and give me the security I need in order to be a contender, I will always choose Yamaha. I never have to worry about whether or not it will start or perform. I really appreciate the fuel millage I get. Hands down the best motor on the market! This is my 4th year to run a Yamaha 250 SHO and I wouldn’t think of ever changing.

I’ve been blessed enough to have had a couple different boats since I’ve really started to purse a living in the fishing industry, two of which had carpet and the last one I had came with padding on the front portion of the deck. I thought that was great until I discovered SeaDek. With SeaDek, the entire boat feels the same way a carpeted boat with padding does. SeaDek is so easy to clean, soft on my bare feet and never gets to hot. I get a lot of questions about it and once they get in the boat they realize why I choose SeaDek.

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BRANDON DILLARD

Hometown: Grapevine, TX

I currently fish 25 plus tournaments a year. Team Trail Outdoors, Fun-n-Sun Couples Trail with my fiancé, BPS Series, and the Bassmaster Central Open on Lewisville as a boater in 2020. My goals are to win the Bassmaster Open and secure a spot in the Bassmasters Classic. It has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. Growing up fishing ponds and just loving the outdoors is what started this passion for bass fishing in my life. I have a 10 year old daughter and a beautiful fiancé. I hope to build solid relationships in the fishing industry with companies I believe in and help them to promote products on social media and in person.

At the end of the day I’m just a regular guy who loves bass fishing and the impact the outdoors has had on my life.

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JAY LADNER

Hometown: Perkinston, MS

I was born fishing saltwater at a young age but was always intreaged about bass fishing. I started tournament fishing in 2003, participating in local events, Mississippi Bass Nation and Fishers of Men Tours qualifing for the Bass Nation Nationals in 2009. I have had a smaller Xpress for years along with a bigger fiberglass boat. I started running the Xpress X19 full time and its been nothing but awesome. I fish a lot of shallow water locally and the X19 gives me everything i need to fish shallow, big, skinny and rugged water anywhere in the country.

Continue to pursue what your heart desires, never forgetting to be an arm of the sales and promotional market for the company I represent. Most importantly sharing the gospel of Jesus each and every step along the way.

I have had the pleasure of working with Smith Motor Company in Hattiesburg, MS, as my Xpress dealer. Hayden and his dad are great individuals to work with and will meet all your needs when purchasing your new Xpress. Its always a great experience.

Running a Yamaha is the only option for powering my Xpress. The 200 SHO on the back of the X19 is nothing but a pure adrenaline rush. I have been running Yamaha since my fishing career began and the dependability is above and beyond all expectations. If you are not running a Yamaha, you don’t know what your missing.

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