BASS News
This page has official news, announcements and offers that were sent from BASS. Please visit our home page for NBF news and announcements and our Specials, Offers & Discounts page for additional BASS news and offers.
Shreveport, LA, and Red River to Host 2010 Bassmaster Federation Nation
Championship
(posted March 14th, 2010)
BASS announced today that the 2010 Bassmaster Federation Nation
Championship presented by Yamaha Marine and Skeeter Boats, the biggest
tournament of the year for grass roots BASS competition, will play out
on the Red River and Shreveport, LA., on Oct. 27-29.
The event, previously announced for Tavares, FL, and the Harris Chain of
Lakes, was moved to Shreveport and will pair with the 2012 Bassmaster
Classic in the area. The Shreveport location will provide a more
centralized venue for the 55 competitors, whom travel from across the
country and internationally.
The event will determine which six amateur anglers will qualify for
another Louisiana-based event, the 2011 Bassmaster Classic out of New
Orleans, LA. The host for the FNC will be the Shreveport Regional Sports
Authority.
Competition waters will be the popular Red River. The prolific fishery
has hosted multiple BASS events through the years and was the site of
the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, which set attendance records registering
more than 130,000 fans. That event was won by Skeet Reese of Auburn,
Calif. with his three-day total of 54 pounds, 13 ounces.
The mighty Red has also been host of three previous Bassmaster
Federation Nation Championships including the 1999 event, which was won
by 2006 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli.
To qualify for their annual championship, BASS Federation Nation anglers
must work their way up a ladder of local, regional, state and divisional
qualifying tournaments. Then, at the Bassmaster Federation Nation
Championship, the top finishers within each of six divisions earn a
berth in the next Bassmaster Classic.
The six divisional events of 2010, which will determine the 55
Championship qualifiers, begin with the March 29-April 2 Southern
Divisional out of West Point Lake and Lagrange, Ga.
Randy Phillips of Oxford, MA, took the 2009 Bassmaster Federation
Championship from the Harris Chain of Lakes with a three-day total of 31
pounds, 1 ounce. By virtue of his victory, he has qualified for the 2010
Championship.
Shoot Your
Own Evan Williams Commercial (posted January 5th, 2010) BFN LEADERSHIP: Happy New Year. I hope everyone
enjoyed some time off with their family and friends and spent some time
outdoors during the holidays. As we get back into the routine of a New
Year, we want to thank each of you for your commitment to the BASS
Federation Nation and encourage you to keep communication at the
forefront of your priorities with your members. As you know, Evan Williams
bourbon presented a contest whereby members of participating BASS
Federation Nation chapters have the opportunity to create a television
commercial showing the partnership between the sport of fishing, the
Federation, and Evan Williams bourbon. The top five commercials from all
club submissions will be selected by a panel of judges and placed online
for voting and consideration to win $5000. BFN members are invited to go
online and vote for their favorite commercial. Members are limited to
one vote per day and each time a vote is submitted they are entered to
win an individual prize up to $500. EWB is a great partner for the
BFN and they’ve listened to your request to extend the entry deadline.
We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to show your
appreciation and support for state and BFN sponsor programs. We ask that
you give all promotions the widest distribution possible by publicizing
information in your newsletters, websites and meetings. These programs
provide the perfect opportunity to prove how valuable the BFN can be to
sponsors, but we have to activate. It’s our hope that EWB is overwhelmed
by entries they receive from the membership. Please keep in mind that
this promotion is open only to members of participating Federation
chapters who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older at the time of
entry. See below and thanks! SENT ON BEHALF OF EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON: All, Because there was some concern
about the deadline for the “Shoot Your Own Evan Williams Commercial”
contest we have listened to you and have extended the deadline. This
should especially be helpful to those chapters that do not hold meetings
until February. The new deadline for submission is March 13th. We feel
this should give everyone an opportunity to participate and we are
excited to see what great things your chapters can do. Updated rules and
regs are included with this email. Please feel free to contact me with
any questions/concerns at any time at hsnedeker@heavenhill.com or (502)
413-0221. Below is a link to the contest
website where you will find another copy of the rules and regs. This is
also where you will go to vote once the final 5 commercials have been
selected.
http://www.evanwilliams.com/contest/ Username: ewadmin Password: ewadmin0911 Thanks again and we look forward
to seeing all of your videos!
