Killen, Ala. - Southern Fishing Publications is pleased to announce Family Ford, Florence, Ala, has joined Travis Boating Center, Florence, Ala. and Charlie Brewer Slider Company as a Top Rod Championship sponsor.
Richard Thigpen, VP Family Ford Sales, Inc. signed-on with little hesitation. "Co-sponsoring the Top Rod Championship gives Family Ford another opportunity to show our support for our area bass anglers," Thigpen commented. "We are already sponsoring the "Family Ford Top Hawg Award" in the 2002 All Star Bassin' Competition."
Family Ford is also Southern Fishing's Official Ford Dealership.
Ronnie McDonald, Southern Fishing Publications, said, "We are obviously pleased to have a quality sponsor like Family Ford join the other topnotch sponsors of the championship." "This will be the fifth Top Rod event we have produced and we are still refining the event to make it even more competitive." "The support of sponsors like Family Ford, Travis Boating Center and Charlie Brewer Slider Company enables us to provide the recognition local bass anglers deserve."
The Top Rod Championship is an All Star Team winner-take-all, $1000 shoot-out with no entry fee! The Top Rod Champion receives an automatic berth in the following year's championship to defend the title, provided he is registered in the All Star competition. Should the defending champion not qualify for one of the top six positions, he is still eligible to compete in the Top Rod Championship but would not be eligible for sponsor prizes.
The Top Rod Championship is fished on Wilson or Wheeler Lake. Wheeler at First Creek, November 2, is the championship site for 2002. Contestants fish with an observer. The lake will have six (or seven) designated fishing areas. The All Stars will fish the areas for one hour and then rotate to the next area. Time will be built-in to the schedule to allow for movement. No two contestants will be allowed in the same area at the same time.