Temecula, Calif.- Management of The Outdoor Channel (TOC), a majority-owned subsidiary of Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc., has announced the creation of Ultimate Match Fishing (UMF), an exciting, new bass fishing event that will pit 12 of the nation's best professional bass anglers against each other in head-to-head, seeded, bracketed, single elimination competition. The made-for-television event, produced in high definition video, will be an original TOC production, hosted by 20-year professional angler and host of TOC's Angler on Tour, Joe Thomas.
The UMF competition will take place on Kentucky Lake, with the 13-episode series broadcast beginning June 27, 2005. The Moors Resort and Marina will host the tournament.
Wade Sherman, TOC Senior Vice President of Programming, said, "For the first time--in more than 20 years--which is essentially the modern era of competitive bass angling, the top names and personalities associated with this dynamic and growing sport will be pitted one-on-one, and it will be seen only on The Outdoor Channel."
Already confirmed to take part in this unique, new format are truly some of the very best anglers on tour: Dean Rojas, Kevin VanDam, Denny Brauer, Rick Clunn, Gerald Swindle, Shaw Grigsby, Mike Iaconelli, Larry Nixon, Gary Klein, Mark Davis, Bernie Schultz and Tom Mann, Jr.
Among the unique characteristics of the UMF event is that the anglers will be seeded (randomly) going into the tournament, much like the NCAA basketball tournament. The opening round will match the number one seed against the number 12 seed, two against 11 and so forth. To round out the semifinals, a wildcard participant will be selected from those eliminated in the quarterfinals.
- UMF kicks off Match 1 with two of the hottest young stars in competitive bass fishing. Mike Iaconelli...the break dancing winner of the 2003 Bassmaster Classic against Gerald Swindle, the 2004 BASS angler of the year. According to host Joe Thomas, "This match should really set the tone for the entire competition. It's a great opportunity for fans of competitive bass angling to get an inside look at two of fishing's rising stars."
- Match 2 pits the man who rolled onto the scales with the highest single day, five-fish weight ever recorded in a B.A.S.S. event against a legend that holds 3 Angler of the Year titles and won the 1995 Bassmaster Classic Championship. Dean Rojas versus Mark Davis could be one of the most closely matched competitions in round 1.
- 7 Bassmaster Classic Appearances.... 5 FLW Championship appearances plus a slot in the 2004 Elite 50...that's just the beginning of Bernie Schultz's resume. And he'll need all of that experience in his match with Larry Nixon, the 1983 Classic champion and one of the all-time leading money winners in the history of the sport in Match 3 of UMF
- Match 4 pits legendary Texan Gary Klein, a 2 time BASS Angler of the Year against Tom Mann, Jr. hot of his 2005 FLW Championship on Lake Toho. Each of these anglers has a long history and well-earned reputation for bringing huge stringers to the scale and this match-up promises to not be an exception.
- Denny Brauer versus Rick Clunn...45 total classic appearances.... 5 classic titles...Denny Brauer even appeared on a Wheaties box! No two men epitomize what bass fishing is all about than Denny Brauer and Rick Clunn. Plus, you won't find 2 UMF competitors with more divergent styles. If you only watch one episode of UMF, make match 5 the one.
- No other angler has been more closely associated with the rising popularity of competitive bass fishing than Kevin Van Dam. And there's good reason. From his 3 Angler of the Year titles, FLW Angler of the Year title and the 2001 Bassmaster Classic Crown, KVD has earned a spot as one of the all-time greats. And if you think Shaw Grigsby is just another fishing show host...think again. As one of the all-time leading money winners and a 9 time classic qualifier, Shaw Grigsby has established himself as one of the sport's greatest competitors. That's why some insiders are calling match 6 the "mini-classic"!
"Just run down the list of competitors," adds Thomas, "and you'll see why Ultimate Match Fishing is really unique. What other sport features legends, rising stars and hall of fame members going head to head in a single elimination event? It's like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Barry Bonds battling in a home run hitting contest at the peak of their respective careers!"
The championship competition will match the semifinal winners, with episode 12 of the series featuring a recap of the competition. Episode 13 will culminate in the crowning of the Ultimate Match Fishing Champion, who will take home a grand prize of $50,000.
In a notable departure from other tournaments, the UMF event will place two of the top anglers in the same boat, with each getting the front of the boat for half the fishing day. The back-of-the-boat angler will be prohibited from moving to or fishing in the front half of the boat and vice versa for the angler who has the bow. Anglers will switch positions every two hours throughout the day. All other standard tournament rules will apply.
"This format," explained show host Joe Thomas, "will capture not only these anglers' skills, but will also record their personalities and how they interact with their fellow competitors. It's going to be a lot of fun watching the top names, the highest profile group of competitors ever put together in a fishing competition, going at it in a format not seen in competitive angling in more than 20 years."
Thomas said that The Moors Resort and Kentucky Lake were chosen because of the diverse types of fishing found there. "On Kentucky Lake the angler who specializes in flipping shallow water won't necessarily have the advantage over the pro that makes his living dragging fish from offshore structure."
The Outdoor Channel's Ultimate Match Fishing Championship will bring a new level of excitement and a clear, new dynamic to one of the world's fastest growing, most popular outdoor sports.