Louisiana Lt. Governor Kathleen Blanco recently announced that the state of Louisiana will host the 2003 Classic World Championship of women's bass fishing. Working with the Women's Bass Fishing Association, the state will welcome the top 34 professional women bass anglers from 13 different states during the classic week of August 16 - 23, 2003.
The professional bass anglers will be fishing for over $50,000.00 in cash and prizes and the title World Champion. The anglers have fished other WBFA tournaments earning points to qualify for the event.
All fishing activities will be held out of the Stoner Avenue Boat Landing in Shreveport. The Quality Inn Suites/Microtel Inn Suites will be the Classic housing headquarters.
On Tuesday evening of Classic Week, the ladies will attend a banquet honoring the WBFA Tour Angler of the Year (sponsored by Triton Boats), Rookie of the Year (sponsored by Mercury Marine), and Amateur of the Year (sponsored by Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits). On Saturday evening, they will attend another banquet celebrating the winner of the World Champion title. Both banquets will be held at Harrah's Shreveport.
The Classic qualifiers will start the week by hosing a CAST for Kids event on Sunday morning. Working with the local Shriners, all the ladies will adopt a needy child and take them fishing for the morning. Each kid will be presented a rod and reel, tackle box, T-shirt, and a plaque boasting a picture of them and their Pro-for-the-Day.
On Wednesday, the Pros will be paired with VIPs from Shreveport and the State to compete in a VIP Charity Bass Tournament sponsored by Harrah's Casino. The Pro/VIP teams will be fishing for $1,000, which will be donated to the VIP's chosen Louisiana charity.
Tournament competition will start at safe daylight on Thursday morning. After a prayer, salute to veterans and the USA, along with a fireworks enhanced National Anthem, the 34 Pros will launch on the Red River in quest of the title "World Champion".
Competition will continue through Saturday. Each of the competition afternoons, the Pros will return to the Stoner Avenue Landing for weigh-in at 3:00pm. Each day, the weigh-ins will be guest-emceed by the Singing Cherokee, Chief George Braswell. Spectators will kept informed of each Pros status and the insights into the tournament.
On Saturday, the weigh-in will take on a more gala atmosphere. The Worlds Greatest Fishing Band will present a free-to-the-public concert at 1:45pm. They also performed at the final weigh-in of the 2002 BASSMASTERS Classic.
The scales will open at 3:00pm for the final and always suspenseful weigh-in. There will be free rod and reels for the first 50 kids and fishing tackle will be tossed to the crowd throughout the weigh-in. At the conclusion of the weigh-in, one of the women Pros will be presented the title of World Champion and handed the keys to a fully rigged Triton bass boat.
The WBFA Tour is the only professional bass tournament trail for women bass anglers. Major sponsors include Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, FlowMaster, DEKA batteries, Minn Kota, and Eidolon Bait Company.