Mario DePiero of Gaston, Ore., won a trip to fish with reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year in the Bassmaster Fish With Brandon Palaniuk Sweepstakes. He also scored a new Skeeter ZX190 with a Yamaha VF150LA outboard with the win. The total prize pack is worth more than $57,000.
“Aside from family and friends, fishing definitely falls next for me,” DePiero said. “I was in disbelief when I realized I won the sweepstakes. I was in the market for a used bass boat when I found out I was the winner.”
DePiero will take a trip to a to-be-determined fishery in the United States with Palaniuk. The prize includes round-trip airfare for one, two nights/three days of hotel accommodations, a rental car for the duration of the trip and $500 spending money.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I can’t wait to meet Brandon and get on the water with him. When I found out I won, I started looking him up on YouTube, and he seems like such a cool guy. From what I’ve seen, he’s a swimbait enthusiast — definitely something I’m looking forward to getting some insight on.”
When DePiero was young, he convinced his father to cosign on a Skeeter boat for him. His father joked that he would have to “pull it behind his bike.” But since that day, bass fishing has become a passion that he cannot wait to share with his own children.
“I’m ready to be on the water with my family in the new boat,” he said. “I can’t wait to introduce my kids to bass fishing and watch them get excited about catching big bass.”
DePiero’s prizes also include a Humminbird Solix 10 MEGA SI GPS and Minn Kota Talon, a set of four Dick Cepek all-terrain tires, a Volant Performance air intake and exhaust package, three Alpha Angler rods, two Daiwa Tatula reels, a GoPro Hero6 Black, a HUK Next Level All Weather jacket and bib, a $500 Cabela’s gift card, one Cabela’s X-900 Pure Lead AGM battery, and prize packs from Bass Mafia and Seaguar.
DePiero was selected out of 905,000 entries. He may be nearly one-in-a-million to win, but he feels it was meant to be and that the prize pack was “made for him.”
Fans will have another chance to win an awesome prize very soon through the Bassmaster Fish with Randy Howell Sweepstakes with a grand-prize value of $30,000. The sweepstakes runs through Tuesday, July 31.
For more information on Bassmaster giveaways visit Bassmaster.com/sweepstakes.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Series presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
By: JamieDay Matthews
