Latest Sabine Elite Winner, Pat Schlapper, talks about his transfer to Norsk Lithium® and the benefits they’ve delivered
New Hope, MN (Might 30, 2025) – Wisconsin-based BASS Elite winner and match professional wasn’t at all times an expert bass fisherman. He labored for 20 years behind the fishing counter of one in every of his main sponsors, outdoor sports activities retailer Scheels, earlier than setting his sights on the large leagues.
“It’s simply one thing I at all times wished to do, and I knew in my intestine that I might compete at that stage. I fished each likelihood I acquired after I wasn’t working, so I figured why not throw my hat into the ring.”
Now on his fifth season of fishing the BASS Elite circuit, the 42-year-old angler has been fishing with the large boys since double-qualifying by profitable the T.N.T. B.A.S.S. Nationwide Championship and ending third within the Bassmaster Japanese Opens Angler Standings in 2020. Most lately, Schlapper took first place on the BASS Elite occasion on the Sabine River in Texas, which qualifies him for the upcoming BASSMASTER Traditional.
Throughout his first few years fishing professionally, Schlapper ran a mix of lead acid and AGM batteries in boats however had points alongside the best way, particularly when it got here to sustaining trolling motor voltage and clear, clear imaging on his graphs, particularly when utilizing Garmin Livescope and Humminbird MEGA 360.
“Guys had been beginning to say you have to go lithium to repair these issues, however till I acquired in a ship and noticed the distinction within the display shows, I used to be skeptical. Then, a pair years in the past I found Norsk Lithium, and I’ve had zero issues since switching.”
Schlapper continues: “As a professional angler, you possibly can’t afford to have voltage points along with your trolling motor or electronics shows. All the pieces must work completely from take-off to weigh-in every day. Norsk Lithium has given me precisely that.”
Schlapper’s Skeeter FXR21 is an effective case research in what different severe bass anglers would possibly take into account for powering their trolling motor and electronics.
“My system now could be mainly two heated Norsk Lithium 36V + 28V 60AH batteries for my Minn Kota QUEST Ultrex trolling motor, then for my 4 screens, two Humminbird APEX 13s on the console and a Humminbird APEX 13 and Garmin 1643 on the bow, plus a Humminbird MEGA 360 and Garmin Livescope unit. I take advantage of two heated Norsk Lithium 16V 135AH which can be connected in parallel. My Yamaha outboard and easy equipment run off a gaggle 31 AGM,” provides Schlapper.
To maintain all the pieces optimally juiced up, Schlapper has two Norsk Lithium chargers put in – a two financial institution for the 36V trolling motor batteries and a three-bank for the 2 16V electronics batteries plus his AGM starter battery.
WHAT DOES SCHLAPPER LIKE ABOUT NORSK LITHIUM BATTERIES?
CONSTANT TROLLING MOTOR VOLTAGE
Whereas he’s operating a strong and power-efficient Minn Kota QUEST Ultrex 112 on the bow, Schlapper continues to be a giant believer in having an excessive amount of energy than not sufficient.
Schlapper explains: “For days after I’m on the pedal full-bore from spot-to-spot or combating present, I identical to understanding that I’ve reserve energy in that second 36volt battery. If I utterly drain one – which is uncommon – I simply attain down within the compartment and change it over to a recent battery. Operating two 36’s is extra insurance coverage than something. Plus, not like the AGMs I ran previously the place you’d begin struggling voltage loss and you can inform within the trolling motor, with Norsk Lithium you get 100% – no voltage loss – proper as much as utterly draining the battery. There isn’t a voltage decay curve. My Ultrex is at all times working at 100% of energy and torque.”
CLEAN, CRISP LIVESCOPE & MEGA 360 IMAGING DISPLAYS
“I had issues earlier than I switched to lithium with voltage drops on my Livescope and MEGA 360 Imaging. Each time your voltage drops beneath 12V you lose readability and separation. And that’s not good if you’re looking for construction, fish, and your bait. Now with the 16V batteries, the readability and high quality image I need is at all times there. I by no means get beneath that threshold like after I first beginning utilizing this know-how. It’s been an actual eye-opener,” observes Schlapper.
REDUCED WEIGHT
“Not solely do the Norsk Lithium batteries loosen up the boat for barely elevated RPMs, the truth that these 4 lithium batteries are extra compact and light-weight than eight AGMs is nice for placing in batteries or taking them out. Saves numerous bodily work,” says Schlapper.
REAL-TIME BATTERY LIFE MONITORING VIA GUARDIAN APP & BATTERIES
When Schlapper is settled down after an extended day or observe or competitors he says there’s peace of thoughts in with the ability to monitor battery cost from his truck camper. “The Guardian App is nice for displaying real-time cost. Whenever you first activate the app, it acknowledges the batteries mechanically. And I can have a look at every battery individually and monitor the extent of cost proper from the telephone app. That’s fairly cool.”
The opposite factor that’s nice, he says, is that in essentially the most present technology of Norsk Lithium batteries, you possibly can shortly verify charging and cost stage instantly from a meter on prime of the battery itself, a fantastic function when he’s sitting within the boat rigging on the finish of the day and simply needs to know they’re charging once more.
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Now in his second season operating Norsk Lithium batteries with out concern however a number of questions, Schlapper says the corporate’s buyer assist is very easy to cope with.
TAKE HOME
As talked about earlier, Schlapper lately took first on the BASS Elite occasion on the Sabine River in Texas, the place he says all of his tools labored day after day due to his transfer to Norsk Lithium.
“This was my third time fishing the Sabine and it’s recognized for small fish. I knew that getting into. A pound and half fish is like gold down there and a two-pounder could have you leaping round doing high-fives. And a 3 pounder is sort of a 10-pounder wherever else. I simply discovered some areas that had a bit of bit higher high quality fish and was in a position to keep constant. I had a extremely good first day and the opposite days had been constant so I by no means fell out of the lead. I believe I had seven fish over two kilos out of 20 fish, which is de facto good down there. I’m simply glad the way it labored out. I fished onerous.”
ABOUT Norsk Lithium
Our lithium batteries have been examined within the harshest situations by the harshest critics – us. We push our lithium batteries to the restrict as a result of we crave the best fishing expertise attainable. No angler needs to be thwarted by second-rate battery efficiency. You don’t have to accept outdated know-how.
Using the super-efficient, unbeatable efficiency of lithium know-how, NORSK Lithium batteries scale back low-cost knock-offs to fancy paperweights. Each NORSK Lithium battery is constructed to endure. Our batteries outwork and outsmart the competitors each time.
NORSK Lithium powers your ardour so you possibly can chase journey. We personally depend on these identical batteries to energy our pursuit of an exhilarating outside expertise.
Our dedication to you is similar promise we make to ourselves – we’ll by no means minimize corners, we’ll by no means cease enhancing our battery know-how – and we’ll at all times deal with our prospects after the sale.
Your story is our story. We have now deliberately tethered our enterprise’s success to our prospects’ satisfaction. Merely put, NORSK Lithium exists to energy your ardour for the nice outdoor.
