SPRO

Spro is a member of the Gamakatsu Group, one of the world leading fishing tackle companies. Spro was founded back in 1994 when Gamakatsu decided it was time to better service the European territory. Until that time, Gamakatsu products (mostly fishing hooks) were sold through distributors throughout Europe. With Europe being a big market potential for the company, Gamakatsu decided to create its own distribution center, Spro NV, in The Netherlands. From 1994, Spro NV was the official distributor of Gamakatsu products (mostly hooks and fishing line) as well as a small range of Spro branded rods, reels and some accessories. Direct sales in The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg were only the start. Spro NV also became the point of contact for all European distributors. This made the lines of communications much shorter and allowed for an even better knowledge about the different local European markets. Vianen was strategically chosen at a junction between two major Dutch motorways (A2 and A27), only a short distance from Rotterdam, one of Europe’s largest harbors and only a stone’s throw away from Amsterdam, one of Europe’s biggest airports. And it did not stop there… In 1997, Spro Corp. in Kennesaw, Georgia opened its doors to distribute Gamakatsu hooks in the Eastern part and Spro branded products throughout the whole of the United States of America. In 1999, Spro Deutschland GmbH opened its doors to better service one of the largest fishing tackle markets in Europe, Germany, more effectively. The company started in Wiesbaden but moved to the historic city of Weimar a few years later. In 2010, Spro Czech Republic started direct sales to the Czech market. Spro started to sell Gamakatsu hooks and line as well as a selected range of Spro branded reels, rods, line, nets and accessories. It is amazing to see that what started as such a small range back in 1994 evolved into a range of over 15,000 products. The Spro products range is basically the same for all of Europe. Of course we make country specific products but in principle, all over Europe we have the same global catalogue range available. Spro Corp. in the USA has its own range of products that is fully adapted to the local US requirements. Some of those products are also sold in Europe. Take for instance crank bait such as theAruku Shad and Little John; Swimbait such as the BBZ’s developed by Bill Siemantel or innovative top water lures such as the Dawg and the Dean Rojas BronzeEye Frogs just to name a few.