Bass Tournament News

PAA News

BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 20, 2012) – Entry fees will be reduced for the 2012 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series which begins in May on Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee.

Official registration begins Feb. 5 for the Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series. Entry fees have been reduced to $1,500 per tournament for the Pro Division. Along with Old Hickory in Hendersonville, Tenn., other events include Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden, Ala., and the Arkansas River in Muskogee, Okla.

In recognizing the difficult economic situation many anglers are in today, the PAA’s Board of Directors unanimously decided to lower the entry fees. As with other decisions, including raising the PAA Tournament Series entry fees two years ago, this move is a direct result of listening to the input from members.

"In 2010, our Tour level members exercised their voting rights and moved PAA entry fees from $1,500 to $2,500,” said PAA President Dave Mansue. “At the time, no one could be aware the economy would continue to struggle and sponsorship dollars for anglers would continue to diminish to their current levels.

“In view of the economy, how it has affected our members and the number of members who can afford to compete in PAA events, I applaud the Board for making this decision. I believe this is an example of our ability at the PAA to be fluid and fully recognize the needs and concerns of our anglers."

Tournament Series payouts for each event will include a 2012 Nitro Z-8 equipped with a Mercury 225 Optimax and T-H Marine Atlas jack plate along with cash. Nitro, Mercury and T-H Marine have been PAA sponsors for three seasons.

“It was important to the Board that we adhere to our practice of providing double the entry fee to the last check paid in the field,” Mansue added. “We believe this positive move will provide anglers with more opportunities to compete while managing their tournament expenses and working to further their careers with competitive events and added exposure through all the media outlets the PAA has to offer.”

2012 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series

• May 7-12: PAA Tournament Series, Old Hickory Lake in Gallatin, Tenn.
• July 23-28: PAA Tournament Series, Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden, Ala.
• Sept. 10-15: PAA Tournament Series, Arkansas River in Muskogee, Okla.

About the PAA
The Professional Anglers Association is a non-profit organization that gives professional anglers a unified voice in order to aid in the growth of the sport of professional bass fishing. The PAA also aims to administer educational programs to the average angler, to increase enjoyment of the sport, and to embrace sound conservation practices to further the future of the sport. Web: www.FishPAA.com