Cabela’s Continues Sponsorship of Bassmaster Casting Kids Program
(posted April 21, 2009)
BASS announced Tuesday that Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter® of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, renewed its sponsorship of the successful Bassmaster Casting Kids program, which was developed in 1991 to introduce children to the sport of bass fishing.
Cabela’s, a supporting
sponsor of Casting Kids since 2006, will provide branded casting
targets for all Casting Kids events. Additionally, Cabela’s gift
cards will be given to the 12 finalists who qualify for the 2009
Bassmaster Casting Kids National Championship, set for Oct. 31
in Tavares, FL.
Casting Kids competitions are held in two age divisions, 7-10
and 11-14, and youth advance to the National Championship
through tournaments on the local, state and divisional level.
In 2008, the Casting Kids program was integrated into the BASS Federation Nation Championship presented by Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards to give youth an entry point into competition. The BASS Federation Nation is the grassroots organization that provides support for BASS’ youth initiatives.
“Fostering a love of fishing and the outdoors among America’s youth is something we take seriously here at Cabela’s,” said Tom Rosdail, Vice President of Marketing for Cabela’s. “We’re proud to sponsor the Bassmaster Casting Kids program and help jumpstart the next generation of anglers."
The sponsorship agreement will provide the Sidney, NE based company a presence across BASS’ multimedia assets, including Bassmaster.com and BASS Times.
“Cabela’s shares BASS’ vision in growing the sport by helping our youth develop skills through introductory programs like Casting Kids,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager, ESPN Outdoors and BASS.
BASS has provided programs through the BASS Federation Nation for children to learn about conservation, natural resources, fishing and competition through Casting Kids and the Junior Bassmaster Program. Catering to the more mature youth segment, 11-14 and 15-18, the Junior Bassmaster Program was founded in 1983.
For more information on Cabela’s visit www.cabelas.com.
Bassmaster Casting Kids Official Sponsors: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards.
Bassmaster Casting Kids Supporting Sponsors: Triton Boats, Cabela’s, Zebco and Stanley Jigs.
ESPN360.com Debuts Outdoors Coverage in 2009 with Live, Streaming Video of BASS Events
BASS today announced that they will be offering live, streaming video of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s online destination for live sports events and home to over 3,000 live, global events annually. The debut of BASS coverage marks ESPN360.com’s first foray into outdoors content and will put BASS events on the same vehicle as other top-tier sporting events.
The 24/7 broadband sports network will begin its coverage with the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, to be held Feb. 20-22 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. Throughout 2009, ESPN360.com will also carry live weigh-ins of all BASS events, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the BASS Federation Nation presented by Yamaha Outboards and Skeeter Boats.
Fishing fans will be able to access archived weigh-ins through ESPN360.com for 48 hours after the completion of competition. After that timeframe, the weigh-in footage will be permanently housed on BASS Insider at www.bassmaster.com.
Bassmaster.com will continue to be the online destination for real-time leader boards, photo galleries, blogs, analysis and other forms of video content – including press conferences, behind the scenes footage, launch coverage – will also be housed on the site.
“We’re committed to serving the outdoors enthusiast, and ESPN360.com is a great platform for distributing live coverage online.” said Tom Ricks, general manager and vice president, BASS and ESPN Outdoors.
ESPN360.com is currently available in more than 25 million homes, and is available at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from one of approximately 45 Internet service providers nationwide, including AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available free to more than 18 million people in all U.S. military bases and students through college campuses.
Through a sleek, simple interface, ESPN360.com gives consumers control over their broadband sports viewing experience – providing reliable, television-quality video and the ability to pause, rewind and fast-forward live events – similar to digital video recorder functionality.
Consumers wanting more information about ESPN360.com, which Internet services currently provide it, and how they can get it should go to www.espn360.com.
