Tulsa, Okla.-based Gene Larew Lures is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its famous Salt Craw soft-plastic bait with an open house and several other special activities coinciding with the Bassmaster Classic.
On Thursday, Feb. 21 and Friday, Feb. 22 from 7 to 10 a.m., Larew is opening the doors to its 22,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and warehouse to the public for viewing of how Larew bass lures and Bobby Garland crappie baits are made. Tours will be conducted each half-hour throughout the timeframe on both mornings. Plus, Larew has partnered with ONEOK, another Tulsa company and a leader in the natural gas and natural gas liquids industries, to help host and add to the community flavor of the lure company's hometown activities planned for the week.
Dubbed "The Bass Talk Coffee Shop," the Larew open house will feature a front lobby that has been converted into a social zone for local and visiting fishing fans to gather and discuss the Classic and fishing in general. Several top fishing pros and celebrities will be in attendance, including previous Bassmaster Classic competitors Dale Hightower and Andrew Upshaw. Also present will be 2012 PAA Tournament Series Gerald Brown and former Oklahoma State and NFL football player Rashaun Woods.
Top crappie pros include Missouri's Kevin Rogers, Texas' Jeff Schwieterman and Chris Waters, and Alabama's Dan Dannenmueller, the 2011 and 2012 Crappiemasters National Team Angler of the Year. Barry Stokes, host of the Southwest Outdoors Report television show, will attend on Friday.
Sunny Leigh, part of the morning crew for Tulsa's legendary country music station KVOO, will be providing live radio remotes from Larew on Thursday and Friday mornings. All visitors to the open house will be treated with Daylight Donuts and coffee and given Salt Craw 30th anniversary souvenir lure packs.
The facility is located at 10702 E. 11th St. in Tulsa.
