If you’ve ever wanted to figure out how to crack the late summer code on Lake Tawakoni, there’s no better opportunity than to be a PAA Member Observer during the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix.
Some of the top professional anglers in the country will be competing Sept. 9-11 in the third PAA Tournament Series event of the season. This event will determine the group of 15 PAA anglers who qualify, based on points standings, for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic scheduled in October. Competition will be fierce to earn one of the remaining TTBC berths for the slugfest less than a month later at Lake Conroe.
Among the pros scheduled to attend are Harold Allen, Todd Faircloth, Tommy Martin, Zell Rowland and Takahiro Omori of Texas; Bradley Hallman, Terry Butcher and 2010 PAA Tournament Series champions Tommy Biffle and Edwin Evers of Oklahoma; John Crews and Woo Daves of Virginia, Paul Elias and Pete Ponds of Mississippi; Anthony Gagliardi and Casey Ashley of South Carolina; Dave Lefebre of Pennsylvania; Dave Wolak of North Carolina, and many more.
Member Observers must be at least a PAA General Member, which is $50. Observer entry fee is $50, which entitles the Observer to participate up to all three days. Observers do not fish but in addition to the valuable experience of learning tactics and strategies of the pros, Observers who participate the first two days will be eligible for a shared-weight competition for Bass Pro Shops gift cards and prizes.
Additionally, the first 24 Member Observers who register are confirmed for Saturday’s final day with the top 30 Tournament Series finalists. Registered Observers after those are wait-listed for the final day.
Pete Hickey of Morristown, Tenn., served as an Observer during the first PAA Tournament Series event of the season and enjoyed the experience so much he registered for the entire season.
“I figured if I hired a guide to learn about fishing then I’d get just one day in a boat with one guy,” Hickey said. “But this allows me to have multiple days on different lakes with a different professional angler each day. That’s pretty hard to beat for the cost. I’ve learned a lot already and look forward to more days on the water with the pros to learn more.”
Early registration is requested for planning purposes. Observers also may sign up Sept. 8 during Official Registration at Bass Pro Shops in Garland.
Tournament Series Pro-Am
Although official Member Observers cannot fish in the Tournament Series, there will be unique opportunities to fish with the pros.
The PAA Tournament Series Pro-Am will be a small event, Sept. 11 on Lake Hubbard near Garland, open to amateur anglers who will be paired with a pro. Contestants will launch and return to the Garland Bass Pro Shops location with their pro, where they will be treated to a luncheon courtesy of the PAA prior to an awards ceremony on stage.
Early registration is required for planning purposes. Pro-Am participants must check in Sept. 8 during Official Registration at Bass Pro Shops in Garland.
Observers who participate on Days 1 and 2 will receive priority entry, but registration as an Observer is not required to participate in the Pro-Am. The Pro-Am participants will not observe on Saturday in the Tournament Series final day.
Pro-Am teams will use the “Catch, Weigh, Release” paper tournament format popularized by the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. Anglers will police themselves and keep track of the weight in their respective boats, using certified/calibrated Boga Grip scales. Tournament finishes will be based on he total weight in pounds and ounces, up to the tournament limit.
Each team will consist of one Pro and one Amateur, who must be at least a General Member of the PAA, paired by random draw. Catches will be recorded on the scorecard and counted toward the tournament limit. Field size will fluctuate between 20 and 36 teams per event, depending on location. The first 20 teams registered per event will be confirmed; additional teams will be placed on a wait list until the week of the event.
The Pro-Am pairing meeting will be held lakeside at Tawakoni on Friday at the conclusion of the Tournament Series weigh-in at West Tawakoni City Park. Pro-Am participants must check-in from 3-5:30 p.m. at the PAA lakeside booth and weigh-in site. Amateurs must be present for the Pairing Meeting at approximately 6 p.m. where they will meet their pro and plan for Saturday’s competition on Hubbard.
Entry fee is $300 per amateur, per event. That does not include PAA membership, which is $50 to be a General Member.
Prizes will be Bass Pro Shops gift cards for the Amateur winner ($500) and Pro ($250), with a payout based on 1-in-4 entries. Competition will not exceed six hours and will conclude in time for Pros and Amateurs to attend the final day weigh-in at Bass Pro Shops in Garland.
Anglers may pre-register to become an Observer or for the Pro-Am by emailing Lisa Bell at [email protected] or by calling the PAA at (270) 527-2030.
About the PAA: The Professional Anglers Association is a non-profit organization that gives professional anglers a unified voice in order to aid n the growth of the sport of professional bass fishing. The PAA also aims to administer educational programs to the average angler, to increase enjoyment of the sport, and to embrace sound conservation practices to further the future of the sport.
PAA Associate Sponsors: The PAA Tournament Series is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, E21 Carrot Stix, Lazer Trokar, Markel Insurance, Phoenix Boats, Nitro Boats, T-H Marine, Fishouflage, SolarBat, U.S. Reel, Sign Designs, BoatU.S. Foundation, Mercury Marine and Jasper Engines and Transmissions.PAA Hosts: The City of Garland, TexasBy: Alan Clemons
