More Opportunities with BASS

CELEBRATION, Fla. – BASS is moving forward with innovative ideas and exciting programs. Now more than ever, BASS is fulfilling the fishing needs of every angler as they flip, pitch and cast their way to BASS glory.

And while the pulse-pounding action of the catch is more than enough to lure spectators and viewers, there are dozens of stories waiting to be uncovered. Here are just a few of them:

1. The Kalamazoo Kid.  Kevin VanDam, a 15-time Classic qualifier and two-time winner, is on a hot streak. Fresh off of his 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Classic victory in Pittsburgh and his third straight win of the season, the power fisherman now is in position to become the first angler to ever win four consecutive BASS events. So much is at stake for VanDam on Lake Tohopekaliga near Kissimmee, Fla., site of the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic. He is focused on win No. 4 and is one of 51 anglers competing for first place.

2. Close, but again no trophy. Will 2006 be Aaron Martens’ year to win the CITGO Bassmaster Classic? The 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year has finished second in the Super Bowl of bass fishing three times in the last four years. He has qualified for the 2006 Classic and is determined to nail the win, but can he make the leap from runner-up to champion?

3. High stakes, big dollars and big fish. The hunt for the CITGO Bassmaster Classic win becomes more intense as more than $1 million is on the line in the 2006 Classic, featuring a $500,000 first place prize. Anglers are expecting big catches and big fish, as late winter is prime fishing season in Florida.   Dean Rojas reeled in a record-breaking 108 pounds, 12 ounces in January of 2001 on Lake Toho and that has the pros preparing for a record-breaking Classic win.

4.  The next level of membership.  Introduced at the CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh, BASS Insider is BASS’ premier level of membership, offering the potential to win paid tournament fees in the CITGO Bassmaster Open Series, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Weekend Series. It also includes access to a fully-searchable Web site that includes tips and techniques from the Bassmaster University library, web chats with the sport’s biggest stars, bass news from across the country, local fishing conditions and much more.

5. Mystery lake to be revealed. In September, 13 anglers will compete in the Busch Shootout, a non-entry fee event on an undisclosed lake for a $160,000 purse and a first prize of $100,000.  The anglers who face off are the best, qualifying for the event by having the heaviest one-day sacks during the Tour, Open Championship, Federation Championship and CITGO Bassmaster Classic.

6. The Ultimate Expedition. Brand new in 2005 is the ESPN Outdoors Ultimate Expedition, an exclusive bass fishing trip to the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York with BASS champions Michael Iaconelli and Peter Thilveros as guides and fishing mates. The 4-day, 3-night, Sept. 8-11 expedition includes five on-the-water fishing sessions, five tips-and-techniques seminars, accommodations, meals and drinks with the pros, ground transportation and all the fishing gear anglers need to enjoy an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. For complete details and to sign up now, visit www.bassmaster.com/ultimate.

7. Get to know the Greatest Angler of All Time. Missouri’s Rick Clunn bested 34 other nominees as fans cast more than 70,000 votes online in the Greatest Angler Debate presented by John Deere. Clunn has four Classic titles and is a 30-time Classic qualifier. Now, he sets his sights on Lake Toho and Classic win No. 5.

8. Women Bassmaster Tour anglers ready to fish. BASS is in full throttle as the Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT) prepares for its first full season in 2006. The WBT will visit five lakes in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina and Arkansas. The women will get a taste of the competition at a preview event Oct. 20 - 22 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas.  With the locations chosen, the women are researching the lakes and preparing their equipment for their spring debut.

9. The next generation of angling stars. Sponsor-covered shirts, rod and reels in hand and fierce looks of determination. No, they aren’t Bassmaster pros – yet. They are Junior World Championship competitors ages 11-18.  Junior anglers will spend the next few months preparing for state tournaments held in the fall with hopes of advancing to the 2006 National Championship held in conjunction with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. The young anglers are the best in their age division, all with aspirations of living the lives of their Bassmaster idols. 

10. Fish care: Always a priority at BASS. Conservation and promoting education and awareness are top priorities at BASS.  Soon, “Keeping Bass Alive,” the authority on fish care in the industry, will be updated, printed and made available for free download at www.bassmaster.com. This living document continually sets the standard for fish care for all bass anglers.

11. Pro careers start here.  Coming to a lake near you is the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Weekend Series. The Series features 80 regular-season events, four regional tournaments, one second-chance tournament and a national championship with the winner earning a berth into the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic.  Those interested can sign up at www.bassmaster.com

12. On plane with BASS. Sleek Triton boats powered by 225 hp Mercury engines, precise GPS systems from Lowrance and MotorGuide trolling motors that glide the pros to those hard-to-reach fishing spots. The anglers on the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail use top-of-the-line equipment as they pursue their catch, an integral part of an angler’s success.   

13.  CastingKids across the nation. Children ages 7-14 can test their pitching, flipping and casting skills in state and regional tournaments all over America this fall with the opportunity to advance to the National Championship, which will coincide with the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic. The stakes are high as kids compete for $25,000 in scholarships. This year alone, 125,000 children participated in hundreds of local CastingKids competitions.  

14. The youth movement. BASS now offers an exclusive club, just for anglers younger than 18. Youths who want to become involved in BASS can join the new Youth membership program, which includes access to Junior Lunker Club, two issues of Junior Bassmaster magazine, an issue of Fishing Techniques and a member patch and decal.

15. More opportunities to fish. For 2006, BASS increased its number of Tour stops to 11 and added three no-entry fee Majors, giving anglers more chances on the water, more prize money to pocket and making the chase for the CITGO Bassmaster Classic more challenging than ever.

From BASS