Same great flavor, but for a great cause too. That's the taste of the 2006 Top Gun Championship.
Last year's inaugural Cabela's Top Gun Championship was a strong success. For the 2006 event, BassFan has partnered with the Texas charity organization Texas Stampede to further grow the championship, and continue bass fishing's tradition of charitable works.
BassFan and Texas Stampede have also partnered for the 2006 Skeeter BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship, which takes place in the days preceding Top Gun.
Proceeds from the tournaments will go to the Children's Medical Center of Dallas. The fundraiser will be the largest in championship bass fishing history.
About Stampede
Texas Stampede conducts a full season of charity events to help support the Children's Medical Center. Its lineup includes: Interstate Batteries Texas Stampede rodeo and concert weekend; Texas State Championship Bar-B-Que Cook-off and Texas Music Festival; La Riata Gala and Texas Hold'Em Poker tournament; Children's Medical Center Christmas Stampede; and Pace Picante Cattle Drive.
Since its inception in 2001, Texas Stampede has raised more than $2.5 million for pediatric programs associated with Children's Medical Center, which is one of the top 25 pediatric hospitals in the nation as recognized by U.S.News & World Report.
Texas Stampede president Joel Williams said, "We're excited about this partnership. We wanted to add a bass fishing tournament component to Stampede Season, and are thrilled that it ended up being not one, but two of the major championships in the sport.
"BassFan shares our mission to raise substantial funds annually for Children's Medical Center, and is committed to building a signature event in north Texas."
About Top Gun
The Top Gun Championship is the sole tour-level championship that invites anglers based strictly on their performance. Only the top anglers in the State Farm World Rankings are invited.
Additionally, Top Gun places no restrictions on sponsor or logo display, and anglers fish from their own boats during all tournament days. There are no entry fees, and anglers are paid an appearance fee to fish.
The first-ever Top Gun Championship was held last year in Ft. Worth, Texas, and Kansas' Brent Chapman won the $100,000 first-place prize.
BassFan COO Scot Laney said of the partnership with Texas Stampede: "BassFan feels strongly about continuing the charitable tradition that has long been an integral part of bass fishing. Bass anglers and tournament organizations at all levels are supporting good causes throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, and we certainly want to do our part.
"Partnering with Texas Stampede to produce an annual event to benefit Children's Medical Center is a perfect fit because Texas Stampede has a long history of doing good work in support of children in north Texas."
Event Details
The 2006 Top Gun Championship will take place Sept. 19-23 in the Dallas–Ft. Worth area. BassFan has not yet released a lake, or weigh-in, location.
Top Gun places an emphasis on family fun, and last year, spectators and their families enjoyed almost unlimited access to the pros for autographs and advice. The same should be expected this year.
BassFan will update its Top Gun site in the near future with key details, and will keep readers posted with news updates on BassFan.com.
The 2006 Skeeter BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship (WWC) invites the top weekend anglers from various sanctioned trails in order to crown the world's No. 1 weekend fisherman. The WWC dates are Sept. 15-18 (the 4 days preceding Top Gun).
Notable
> To learn more about Texas Stampede, visit www.texasstampede.org.
> To read an interview with Laney about last year's Cabela's Top Gun Championship, click here.
> To learn how to qualify for the 2006 Skeeter BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship, click here.