Yamaha Outboards and Skeeter Boats Become Presenting Sponsors of all BASS Federation Nation Events
BASS announced today that Kennesaw, Ga.,-based Yamaha Marine Group and Texas-based Skeeter Products, Inc., have increased their sponsorship agreement to include presenting level support of the BASS Federation Nation Championship and the BASS Federation Nation Divisionals.
With the new agreement, the six divisionals will be titled the BASS Federation Nation Divisionals presented by Yamaha Outboards and Skeeter Boats and the championship event will be the BASS Federation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha Outboards and Skeeter Boats.
Yamaha, which is an Official Engine sponsor of BASS and its prestigious tournament structure, and Skeeter, which serves as an Official Boat sponsor of BASS, will continue to serve as premier sponsors of the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens and the Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors.
“The BASS Federation Nation represents the “heart and soul” of our great sport of bass fishing,” said Jeff Stone, senior vice president and general manager of Skeeter. “From local club competitions to the national championship, this great organization provides the foundation and inspiration that helps drive the bass boat industry today. We look forward to building upon this rich heritage with the Federation Nation by providing support and exposure to its many members and our customers and dealers.”
“At Yamaha we strive to provide outboard motors that truly exceed the satisfaction expectations of bass anglers across the country,” said Dale Barnes, division manager, marketing for Yamaha Marine Group. “We believe this opportunity to become more involved with the BASS Federation Nation will help us understand the needs and desires of federation members from every state even better as the market continues to evolve.”
Both companies will continue to support BASS’ youth initiatives including the Bassmaster Casting Kids Championship and Junior Bassmaster World Championship.
The announcement was made on the heels of the completion of the
BASS Federation Nation Championship, which qualified six amateur
competitors for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 20-22
on the Red River and Shreveport-Bossier City, L
“We appreciate the support from Skeeter and Yamaha, particularly as it relates to our Federation Nation programs,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager of BASS. “Both have fantastic reputations in the industry and continue to advance the sport of bass fishing.”
For more information on Yamaha Marine Group, visit www.yamahaoutboards.com or for more information on Skeeter Boats, visit www.skeeterboats.com.
BASS Continues to Lend Support to National Hunting and Fishing Day
(posted Sept. 24th, 2008)
As the worldwide authority on bass fishing, BASS consistently supports efforts that promote outdoors recreation through its multi-media platforms, youth programs and tournament structure. To coincide with National Hunting and Fishing Day, in past years, the Texas BASS Federation Nation has worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to hold Bassmaster Casting Kids events during the TPWD expo, which is held in conjunction with the landmark day.
This year, the Oklahoma BASS Federation Nation is collaborating with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to connect youth and sportsmen with the outdoors. Over the course of three days, the Oklahoma Federation Nation will mentor thousands of youth during a state-wide outdoors Expo. More than 7,000 youth will attend the Expo on Friday, Sept. 26, and have an opportunity to participate in the Casting Kids program, which teaches children the fundamental techniques of fishing.
Members from nearly every Oklahoma BASS Federation Nation Club will participate in the festivities surrounding National Hunting and Fishing Day.
“It’s important to reflect on the many positives that outdoor recreation delivers and National Hunting and Fishing Day is an effective, productive way to do so,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager, BASS. “We are pleased to support the event and recognize the ultimate goal of protecting our resources and enjoying the outdoors.”
For more information about National Hunting and Fishing Day, please visit www.nhfday.org.
Don Corkran Leaving his Post as Director of the BASS Federation Nation
In what was truly a difficult decision, Don Corkran will be leaving his post as the Director of the BASS Federation Nation when his contract expires in January. We are all operating in a challenging economic environment which sometimes dictates difficult steps to be taken. I would like to thank Don for his significant contributions to BASS and ESPN Outdoors. We appreciate Don’s commitment to the Federation Nation and wish him well in his future endeavors. Over the past two years, Don displayed great leadership in effectively managing the Federation Nation program and restoring clear lines of communication between our grassroots members and BASS.
There are no additional changes planned for the rest of the Federation Nation department, which will continue to be managed by the BASS Events Department. Jon Stewart will oversee tournament operations while Stacy Twiggs will remain in his role as Senior Manager, Federation Nation & Youth programs. Joy George will continue to manage the Casting Kids programs and Patti Morsch will maintain her role as administrative assistant for the Federation Nation. We anticipate a seamless transition for all Federation Nation members and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns to any of the members of the Federation Nation team.
