Fans in attendance at the Bassmaster Classic this weekend will have the opportunity to ask questions of some of the most prominent personalities in bass fishing who are on stage at the BASS Booth in the Classic ESPN Outdoors Expo.
On Friday, anglers Stephen Browning and Kelly Jordon hit the stage. Jordon and Bassmaster magazine editor James Hall discussed the upcoming Elite Series opener, the Battle on the Border at Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas, March 9-12. "That's my home away from home," said Jordon, who lives in Mineola, Texas. "It's a great bass lake and everybody will see that when we get there. I'm really excited about opening the series in Texas."
More special guests will take questions on Saturday, including ESPN Outdoors television personality Mark Zona at 11:30 a.m., BASS founder Ray Scott at 12:30 p.m. and Elite Series angler Jason Quinn at 1 p.m.
On the Water Live Chat Powered by Mobile ESPN
Fans who always wanted to talk with Classic anglers while they are on the water competing now have the opportunity. Classic enthusiasts can log on and submit a question for their favorite angler. Some questions will be chosen and posed directly to anglers through the new Mobile ESPN. A chat administrator will relay the responses, offering instant gratification to those following the Classic online. The chat was open Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. ET and will be open Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m., and Sunday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. On Day 1 of competition, Classic anglers Gerald Swindle, Randy Howell, Ish Monroe and Kevin VanDam were among those participating.
A Crown Jewel
The Classic is expected to generate more than $20 million in new impact and new spending in the Kissimmee and Central Florida area, according to John Saboor, executive director of the Central Florida Sports Commission.
"We consider this a crown jewel," Saboor said of the Bassmaster Classic at a news conference on Friday. "Today is the culmination of several years of work. In the last 10 days, we've had the pleasure of hosting two Super Bowls in the sports world: the Daytona 500 last week, and the Bassmaster Classic. No other part of the country can lay claim to that atypical dynamic."
The news conference also included the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau. The two organizations are hosting the tournament.
"This is all about destination development," said Tim Hemphill, the Kissimmee CVB's executive director. "We have a product here with our nature and heritage tourism that is unsung, and the biggest asset of that is Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. We've spent a lot of time developing our outdoors product because we know it will help attract people here, and so people who come back have more things to do."
The Ultimate Insider
Behind-the scenes-access, VIP treatment and rubbing elbows with the pros are all part of the Ultimate Insider Sweepstakes package awarded to one lucky fan recently who is now attending the Bassmaster Classic.
Roger Everton of Chesapeake, Va., was the grand prize winner of the Ultimate Insider Sweepstakes, a months-long sweepstakes open to the public. Everton won a trip of a lifetime for two, that included an all-inclusive trip to bass fishing's most major event with airfare, a hotel stay, behind-the-scenes access to the pros and a 2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 V8.
"I'm just in shock and disbelief," said Everton. "I fished for more than 20 years at the club level and to go up there and rub shoulders with the pros and see these guys in action is a really neat experience."
Everton, a member of the BASS Federation Nation Virginia Bassmasters Club, secured his entry when he renewed his BASS membership. The contest ran from July to December 2005 and entrants could enter by either joining BASS, renewing an existing membership or mailing in an entry form.
Family Fest
A fishing derby, CastingKids display, face painting, giant slide and more highlighted the Bassmaster Family Fest in Leesburg, Fla., this past Sunday where hundreds came to kick off Classic week and enjoy some family-fun activities.
"It's awesome," said Gerald Atland, 43 of Lancaster, Pa. "I've enjoyed the whole weekend and it's been a lot of fun. These guys (the pros) are excellent."
Nine-year-old Jonah Hartsburg of Moorhill, Ind., agreed. "The face painting was the most fun because of all the cool designs and you get paint on you," he said. "The slide is fun too because you can go fast and do tricks."
Yummy
The more than 1,300 launch spectators got more than they bargained for Friday morning at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Johnsonville Sausage, owner of the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill, the World's Largest Touring Grill, gave away their famous brats to hungry fans beginning at 5:45 a.m.
The grill, a customized semi-tractor and trailer which weighs 53,000 pounds, is 65 feet long and can cook 2,500 brats every hour. "People who see the Big Taste Grill for the first time are awestruck because of its enormity and uniqueness," said Cory Bouck of Johnsonville. "We think it's a memorable way for people to try the great taste of Johnsonville bratwurst while experiencing the launch of the Bassmaster Classic."
Hall of Famers
Four legendary anglers were named as inductees into the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame on Friday, including nine-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Basil Bacon of Missouri. Bacon was joined by Stan Fagerstrom of Oregon, the late Bill Norman and Dee Thomas of California. The four anglers will be enshrined into the hall of fame during the 2007 Bassmaster Classic.