Photo Copyright: © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
One-of-a-Kind Team Angling Event
to Donate to Texas Parks & Wildlife
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LAKE CONROE, TEXAS
TTBC Relocates to Lake Conroe
One-of-a-Kind Angling Event to Donate to Texas Parks & WildlifeLAKE CONROE, TEXAS – The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), the world championship of the PAA Tournament Series, featuring the top professional anglers in the world, will be held at Lake Conroe, Texas in 2009. It will take place October 16 - 18, 2009 and will adhere to strict slot limits that set it apart from other events. The event will benefit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and its outdoor recreation programs.“It is a great pleasure to announce the Toyota Texas Bass Classic will move to Lake Conroe in 2009,” said TTBC Co-Founders Dan Friedkin and Donato Ramos. “It is consistent with our mission of showcasing the outstanding bass fishing in Texas and benefiting TPWD programs, while setting the standard for conservation practices in angling.The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is a one of a kind event in the sport of angling. The event is in its third year and moves from Lake Fork in East Texas, where it was held for the first two years. “Through the support and hard work of multiple organizations, this Tournament has reinvented the bass fishing Tournament format and reinvigorated the sport for many,” said Professional Anglers Association (PAA) President Tim Horton.“Toyota is thrilled to be on board again with this tremendous event and to be able to support TPWD and its efforts,” announced Toby Hynes, President, Gulf States Toyota. “It is great to put the spotlight on Lake Conroe but even better to see the positive impact that this event has on the programs sponsored by TPWD.”Through the TTBC, the TPWD will receive a $250,000 donation that will be used to benefit their first-class youth fishing and outreach programs. “The focus of these programs is to expose kids and non-traditional users to the great fishing and the conservation of the TPWD’s Freshwater Resources upon which good fishing depends,” said JC Fassino, President, Texas Bass Classic Foundation.In the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, all fish caught above 14 inches will be weighed and the top five caught each day credited to each angler. Fish will be weighed in the boat by a certified and independent observer, and then returned to the lake immediately. This avoids having fish held in live wells for long periods of time and will set precedence on how fish are to be handled in future professional bass tournaments. Contestants will be allowed to keep one fish larger than 21 inches, which will be weighed at the weigh-in scales, then turned over to TPWD for proper handling and release back to the lake.The Tournament's format is designed to appeal to spectators, and includes a kids’ area with outdoor activities, live music and a Jumbo-tron showing continuous action to the audience. Anglers will be on shore giving seminars, signing autographs and interacting with the public. A fishing industry expo will feature instructional clinics and the latest in fishing equipment, gear and accessories.Spectator activities will be held at Buffalo Springs, an 800 acre master planned community located in historic Montgomery. Buffalo Springs is conveniently located minutes from Lake Conroe, City of Conroe and The Woodlands, and offers easy access to event activities, local shops and restaurants. For more information on Buffalo Springs and Montgomery, please visit www.MontgomeryTexas.com. In 2008, over 30,500 people attended the events at Lake Fork over the course of the Pro-Am and TTBC rounds. Country music star Trace Adkins was the headline performer and he was joined by Robert Earl Keen, Kacey Musgraves and Roger Creager. An hour-long national network broadcast is scheduled for the event.The 2008 Lucchese Toyota Tundra Big Bass Award went to angler Bobby Lane for his largest Tournament catch, weighing in at 11 pounds 12 ounces. The big catch earned him a custom pair of Lucchese Boots, Stetson hat and a Lucchese edition Toyota Tundra truck. The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is sanctioned by the Professional Anglers Association with technical assistance and support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division. Title sponsor for the event is Toyota. Corporate partnership opportunities are available for 2009. For additional information, visit www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com.
Lenny Francoeur, Tournament Director
(479) 715-6103 or lenny@toyotatexasbassclassic.com
Adam Harris, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
(919) 531-0500 or adam@toyotatexasbassclassic.com
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