Minneapolis Agency Wins Minn Kota Account

Rise And Shine And Partners secures the role of agency of record for the fishing technology brand.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Fishing

Minneapolis-based Rise And Shine And Partners has been named the agency of record for the fishing technology brand Minn Kota. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Minneapolis-based agency Rise And Shine And Partners has been named the agency of record for the fishing technology brand Minn Kota. This selection concludes a competitive pitch process for the Johnson Outdoors-owned company.

Why it matters

This partnership marks a significant transition for Minn Kota as the agency prepares to lead its branding, marketing, packaging, and retail education efforts. The agency will also launch the new Catch a Good Time marketing campaign.

Minn Kota was originally created in 1934 in Fargo, North Dakota. The brand was later acquired by Johnson Outdoors in 1973.

The players

Rise And Shine And Partners

This is a Minneapolis-based creative agency that now serves as the agency of record for Minn Kota.

Minn Kota

Established in 1934, this brand specializes in fishing technology and is owned by Johnson Outdoors.

Johnson Outdoors

This corporation owns and manages a portfolio of outdoor recreation brands, including Minn Kota.

Swanson Russell

This firm previously served as the marketing and advertising agency for Minn Kota.

O.G. Schmidt

He was the original creator of the Minn Kota brand.

The details

Rise And Shine And Partners will oversee a comprehensive scope of work, including consumer education initiatives and national branding campaigns. This move replaces the brand's previous agency partner, Swanson Russell.

O.G. Schmidt created Minn Kota in 1934.
Johnson Outdoors acquired the brand in 1973.
Rise And Shine And Partners was named agency of record in October 2026.

Culture Shift

The transition to a local agency reflects a broader industry trend toward refreshing legacy brands through targeted, regional creative partnerships. This follows a long trajectory established by the 1973 acquisition of Minn Kota by Johnson Outdoors.

Local shoppers and outdoor enthusiasts may notice shifts in how the Minn Kota brand is presented at retail locations across Minneapolis. These changes will likely influence how consumers interact with the brand's packaging and upcoming consumer education materials.

The takeaway

Legacy brands often undergo significant strategic pivots to remain relevant in modern markets. Readers can look for the Catch a Good Time campaign to better understand how the brand intends to communicate its value to consumers moving forward.