The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) recently released new details about its April 2007 Toyota Texas Bass Classic event at Lake Fork, Texas. The announcements clarify what seem to be inconsistencies in a press release issued by a sponsoring partner, portions of which were published on BassFan last week.
Here's the additional skinny, straight from the PAA.
- The event is "specially formatted for television coverage" by both the Outdoor Life Network and CBS. The PAA stated the CBS broadcast will be on Mothers Day 2007.
- Competition takes place April 13–15, 2007. The field will be broken into four-man teams, randomly drawn. Each day will feature two 4-hour "halves." Two members of the team will fish the first half, the other two will fish the second. In between the two halves will be a strategy session (also televised) where teams will discuss adjustments for the second half.
- The full field will fish the first 2 days, but only the five highest-scoring teams will fish the final day.
- Official scoring will be done on the water via length measurements. Each boat will have an observer – a volunteer member of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. staff – who will convert the measurements into pounds. Each team will be allowed to tally its 10 biggest fish (or 10 highest scores) per half.
- A live weigh-in will be held, where each angler may weigh one bass over 24 inches in length. The big-bass weigh-ins will be held for each half the first 2 days. A big bass champion will be crowned at the end of the first four halves.
- There will be no entry fee, and each contestant will earn a check. The total purse will be $1 million.