Finally, the Federation Nation program will not be impacted. BASS will continue to deliver the benefits associated with the Federation Nation. Please help us communicate this message to all Federation Nation members.
Thanks for all you do to grow the sport of bass fishing.
Sincerely,
Tom Ricks
General Manager, BASS
The Fisher King of Auburn
by Jason Rufner
(posted February
5th, 2009)
The idea was hatched in math class, where -- just for a moment --
Charlie Hill's thoughts wandered from formulas to fishing.
Now boasting 25 regular members and growing, the club hosts frequent outings to local fishin' holes like Goose Creek, Beaverdam Reservoir and Kephart Landing. There are occasional overnight adventures to more distant locales, like when they journey to Elm's Creek Resort in West Virginia, looking for trout.....
But it wasn't until his sophomore year that he became "completely obsessed" with trying to get fish to choose his boat over their natural habitat. Now he finds himself teaching his father, a more leisurely fisherman, a thing or two.
"It went from my dad teaching me how to fish to me now out-fishing him and teaching him techniques," Hill stated.
The 17-year-old studies fishing as if it were a class, as if his future livelihood depended on it. And it might.
"I'd love to be professional some day," he admits.
To aid in the realization of that goal, Hill recently directed the BRHS Fishing Club to join the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) Federation Nation of Virginia, a governing body that oversees professional tournaments and helps bring young fisherfolk along in the sport.
In early May the club will head to Aquia Creek to participate in a B.A.S.S. junior state-qualification event, fishing for the right to compete in the state tournament in August.
Next school year, Hill intends to enroll at Christopher Newport University to study history and education. But the BRHS Fishing Club will live on, as will Hill's fascination with fishing.
He is that rare individual who has found a credo at an early point in life, and has pursued it relentlessly.
"Life is short," he philosophizes. "Fish often."
Keeping bass alive a tough job
Tulsa World - August 6th, 2009
by Kelly Bostain
(posted August 10th, 2009)
RIGHT ON CUE with weather fit to fry both man and fish, BASS Conservation and Toyota have produced a shortened version of "Keeping Bass Alive," co-authored by biologist Gene Gilliland of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The new booklet is online at bassmaster.com. Pages of the guide are downloadable pdf pages and easily printed at seven pages. There's even a pocket-sized printable pdf card with quick tips to keep on the boat or in your tackle box if you prefer.
There is no question that BASS played a huge role in changing fishing forever as a major force behind catch-and-release more than 40 years ago, but over the years anglers learned that just turning a fish loose to watch it swim away didn't mean the fish would live to be caught again another day.
As much good as catch-and-release has done for fish populations, the practice of releasing fish during tournaments hasn't always netted a positive image for tournament bass anglers.
"They may swim away but they may die two or three days later if they're not cared for properly," Gilliland said. "That's when we would get the calls from the marinas or the local anglers who find dead fish floating around their docks."
With the dead fish turning up days after a tournament was over, anglers didn't always realize the significance of the problem, he said. In 2002 Gilliland and Hal Schramm, with the U.S. Geological Survey in Mississippi, co-authored the 42-page "Keeping Bass Alive."
It has become "the guidebook" with detailed instructions for tournament anglers and for tournament directors. The full book still is available online, but now a shortened version is available with the aim of wider distribution.
"In the past 10 years weigh-ins have improved, but there still were not quite as many of the anglers on board as we wanted," Gilliland said. "We wanted to really try to get his information into their hands more readily."
Pages of the book are online in pdf format, so the pages are pre-formatted to fit standard printer paper. "The other version was Web friendly but it wasn't something easy to handle if a club wanted to print it out and hand it out to its members. This new version is more friendly for people to do that at seven or eight pages verses the original 42."
The original booklet is in two parts, one specifically for the angler and the other specifically for tournament directors. Fish need to be handled correctly by anglers, but also must be handled properly during the weigh-in and release process.
