The business of bass fishing never ends for a successful tournament angler, especially when you have qualified for the 32nd CITGO BASSMASTER Classic in Birmingham, Ala.
"All of the my sponsors expect me to appear at their exhibits at the Classic Outdoor Show, and I'm thrilled to be there," said Frank Scalish, 41, of Cleveland. "This is my first trip to the Big Show, and that is a welcome part of the business of fishing."
Scalish is sponsored by PRADCO, Triton boats and Yamaha motors, as well as a hometown tackle shop, the Rodmaker's Shoppe in Strongsville, Ohio. Those sponsors allowed him to tour the country last year, his first on the prestigious CITGO BASSMASTER Tour.
"Frank is good fisherman and a good spokesman for Triton Boats," said owner Earl Bentz. "We are glad to have him on our team."
Scalish, who has an advertising and marketing firm, knows the value of promotion. Like a veteran pro angler, he arrived in Birmingham with what he thought would be plenty of trading cards that he could sign for fishing fans.
"I was astounded by the huge crowd of youngsters at Oak Mountain Stae Park for the Bassmster Kids Klassic event," said Scalish on Wednesday. "I had a fishing cap filled with cards, at least 400 of them. Before I knew it, they were all gone."
A press luncheon would be next, followed by an hour-long interview session with writers and broadcasters from around the country. After a short nap, it was time to head to the Classic Outdoor Show for a special preview for the media, spending time at each of his sponsor's exhibits.
"It is fun, chatting with fans and representing my sponsors," said Scalish. "I know that it is all part of being a full-time tournament fisherman. That is what I have always wanted to be since I was a young guy, casting against my buddies to see who could catch the largest bass."
Additional information
By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its B.A.S.S. Federation, B.A.S.S. is the world's largest fishing organization. The CITGO BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass fishing tournament circuit. It continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism, and sportsmanship after more than three decades. B.A.S.S. is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESPN.
Sponsor information
Sponsors of the 2002 CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic include: CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Chevrolet Trucks, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards, Triton Boats, Skeeter Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Kumho Tires, Long John Silver's, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Bass Pro Shops, Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools, and B.A.S.S. Platinum Visa/First USA.
Associate Sponsors include Bass Cat Boats and G3 Boats.
The 2002 CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic will be presented locally by the State of Alabama, City of Birmingham, Jefferson County and Shelby County.
For more information contact: the CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic Media Center at (205) 458-8339.