HOUSTON - CBS Sports will broadcast a one-hour special this Mother's Day, reprising the action in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), the $1 million professional bass fishing tournament to be held on Lake Fork April 13 - 15. The broadcast will be a historic first for a bass fishing tournament, taking the sport to a nationally televised audience.
During the tournament, the TTBC action will also be broadcast on Versus (formerly Outdoor Life Network), featuring 30-minute highlights of the action of each day.
With more than 50 million anglers, the sport of fishing is one of the most popular in the United States. "Our 160 anglers are very excited about this awesome event, and feel that the broadcast should have a large and receptive audience," said Gene Ellison, executive director of the Professional Anglers Association, the voice of professional anglers.
There has never been a large fishing tournament with top-rated professionals on Lake Fork, which is one of the most prolific in the United States for producing very large bass. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) manages the lake's fishery with very strict rules designed to protect fish of certain sizes. Fish in a "slot" between 14 in. and 24 in. must be returned to the lake immediately when they are caught.
The tournament's rules have been designed to obey the slot limits without inhibiting the anglers' competitive zeal.
"The tournament is unique, the first of its kind, and will hopefully mark a big step forward in pairing the competitive sport of bass fishing and the highest ideals of conservation," said Phil Durocher, director of Inland Fisheries for the TPWD.
Country music star Clay Walker will be the headline entertainer for the event, performing on Saturday, April 14, along with Danielle Peck and Zona Jones playing earlier in the afternoon.
Tracy Lawrence will be the featured entertainer on Sunday, April 15, with Kacey Musgraves and Todd Fritsch performing on Sunday afternoon. There will also be recreational and educational activities for kids and families during the tournament. "Our primary goal with this tournament is to raise funds for the Texas Parks &Wildlife Department's educational and conservation activities, providing an additional revenue source for the department," said Dan Friedkin, TTBC co-founder and TPWD commissioner. "The unique structure of the event will make it more interesting for spectators, and the entertainment will complement the tournament action. We hope the tournament will be such a success that it will become an annual event." "Through an agreement with the Texas Bass Classic Foundation, the TPWD Inland Fisheries Division will provide technical assistance and support for the tournament, while the more than 200-member PAA will oversee rules, officials, entry qualifications and adherence to TPWD regulations.
The tournament will be limited to 160 professional anglers fishing in teams of four. Unlike most professional bass tournaments, contestants will not be required to pay an entry fee.
The title sponsor for the event is Toyota, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the presenting sponsor and the City of Lindale is the official host city.