If you've never experienced this, you might be surprised at the effort that goes into catching a fish at 6 a.m., catching several more throughout the day and then seeing the fish safely released at 4 p.m. That's a long time to care for a wild fish that you've yanked from its natural habitat, especially when the weather is hot and when you're occupied with trying to catch more, bigger, fish than the ones already in the tank.
It comes down to good catches, good livewell management and good weigh-ins. Livewell design on bass boats has come a long way but caring for bass, as Gilliland said, "is not just a matter of flipping a switch and forgetting about them."
That goes double for warmer times of year. "Your amount of involvement has to go up and the water temperature goes up," he said.
It means possibly adding oxygen, possibly adding ice, and making sure the chemical make-up of the water in the tank remains healthy for the fish. "Too many guys, even this time of year, are not operating their livewell any differently than they did back in April," he said. "The water quality and the stress is different on these fish."
Although Gilliland said enough is known about bass and survival that a book could be written to nearly guarantee their survival, the guidelines are written to accommodate common sense and practical measures any angler can manage with affordable equipment. And, now, even those guidelines are condensed to a very basic format that anyone can print out and follow.
"The whole idea is to get more of this info out there into the hands of the anglers" he said. Well put.
BASS and Bass Pro Shops Form First-Time Marketing Program
(posted February 27th, 2009)
BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, and Bass Pro Shops, the #1 Outdoor Retailer in America*, have formed a joint marketing alliance, BASS announced today. The relationship will allow each industry-leading company to integrate both brands across their respective platforms to further reach and educate outdoors enthusiasts on initiatives facing natural resources and to grow participation.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to partner with the premier bass fishing organization in America and benefit our loyal customers at the same time,” said Stan Lippelman, vice president of marketing, Bass Pro Shops.
The companies will launch a co-branded Bass Pro Shops rewards program in the spring of 2009 that will provide BASS members an opportunity to earn bonus points for purchasing select products associated with the Bassmaster Elite Series throughout the season.
The relationship will kick off on Feb. 27 at the Bass Pro Shops Spring Fishing Classics with The Bassmaster GearUp Giveaway presented by Bass Pro Shops. It is an opportunity that allows fans to win some of the newest 2009 products by registering at www.Bassmaster.com/gearup. The promotion will run through March 16, with the winner being awarded the grand prize of fishing gear and tackle with a retail value of approximately $4,200. For the complete sweepstakes rules and prizes click here.
All Bass Pro Shops Spring Fishing Classic attendees will have an opportunity to get their picture on a souvenir cover of Bassmaster Magazine, held at Bass Pro Shops retail outlets. For the Bass Pro Shops Spring Classic schedule visit www.basspro.com.
The Springfield, MO.-based company is also the official apparel of the Bassmaster Elite Series Marshal program, and will include a $25 gift card for all participants. The Marshal program provides BASS members the opportunity to ride along with Elite Series pros for a full-day of tournament fishing from the best seat in the house.
“Aligning two industry-leading organizations will only serve to benefit fishing fans and the outdoors industry as a whole,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager, BASS. “We are pleased to offer BASS members bonus reward points and augment the Bass Pro Shops experience for fans. We are excited to work with Bass Pro Shops and will continue to collaborate on innovative programs that provide long-term growth in the industry.”
Additionally, Bass Pro Shops will receive exposure across BASS’ multimedia properties, including The Bassmasters on ESPN2, Bassmaster Magazine and www.bassmaster.com.
Bass Pro Shops is associated with a number of Bassmaster Elite Series anglers including Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., each former winners of both the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and the Bassmaster Classic.
For more information on Bass Pro Shops, visit www.basspro.com. For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
*As named by Sporting Goods Business Magazine
Tavares, Fla., and Harris Chain of Lakes to Host 2009 and 2010 BASS Federation Nation Championships
First up will be the 2009 BASS Federation Nation Championship, set for Oct. 28-30. The outcome of the three-day competition will determine which six amateur anglers will qualify for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic out of Birmingham, Ala.
The agreement signed Thursday by the City of Tavares and BASS will also bring the 2010 BASS Federation Nation Championship to Tavares and the Harris Chain in October. Dates for the 2010 championship will be announced soon.
