CELEBRATION, Fla. – BASS is offering priority registration to a select group of anglers who wish to participate in the expanded ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series in 2006.
Between Nov. 21 and Nov. 29, Triton and Mercury owners, members of the BASS Federation and BASS Insider, BASS Life members and 2005 regional participants will have the opportunity to register for a four-tournament, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series division package.
Triton and Mercury owners who participate in priority registration must obtain a code number from one of the companies before registering. Beginning today, Triton boat owners can e-mail Spencer Ward at spencerw@tritonboats.com for a code and Mercury engine owners can contact Jennifer Vollbrecht at 920-924-1753 or Jennifer.Vollbrecht@mercmarine.com.
“We’re eager to see the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series expand on its huge success in 2006,” said Bruce Mathis, series director. “With the series in such popular demand, we wanted to reward those competitors who take pride in and are loyal to BASS and its sponsors.”
While general online registration begins Nov. 30 at www.bassmaster.com for a four-tournament package in each division, call-in registration opening dates will be scattered. They are:
Wednesday, Nov. 30 Divisions: Okeechobee, Cypress, Chattahoochee, Palmetto, Granite
Thursday, Dec. 1 Divisions: Hawkeye, GLOC, Jayhawk, Show Me, Pioneer
Friday, Dec. 2 Divisions: Tiger, Crimson, Volunteer, Bluegrass, Tar Heel
Monday, Dec. 5 Divisions: Lone Star, Razorback, Sooner, Chaparral, Big River
Tuesday, Dec. 6 Divisions: Ohio Valley, Liberty, Capitol, Adirondack, Patriot
Wednesday, Dec. 7 Divisions: North Star, Badger, Wolverine, Prairie, Indy
Single-tournament registration will not open until Thursday, Dec. 15. To register, anglers can visit www.bassmaster.com or call 1-888-227-7899. Mail-in entries will not be accepted before the registration date.
Earlier this month, BASS announced that it is increasing both the number of regions and divisions in the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series. Each division will now have four tournaments instead of five. The changes mean another 40 one-day tournaments for total of 120.
Boaters and non-boaters will compete for a total prize purse of $55,055 in cash and merchandise at each event, including a $7,500 boater top prize and $3,750 non-boater top prize. Overall, BASS will pay 30 percent of the field in 2006, up from 20 percent in 2005.
Boater entry fees will be $250 for each tournament. Non-boater entry fees will be $125.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 550,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
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