March 12, 2013
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Imagine
being 11 years old and reeling in a bass weighing more than 11 pounds. Now
envision winning cash and prizes of $100,000 to go along with that trophy
catch.
That's a life-changing event for a child out having fun with his family, and
it's exactly what unfolded at a Big Bass Splash tournament held by Sealy
Outdoors.
This year, Sealy Outdoors and B.A.S.S. have united to market and promote the
Big Bass Splash, bringing together top industry names in tournaments that are
philanthropic as well as fun, raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House and
other McDonald's charities.
As part of the agreement, B.A.S.S. members can earn additional prizes through
the new B.A.S.S. Cash contingency program of the Big Bass Splash presented by
Sealy Outdoors. At each event, Sealy awards cash prizes to the largest bass
brought to the scales on an hourly basis. Now, with the involvement of
B.A.S.S., an extra prize of $100 will be awarded to the B.A.S.S. member
weighing in the biggest fish during the 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
hours each day. An additional $250 will be awarded at the end of the event to
the highest finishing B.A.S.S. member if they are in the top 5 for the overall
event. The contingency is available only to B.A.S.S. members. Non-members will
be able to join B.A.S.S. on location at each event.
According to Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S., "This partnership will
strengthen B.A.S.S.'s already extensive reach into the grass roots of sportfishing, expanding it to wider audiences, especially
recreational anglers, youngsters and those new to the sport."
B.A.S.S. Cash will be featured at six events and kicks off in 2013 with the
Sealy tournament on Lake Guntersville out of Scottsboro Ala., March 21-24. It
continues on Lake Sam Rayburn in Jasper, Texas, April 19-21; Toledo Bend in
Many, La, May 17-19; Kentucky Lake in Buchanan Texas, Aug. 17-18; Lake Fork in
Alba, Texas, Sept. 20-22; and Lake Ouachita in Mt. Ida, Arkansas, Oct. 12-13.
Sealy's Guntersville tournament features a total guaranteed payout of $155,000
in cash and merchandise.
"We are joining forces with B.A.S.S. in order to help bass fishing
grow," said Bob Sealy, founder of Sealy Outdoors. "We want to get
more people involved in fishing, and so does B.A.S.S. We're very
family-oriented."
Fans will have an opportunity to visit the B.A.S.S. booth at the Big Bass
Splash tournaments and sign on as B.A.S.S. members to qualify for the program
prior to each tournament. If the big bass is not caught by a B.A.S.S. member,
the prize goes to the next largest catch by a B.A.S.S. member if that winner is
in the Top 5.
Participants can sign up for Big Bass Splash events online or beginning at the
first Bassmaster Elite Series event, the Sabine River
Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues, March 14-17.
About Sealy Outdoors
Founded in 1984, Texas-based Sealy Outdoors conducts tournaments that attract
thousands of participants to weekend contests on some of the country's best
trophy bass lakes Instead of pros, Sealy targets everyday anglers, including
children, with fun and festive tournaments. Weigh-ins are held hourly, with as
many as 12 big bass earning a share of the prize money each hour.
For details on how to register and on tournament prize structure, visit www.sealyoutdoors.com
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.comand 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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