TULSA, Okla. – Harsh morning weather and a courageous effort by a “one-armed angler” draw attention during the third webisode of Major League Fishing’s Challenge Cup, which is available beginning Monday, February 27, on the league’s ADVANCE CAST Pay-Per-View online channel.
Dean Rojas, who injured his right hand in a freak accident following the Fish-n-Chips tournament two days earlier, feared he wouldn’t be able to lift a rod above his waist and would, therefore, have to withdraw. Instead, he recovered just enough to offer a gutsy, mostly one-armed effort as he attempted to stay with the field.
The third webisode features action from Elimination Round Day 3 of the Challenge Cup and can be seen by visiting www.majorleaguefishing.com/advancecast/. Days 1 and 2 were featured during the past two weeks.
Major League Fishing, a partnership with 24 of the world’s best anglers and Outdoor Channel, features competitive bass fishing events designed to bring high-level challenges to participants and entertainment to audiences. The Challenge Cup, the league’s first event, includes six consecutive days of competition. The first three days comprise the Elimination Round, with eight anglers competing each day and the top four advancing.
Among other highlights, the third day of competition features two anglers running away from the field, leaving the remaining six to scrap for the two remaining qualifying positions.
“We’re ecstatic about the overwhelmingly positive reaction we’re getting from people who have watched these webisodes so far. And, I promise you that this third installment will offer another outstanding day of fishing,” Major League Fishing Commissioner Don Rucks said.
“The weather made things a nightmare at the start,” Rucks said. “We had to change ramps and change fishing zones. It just proves how good these guys are. Basically, they didn’t even know where they would be allowed to fish until after their boats were in the water.”
Third-day anglers include: Dean Rojas, Boyd Duckett, Skeet Reese, Mike McClelland, Jeff Kriet, Kelly Jordon, Ish Monroe and Byron Velvick.
Those eight anglers battle for the right to move on to the next round, called the Sudden Death, where they will face other elimination round survivors from Days 1 and 2: Jason Quinn, Gary Klein, Kevin VanDam, Brent Ehrler, Mike Iaconelli, Todd Faircloth, Alton Jones and Takahiro Omori.
Major League Fishing is offering seven webisodes, one airing each week. Each of the first six ADVANCE CAST webisodes follow the corresponding competition day. The seventh webisode will be a wrap-up show, featuring in-depth, on-the-water segments with the winners from each round and the Challenge Cup champion. The ADVANCE CAST total-event BassPass, a package of all seven webisodes costs $17.94, with individual episodes available for $2.99 each. The seven-event BassPass package features a “free” week.
The Challenge Cup includes six consecutive days of competition. The Elimination Rounds take place during the first three days, with eight anglers competing each day. The top four anglers from each of the Elimination days then advance to the next round, called Sudden Death. During Sudden Death, six anglers compete on Day 4, the remaining six on Day 5. The top two anglers from each day of Sudden Death advance, setting up a Day 6 Championship Final Round featuring the top four anglers.