Competition waters will be the popular Harris Chain of Lakes. The prolific fishery has hosted multiple BASS events through the years, most recently the Jan. 29-31 Bassmaster Southern Open. That event kicked off the 2009 BASS tournament season in style with a winning weight of 68 pounds, 6 ounces. The haul by Florida pro Bryan Hudgins of Orange Park included a Day Two bag that tipped the scales at more than 30 pounds.
To qualify for their annual championship, BASS Federation Nation anglers must work their way up a ladder of local, regional, state and divisional qualifying tournaments. Then, at the BASS Federation Nation Championship, the top finishers within each of six divisions earn a berth in the next Bassmaster Classic.
The six divisional events of 2009 will begin with the March 30-April 3 Southern Divisional.
“We’re extremely pleased that Tavares, our partner in so many other successful BASS tournaments, will host the next two Federation Nation Championships,” said Jamie Wilkinson, senior director of event operations and business development.
The announcement of the agreement between BASS and the City of Tavares was made Thursday at the 39th Bassmaster Classic out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. The six Federation Nation qualifiers competing in the Feb. 20-22 Classic are: Ken Baumgardner of Monongahela, Pa.; Jay Evans of Corvallis, Mont.; Bryan Schmidt of Olney, Texas; Waine Pittman of Villa Rica, Ga.; Terry Fitzpatrick of Waukon, Iowa; and Scott Parker of Londonderry, NH.
They’re up against 45 other anglers for the Classic’s first-place prize of $500,000.
BASS Federation Nation presenting sponsors include Yamaha, the official engine; and Skeeter Performance Fishing Boats. Official sponsors include Toyota Trucks, Berkley, Booyah Bait Co., Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, Optima Batteries. Supporting sponsors include Triton Boats.
BASS Youth Programs Team with U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance to Bring Fishing Education and Fun to Trailblazer Adventure Program
(posted February 19th, 2009)
BASS announced today that BASS Youth and the United States Sportsmen’s Alliance, in conjunction with Trailblazer Adventure Program, have formalized a relationship to further outdoor education among youth at Boy Scout of America Camps and other organizations nationwide.
BASS Federation Nation members and local Federation Nation clubs will set up education stations at the camps, including BASS CastingKids elements such as casting techniques, baiting and lure selection, fish identification, game and fish regulations, sportsmanship, boating safety, conservation and outdoor ethics, as part of the Trailblazer Adventure Program.
“We are looking to augment the reach of our Trailblazer Adventure Program and working with BASS is just a natural fit,” said Bud Pidgeon, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Introducing youth to the fun associated with the outdoors is critical, and this relationship serves as an effective way to reach new audiences.”
The Trailblazer Adventure Program is the largest scale outdoor program of its kind, having brought the thrill of outdoor sports to more than 700,000 youth and families since 2001. In 2008, the Trailblazer Adventure Program hosted 75 events in 34 states and hosted more than 179,000 participants.
Since 1983, BASS has provided programs through the BASS Federation Nation for children to learn about conservation, natural resources, fishing and competition through the Junior Bassmasters, including the introduction of CastingKids in 1991.
“It’s exciting to collaborate and expand on each organization’s capacity to positively impact the well-being of our children and the environment,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager, BASS. “With the generous contribution of their personal time, BASS Federation Nation members will foster this partnership’s immediate nationwide impact, connecting more children to some of our most traditional pastimes.
”For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.Bassmaster.com. Visit www.espnoutdoorsmedia.com for BASS/ESPN Outdoors’ latest releases, photos and more.
About United States Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation developed the Trailblazer Adventure Program in 2001. The Trailblazer Adventure Program provides an introduction to outdoor sports using a hands-on approach under supervision of local sportsmen, wildlife officials and local conservation organizations.
Trailblazer involves families through
partnerships with Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls
Clubs, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and state wildlife agencies and
local conservation clubs. Events are held at youth camps,
sportsmen’s clubs, state parks and similar facilities. In
2007, approximately 170,000 youth and their families were introduced
and learned more about America’s outdoor heritage through the
Trailblazer Adventure Program.
