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Women’s Bassmaster Tour Winner Takes Her ‘Victory Laps’ at Talladega

Taladega, AL -(FishNLand.com)- Women’s Bassmaster Tour angler Janet Parker of Little Elm, Texas, lapped the entire Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour field April 25 in Louisiana on the Ouachita River when she took her first BASS win by a margin of more than 8 pounds.

A scheduled appearance the next day in Alabama gave her the opportunity to do two more laps — victory laps, if you will — on the track at Talladega Superspeedway.

Parker led the parade lap at the April 26 Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. It was the third year in a row she led the race parade in her Aaron’s Dream Machine bass rig on behalf of her major sponsor, Atlanta, Ga.-based Aaron’s.

She also was at Talladega to accept a commendation given to her and Aaron’s by the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute. The award was presented to Parker on the Talladega driver introduction stage.

The U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute is a program of the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army. Founded in 2005, it recognizes “special supporters” of soldiers and the Army’s mission.

“We’ve raised in excess of $90,000 so far for the Armed Forces Foundation through auctions of a donated boat rig and sponsors’ products. All my sponsors have really stepped up,” Parker said. Aaron’s has donated thousands more to military and veteran groups over the years, she added.

She started her charity efforts soon after making an appearance to talk about fishing at an Air Force base and decided she wanted to do more.

“Although I can’t begin to comprehend the sacrifices the military and their families make for our country, I want them to know that it is appreciated,” she said.

About that second “victory lap” at Talladega: Parker was a passenger in a pace car.

“I wasn’t expecting to do that,” she said. “The G force at 150 mph is incredible. It was scary and very exciting at the same time. The adrenaline going through me was about the same as when I caught my largest bass of 12 pounds, 5 ounces.”

That bass, for the record, was not at a WBT event, but in Mexico at Lake El Salto last December.

About BASS

For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multimedia platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS annually sanctions more than 20,000 events.

BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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Cabela’s Continues Sponsorship of Bassmaster CastingKids Program

Celebration, FL. -(FishNLand.com)- BASS announced Tuesday that Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter® of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, renewed its sponsorship of the successful Bassmaster CastingKids program, which was developed in 1991 to introduce children to the sport of bass fishing.

Cabela’s, a supporting sponsor of CastingKids since 2006, will provide branded casting targets for all CastingKids events. Additionally, Cabela’s gift cards will be given to the 12 finalists who qualify for the 2009 Bassmaster CastingKids National Championship, set for Oct. 31 in Tavares, Fla.

CastingKids 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 CastingKids 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 CastingKids program and help jumpstart the next generation of anglers.”

The sponsorship agreement will provide the Sidney, Neb.,-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 CastingKids,” 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 CastingKids 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 CastingKids Official Sponsors: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards.

Bassmaster CastingKids Supporting Sponsors: Triton Boats, Cabela’s, Zebco and Stanley Jigs.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNOutdoorsMedia.com for ESPN Outdoors’ latest releases, schedules and photos.

About Cabela’s, Inc.: Cabela’s Incorporated, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is a leading specialty retailer, and the world’s largest direct marketer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the Company’s founding in 1961, Cabela’s® has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World’s Foremost Outfitter®. Through Cabela’s growing number of retail stores and its well-established direct business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela’s also issues the Cabela’s CLUB® Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program. Cabela’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CAB”.

About BASS: For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s sports broadband network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.

BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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BASS Circles Back to Alabama’s Wheeler Lake for Bassmaster Southern Open Presented by Oakley
Nearly one month after BASS veteran Tommy Biffle’s nail-biter of a win at the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake, BASS will return to the popular fishery.

Wheeler Lake, Alabama -(FishNLand.com)- Nearly one month after BASS veteran Tommy Biffle’s nail-biter of a win at the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake, BASS will return to the popular fishery for the second Bassmaster Southern Open presented by Oakley, set for April 30-May 2. Fishing conditions just four weeks later, however, will be somewhat different.

Wheeler Lake, which is home to populations of both largemouth and smallies, has been the site of 11 BASS events, including the Bassmaster Elite Series’ Evan Williams Bourbon Dixie Duel in April, when Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., took home the trophy with a three-day total of 50 pounds, 13 ounces, in the weather-shortened event.

At stake for the pros is a top prize of $45,000 and valuable points toward qualifying for the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season and two berths in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala. Co-anglers will compete in the Opens for the top prize of a boat/motor package valued at $32,000. After Day Two, the field will be cut to the top 30 pros and co-anglers, who will advance to Saturday’s final day of competition.

At the Elite event in March at Wheeler, which typically doesn’t fill up until mid-April, Biffle capitalized on rising water levels and dirty water while flipping along a shoreline in extremely shallow water. He relied on three baits – a jig, a beaver and a lizard, with most of his fish being caught with the Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver in black and red. In the mornings, he worked his bait slowly and with a deliberate hop through buck brush, but as the day wore on and water temperatures rose, it turned on the bite and he alternated with the jig and lizard.

Elite Series pro Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., finished second to Biffle with a three-day total of 46 pounds, 4 ounces. Ashley will compete in the Southern Open, for which practice starts April 27, one day after the Elite event finishes up at Smith Mountain Lake out of Moneta, Va.

At the Elite event in April at Wheeler, Ashley mainly fished a bluff wall in First Creek, using a jerkbait until the water muddied before the final day and he switched to a jig. He said he expects the fish most of the pros found along the shoreline in April to be finished spawning and out in the Decatur Flats.

“There might be a good many still shallow, in the bank grass, but they’ll mostly be in the Flats,” Ashley said. “Everyone will be piled up on top of each other.”

Ashley said he thinks competitors will find success with a Rat-L-Trap, jig or spinnerbait, or crankbaits in 8 to 10 feet of water.

“I think some of the places I was catching them last month will still have fish in them,” Ashley said. “That’s only the second time I’ve ever fished that lake, but I’m going to say it’ll run the same on weights this time. It’ll probably take 14-15 pounds a day to win. You’ll see a few with 20-pound bags, maybe 22 or 23 pounds, but that’s not going to be an everyday thing.”

Fans are invited to the Open’s Thursday-Saturday takeoffs and weigh-ins at Ingalls Harbor, 701 Market Street NW, in Decatur. Anglers will launch their boats at 5:45 a.m. CT and the weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 2:05 p.m. All activities are free and open to the public. The daily weigh-ins for the second stop of the Southern Open will be streamed live on Bassmaster.com, along with other unique content including photo galleries, live leaderboards and daily game stories.

The final stop in the three-tournament Southern Open division is the Oct. 22-24 event on Santee Cooper Reservoir out of Manning, S.C.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNMediaZone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news.

The Decatur Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau is the tournament host.

Official Sponsors of the 2009 Bassmaster Opens: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Marine.

Supporting Sponsors of the 2009 Bassmaster Opens: Bass Pro Shops, Triton Boats.

About BASS

For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s sports broadband network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.

BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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