MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Pro anglers aren't the only ones with something to gain on the Bassmaster Tour. Amateurs are also competing for big rewards, beginning with the Tour season opener on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes, Jan. 29-Feb. 1.
Tour amateurs compete during the first three of each tournament's four competition days, with the amateur winner taking home over $36,000 in cash and prizes as well as incentives.
CITGO is continuing its amateur program for the 2004 Tour, after awarding over $10,000 in free gasoline to amateurs in 2003. Winning amateurs at each Tour stop will go home with a year's worth of gasoline; not too bad a prize when you consider how much gas a boat and the truck pulling it can guzzle.
"The amateurs are there to fish with the big boys," said Ron Harness, CITGO Sponsorship Programs Logistics Manager. "Everything else goes to the pros, so we wanted to create a program for the amateurs as well."
Like any other program though, there are rules to follow. To qualify for the free gasoline, anglers must don the official CITGO apparel provided to the top 12 amateurs on their last competition day, a rule that most amateurs view as a perk.
"Very few amateurs do not participate," Harness added. "The hats and jackets have 'CITGO Bassmaster Tour Top 12' on it. It's kind of a status symbol for them. It's something these guys are proud of."
Tennessee's Dennis Arendt, an amateur angler who will be fishing on the Harris Chain of Lakes during the first event of the Tour, agrees that the clothes are a status symbol.
"I had the opportunity to be in the top 12 in the Bassmaster Open Championship and got the clothing," he said. "I wear the jacket all the time. It's kind of bragging rights to the guys you fish with.
"The fuel though, that's a big deal. It may be the biggest expense I'll have. If you're driving a thousand miles to a tournament, getting 10 miles to the gallon, you'll burn a lot of gas. So that is a big help."
Tour pro Dave Mansue, who fished several BASS events as an amateur before turning pro, agrees.
"This ... recognizes that amateurs put in a great deal of time and effort and the guy that comes out on top has really earned it," he said, "and with the gas prices the way they are today, it's really something."
Purolator, the official oil filter and air filter of BASS, is introducing the "Purolator Big Bass" award in 2004. In addition to the $500 the daily big bass brings to an amateur angler, they now have the opportunity to tack on an additional $1,000 if that bass proves to be the largest of the entire tournament.
"This is a great thing for the amateurs," said BASS Vice President and General Manager Dean Kessel, "If they catch the biggest fish of the tournament, they will have the chance to pick up an extra check and get recognized for their achievement."
"I think it's great that the amateurs have an extra incentive," said Danny Correia. "In a way, I kind of wish it was only offered to the pros, but if the pro misses the big fish and the amateur catches it, more power to them."