Fishing News - 4/21/00
2000/2001 BASSMASTER Tournament Trail Schedule Announced
MONTGOMERY, Ala., April 17, 2000 - Angler's will cast across America for a share of the nearly 6.2 million dollar* BASSMASTER Tournament Trail in 2000/2001. Eastern, Central and Western Invitational series join the premier BASSMASTER Top 150 circuit, which includes MegaBucks, on a path leading to the world championship of professional fishing - the BASS Masters Classic.
The BASSMASTER Top 150 trail, commonly referred to as the best-of-the-best, begins the new season on Charles County, Md.'s, Potomac River Aug. 23-26, 2000. New Orleans' Louisiana Delta, site of the 1999 Classic, is the next stop on the trail Sept. 20-23. The anglers then swing over to Alabama's Mobile Delta - a virtually untapped fishery - Oct. 18-21 for the last tournament of 2000. Kissimmee, Fla.'s, Lake Toho is the first stop in 2001, Jan. 17-20, followed by another visit to Louisiana with a Toledo Bend event Feb. 21-24. Lake Wheeler in northern Alabama is the March 28-31 site. The final event of the series will be MegaBucks, held on Douglas Lake in Sevierville, Tenn., May 8-13.
The Eastern division kicks-off at Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tenn., Sept. 14-16, 2000. The anglers then swing down to the spotted bass haven of Lake Martin near Alexander City, Ala., Dec. 7-9. The first tournament of 2001 lands on Okeechobee City, Fla.'s, Lake Okeechobee, Jan. 11-13. And Smallmouth bass will dominate the final event of the Eastern tour in Florence, Ala.'s, Pickwick and Wilson lakes, March 15-17.
The casino-lined Red River of Shreveport/Bossier City, La., will host the first event of the Central Invitational series, Oct. 12-14, 2000. The competitors then head north to Osage Beach, Mo.'s, scenic Lake of the Ozarks Nov. 9-11. The Lone Star State's massive Sam Rayburn Reservoir located near Jasper, Texas, will test the size of spawning southern largemouths during the March 1-3, 2001 event. The final contest of the Central bracket will be held on Kimberling City, Mo.'s, Table Rock Lake, April 19-21.
West coast anglers once again will reap the benefits of a BASSMASTER Tournament Trail as the Western Invitational series is slated to start Oct. 5-7, 2000 on Kennwick, Wash.'s, Columbia River. Redding, Calif., is the next stop where Lake Shasta becomes the field of competition Nov. 2-4. Pristine Lake Mead in Las Vegas, Nev., will host the third event of the series March 15-17, 2001. And records are likely to fall by the wayside when competitors land on Oakley, Calif.'s, Delta, April 19-21 - the final event of the Western series.
Five amateur anglers from the massive B.A.S.S. Federation will join the top five in both the Central and Eastern overall standings, the four highest ranked from the Western series and the top 25 pros from the Top 150 events to create the field of BASS Masters Classic Qualifiers. These 44 BASSMASTERS will compete for the most coveted title in fishing, $350,000 in cash, and endorsement opportunities worth millions of dollars.
The BASSMASTER Tournament Trail, celebrating its 32nd year, continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and competition in our growing sport.
Sponsors of the BASSMASTER Tournament Trail include Ranger Boats, RangerTrail Trailers, Mercury Outboards, BIG Kmart, Chevy Trucks, ACDelco Batteries, Humminbird Electronics, Zercom Marine, Pennzoil Marine, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, worldwaters.com, First USA Platinum Visa Card and MotorGuideTrolling Motors.
* Based on a full field in each event with 300 participants per Central & Eastern event, and 250 participants per Western event ________________________________________________________________________________
2000/2001 Tournament Trail Schedules
BASSMASTER Top 150 Tournament Trail
Aug. 23-26, 2000 Charles County, Md. Potomac River Sept. 20-23 New Orleans, La. Louisiana Delta Oct. 18-21 Mobile, Ala. Mobile Delta Jan. 17-20, 2001 Kissimmee, Fla. Lake Toho Feb. 21-24 Many, La. Toledo Bend March 28-31 Rogersville/Athens, Ala. Lake Wheeler MegaBucks May 8-13 Sevierville, Tenn. Douglas Lake
BASSMASTER Eastern Invitational Tournament Trail
Sept. 14-16, 2000 Hendersonville, Tenn. Old Hickory Lake Dec. 7-9 Alexander City, Ala. Lake Martin Jan. 11-13, 2001 Okeechobee City, Fla. Lake Okeechobee March 15-17 Florence, Ala. Pickwick/Wilson Lakes
BASSMASTER Central Invitational Tournament Trail Oct. 12-14, 2000 Shreveport/Bossier City, La. Red River Nov. 9-11 Osage Beach, Mo. Lake of the Ozarks March 1-3, 2001 Jasper, Texas Sam Rayburn Reservoir April 19-21 Kimberling City, Mo. Table Rock Lake
BASSMASTER Western Invitational Tournament Trail
Oct. 5-7, 2000 Kennwick, Wash. Columbia River Nov. 2-4 Redding, Calif. Lake Shasta March 15-17, 2001 Las Vegas, Nev. Lake Mead April 19-21 Oakley, Calif. California Delta
For more information contact George McNeilly, B.A.S.S. Director of Communications and Broadcast Development at (334) 272-9530
MarJean Corkran
Media Relations Coordinator B.A.S.S., Inc.
http://www.bassmaster.com
