Article
Date: 3/08/2005
ALL-STAR LINEUP FILLS CITGO BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES FIELD
The
World’s Top Anglers Ready to Compete for $11 Million in 2006
CELEBRATION,
Fla. – The world’s most elite anglers who together have
more than 150 BASS victories to their names will compete in the
2006 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series, BASS announced today.
This
elite group of anglers include:
Nine
CITGO Bassmaster Anglers of the Year representing 14 titles, including
Aaron Martens, Gerald Swindle, Gary Klein, Tim Horton and Jimmy
Houston
Eight
CITGO Bassmaster Classic champions representing 12 titles, including
Rick Clunn, Michael Iaconelli, Takahiro Omori, Ken Cook and Paul
Elias
The
top three all-time BASS money winners: Denny Brauer, Kevin VanDam
and Rick Clunn. Collectively, they have earned nearly $5.5 million.
17
of the top 25 anglers in the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the
Year standings, including Ish Monroe and Kevin Wirth
Two
Horizon Award winners, including Davy Hite
Greg
Hackney, the Toyota 2004 Rookie of the Year
The
two BUSCH Shootout winners, John Murray and Brent Chapman
“This
world-class group of Elite Series anglers are about to experience
the next level in tournament fishing with BASS,” said Don
Rucks, BASS vice president and general manager. “Elite angler
participation has more than exceeded our expectations. We’re
thrilled that so many anglers share our vision for the future of
bass fishing and will enjoy the many benefits of the Elite Series,
but we’re not done yet. Only the first phase of the Elite
Series registration has ended and we anticipate a minimum of a full
field when the Elite Series debuts with the ‘Battle on the
Border’ at Lake Amistad in Texas in March.”
While
guaranteed registration for qualified 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Tour
and CITGO Bassmaster Northern Open pros has closed, more than 80
qualified CITGO Bassmaster Open Series anglers have the opportunity
to register for the Elite Series. Any qualified Bassmaster Tour
and Northern Open anglers who were unable to meet the Nov. 1 registration
deadline will be added to an exclusive waiting list and notified
of their status by BASS’ Tournament department.
In
October, dozens of anglers followed the lead of California’s
Skeet Reese, who was the first angler to accept his Elite Series
invitation. Anglers including Dean Rojas, Alton Jones, Marty Stone,
Shaw Grigsby, Scott Rook, Mark Tyler, Randy Howell, Kelly Jordon,
Joe Thomas, Peter Thliveros and Stephen Browning subsequently signed
up for the most elite bass fishing series for the most elite anglers
in the world.
“The
Elite Series is the best model we’ve ever had in the sport
that will truly grow an angler’s identity and offer a tremendous
earning potential and opportunity,” said reigning CITGO Bassmaster
Classic champ Kevin VanDam.
2003
CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli added: “The
Elite Series is an evolution of this sport and I am crazy about
it.”
BASS
announced the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series, along with the CITGO
Bassmaster Northern and Southern Tours, in August. Each Series event
pays down to 50 places with a $100,000 first-place prize and 50th
place paying $10,000. Anglers will compete for the cash as they
fish from their own sponsor-wrapped boats.
“Since
the day we announced the Elite Series, we’ve been working
to make it the premier professional bass fishing league in the world
for anglers, their sponsors and fans that come to the tournaments
and watch them at home on ESPN2,” Rucks said.
Elite
Series anglers automatically qualify for the CITGO Bassmaster Angler
of Year program, which will award a record total of $600,000 to
the top 50 anglers in the Elite Series points standings. First place
receives $125,000.
Those
anglers also are eligible to fish the new Bassmaster Majors, three
stand-alone, no-entry fee competitions offering a total prize purse
of nearly $2 million, including a $250,000 first-place prize per
event. Each of the Majors’ final day weigh-in will be televised
the same day on ESPN2.
“I
feel like I can make a lot of money next year,” said Denny
Brauer, the all-time BASS money winner.
The
2006 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series schedule is:
The
Southern Sprint
#1
March 9-12 Battle on the Border - Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas
#2
March 16-19 Lone Star Shootout - Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper,
Texas
#3
March 30 – April 2 Santee-Cooper Showdown - Santee-Cooper,
Manning, S.C.
#4
April 20-23 Southern Challenge - Lake Guntersville, Guntersville
, Ala.
#5
May 4-7 Pride of Augusta - Clarks Hill Reservoir, Columbia County,
Ga.
The
Turn
#6
June 1-4 Sooner Run - Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.
#7
June15-18 Bluegrass Brawl - Kentucky Lake, Kentucky Dam Village,
Ky.
The
Northern Swing
#8
July 6-9 Empire Chase – Oneida Lake, Syracuse, N.Y.
#9
July 13-16 Champion’s Choice - Lake Champlain, Plattsburg,
N.Y.
The
Final Charge
#10
Aug. 10-13 Capitol Clash - Potomac River, Charles County, Md.
#11
Sep. 14-17 The Rock - Table Rock Lake, Kimberling City, Mo.
The
2006 Bassmaster Majors are:
May
18-21 Bassmaster Memorial on Eagle Mountain Lake, Fort Worth, Texas
July
27-30 Bassmaster American on Lake Wylie, Charlotte, N.C.
Aug.
24-27 Bassmaster Legends on the Arkansas River, Little Rock, Ark.
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.
Inside
Bass, Courtesy BASS
Pennies
on the dollar for fishing rods, reels, baits, lures, and more? You
be the judge!
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