BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Bass fishing entered a new era today as BASS revealed the long-awaited details of its first-ever women’s championship event, to be held in conjunction with the 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Classic.
The Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats championship will take place Feb. 22-25, 2007, on Lake Mitchell near Birmingham, Ala. It will feature the top 12 anglers and co-anglers from the five-event inaugural season of the women’s tour, based on Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year points.
“Every woman who qualifies for this legendary event should know they are making history,” said Don Rucks, vice president and general manager of BASS. “Women anglers asked for a league just for them and BASS was happy to deliver. This championship will not soon be forgotten.”
BASS will award cash and merchandise totaling $225,750 to the field, including a first-place prize of a 2007 fully rigged Triton boat valued at $50,000 as well as $10,000 cash. The winning co-angler receives a similar package valued at $24,000 plus $1,000 cash.
The 12 pro anglers will fish a four-day competition, weighing in on the final two days on the Bassmaster Classic stage at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center. The 12 co-anglers will compete in a two-day tournament.
“Fans will have a bigger and better experience being able to watch the women’s weigh-in at the Classic,” said Rucks.
The Women’s Bassmaster Tour has done exceptionally well this year, having staged two of its five tournaments. Both enjoyed full fields and winning weights of more than 30 pounds each. With three more events left in the season, women still have a chance to get into the top 12 in point standings and qualify for the championship.
Rucks said the women will find plenty of support in Alabama. BASS has more than 19,000 members in Alabama. There are nearly 210,000 members within in a 500-mile radius of Birmingham, which includes the fervent support of the growing Alabama BASS Federation Nation.
Anyone interested in volunteering at the CITGO Bassmaster Classic or the women’s championship should call BASS at 1-877-BASS-USA. Sponsors of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour include Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Advance Auto Parts and Plano.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation 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.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208. To join BASS, call 1-877-BASS-USA or visit www.bassmaster.com/classic.
Advertising