BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mark Zacher has a
morning ritual. Before he goes to work in Rapid City, S.D., he sits down at the
computer every day and logs on to Bassmaster.com. That time online paid off
with his win of the Bassmaster.com "Fish with Ike" Sweepstakes that
ended March 15.
"I think I entered every day," Zacher said.
"If I missed one day, it was just one. I always enter the contests [on
Bassmaster.com]. I'm a big supporter of B.A.S.S., and I think they do a
wonderful job, but I never expected to win, nor have I ever won anything like
this.
"You can imagine how shocked I was when I got the call that I won. I hung
up and called back half an hour later. I asked, 'Is this for real?' I couldn't
believe it. It's still a shocker."
Zacher's prize is a fishing trip with Bassmaster
Elite Series pro Michael Iaconelli, part of a package of prizes, including
cash, gear and gifts that adds up to almost $5,000. He will fish with the
high-profile New Jersey pro on the Monday after the Bassmaster Elite Series
tournament on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., June 20-23.
"Mike is one of my favorite pros," Zacher
said. "Of the five I really like, he's one of them. I've read up on him
and know what his strengths are. I feel like I'm a versatile fisherman, and I
hope I can hang with him. I want to show up and get out there and fish and have
a great time."
Always an avid angler, Zacher got serious about bass
fishing around 1989 and began fishing at the Bassmaster club level. He won both
Rookie of the Year and Angler of the Year his first year, an affirmation that
encouraged him to continue the sport.
"I wanted to do more bass fishing when I was younger, but I was raising a
family and focused on that," said Zacher, who
competes at the B.A.S.S. Nation and Bassmaster Opens levels, often with his
close friend Monty Fralick, Bassmaster Elite Series
pro Jami Fralick's father.
Zacher, who works in the parts department of a
freightliner dealership in Rapid City, has a busy June ahead. The first week,
he'll fish a state tournament; the third week, he fishes with Iaconelli; and
the last week, he celebrates his 30th wedding anniversary with his wife, Verlene.
Zacher's father, Francis, has been an important influence
in his bass fishing.
"He inspired me when I started doing tournaments," Zacher said. "He's a big bass fisherman, and he gave
me confidence. Those are special moments when we fish together."
In addition to a fishing trip with Iaconelli, which includes airfare, a rental
car and a two-night hotel stay, Zacher won $500 in
spending money, $900 in gear from Berkley and Abu Garcia, $500 in gear from
Rapala and a chance to attend The Bass University.
"This has been very exciting for me," Zacher
said. "I've never been able to fish at a professional level, but winning
this trip is like winning the Bassmaster Classic. It's something I'll never
forget. It's a dream come true."
Beginning April 1, a new Bassmaster.com Sweepstakes began for a chance to win
an all-expenses paid trip to "Fish With Skeet!" on a fishery to be
chosen by Elite Series pro Skeet Reese of California. The contest, which can be
entered via Bassmaster.com or through mail-in entries, runs April 1 through
June 12, and the winner will be selected on June 30.
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing.
The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive
tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of
bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to
serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster
Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2
and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich,
leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro
Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, B.A.S.S.
Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the
Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and
remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The
organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.
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