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 the sealyoutdoors website.
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 Bassmaster website 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.By: Cara Clark / B.A.S.S.
