Play Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bass fishing fans may not have the opportunity to walk across the stage on the Bassmaster Elite Series tour, but they do have the chance to compete for prizes right alongside the pros as part of Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing, Bassmaster.com/fantasy.

“Fans can experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,” said Jim Sexton, B.A.S.S.’s vice president of digital. “Anglers can compete against their friends for a chance at prizes with our free game, which tens of thousands of people play.”

Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing groups each Elite Series pro into one of five “buckets,” chosen by pundits who factor in the anglers’ entire B.A.S.S. tournament history, including their skill level on tournament waters. Buckets are reset after each tournament, and pundits place the anglers into new buckets based on how they are predicted to do on the upcoming body of water.

“Because of the way we’ve grouped them into buckets, fans can’t just pick the top names in the sport,” Sexton said. “Instead, they get a chance to choose some of the lesser-known pros, so doing a little research beforehand gives fans an advantage.”

Bassmaster.com gives fans some guidance with articles that help them choose their picks.

The number of points a Fantasy Fishing player earns is based on a scoring system similar to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points, in which an angler is awarded points based on his final standing each tournament. In addition, points are awarded for the angler who caught the biggest bass in each event.

The Top 10 Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing players from each event win a B.A.S.S.-branded jersey valued at $50. The person who performs best overall per event also wins a $2,500 gift card.

At the end of the season, the player who has the overall highest total in points wins the grand prize valued at $45,318. The grand prize includes a Triton 18XS boat with a Mercury 150 ProXS motor, two 8-foot Minn Kota Talon shallow-water anchors, a $2,500 gift card and a B.A.S.S.-branded jersey.

To play, go to www.bassmaster.com/fantasy, register, and then set your team. Then, you can choose to play in a league or on your own.

Be sure to choose your team before 8 a.m. ET, March 14, the first day of 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series competition. Then, update your team before the beginning of each Bassmaster Elite Series event throughout the season.

“We are looking forward to a tight competition this year on the Elite Series trail,” Sexton said, “and in the Fantasy Fishing leagues.”

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.