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BIG BASS TOURNAMENT
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| Date: | | June 21, 2008 |
| Tournament: | | Skeeter Owners Lake Fork 2008 |
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| 1,630 Anglers Participate in 2008 Skeeter Owner's Tournament - Lake Fork Event Draws Owners from Across the Country |
| By: Bob Bartels |
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KILGORE, Texas, June 25, 2008 – Exceeding expectations, Skeeter owners from across the country showed up in record numbers to participate in the company’s 15 th annual Skeeter Owner’s Tournament held this weekend on Lake Fork, Texas. A total of 808 Skeeter boats were run during the event, with 1,630 anglers competing in the hourly big bass format, including 98 anglers from the Ladies Division, 45 from the Junior Division and 101 from the Super Senior Division.
Richard Meyer of Belton, Texas won the event with a 10.88-pound catch, winning the angler a 2008 Skeeter ZX200, powered by a Yamaha VZ200 and an EZ Loader trailer, valued at more than $43,000. Meyer, fishing from his brother’s ZX202, caught his winning bass during the final hour of day one. “I have fished the Skeeter Owner’s Tournament for six years, and while I’ve had fun at each one, this one tops them all,” says Meyers. “This is the largest bass I have ever caught, and it just so happened to win me a new Skeeter boat,” says Meyers. Meyers caught the bass in less the 10’ of water with a 10” Zoom red shad.
Skeeter paid out more than $40,000 to hourly winners, including first through tenth places. In addition to the competition, the weekend event featured entertainment, vendors, a kid’s fishing contest, interactive displays and demo rides. Additionally, the Skeeter staff held a Texas-sized BBQ on Saturday evening, preparing more than 2,000 plates for Skeeter owners, their families, vendors and staff. Bobby McCord of Rockwall, Texas, was the lucky winner of a Yamaha Grizzly 350 4x4 ATV.
“This is a great event, and it shows how dedicated Skeeter is to supporting its owners,” says Darrell Dyer of Yantis, Texas, a 13-year veteran of the event. “I purchased my Skeeter SF175 in 1985, and it still runs great,” says Dyer. Huse Gunn of Gilmer, Texas, also a Skeeter owner, joined his brother, fishing the Owner’s Tournament for the first time. “Everyone is so friendly, and it’s great spending time with the Skeeter staff, as well as sharing time on the water and fishing stories with Skeeter owners from across the country,” says Gunn.
According to Daren Cole, Skeeter’s Marketing Manager, the tournament couldn’t have gone more smoothly. “We had great weather and plenty of fish were caught. We were pleased to see lots of first timers, and many familiar faces fishing our Owner’s Tournament, and look forward to seeing everyone at Lake Murray in September.”
The eight hourly winners on Saturday and two random draw anglers competed in the two-hour Skeeter Bug Shoot Out, paired with Skeeter Pro Staff anglers Alton Jones, Zell Rowland, Kelly Jordan and Clark Reehm, among others. 2008 Bassmaster Classic Champion Alton Jones, paired with Bartlett, Texas-native, Cicero Patton, won the Shoot Out, weighing in a limit of five fish totaling 6.94 pounds. With the victory, Patton won a VIP trip to the 2009 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, Louisiana, including airfare to two, ground transportation, four nights lodging at Sam’s Town Casino, VIP credentials, a behind the scenes tour and $500 cash.
“Our Skeeter owners never disappoint, and this year we had one of our most successful tournaments ever,” says Jeff Stone, Skeeter’s Senior Vice President/General Manager. “As we continue to celebrate our 60th Anniversary this year, the entire Skeeter family, from our manufacturing plant to our nationwide dealer network, thanks our owners for their support and passion for fishing,” says Stone.
Skeeter handed out more than $10,000 to the top 20 overall big bass winners, as well as more than $6,000 in cash and prizes. Divisional winners included: BC Fowler of Daingerfield, Texas, winner of the Antique (boat older than 1975) and the Super Senior Division; Colton Foster of Yantis, Texas, winner of the Junior Division; Shirley Moore of Talala, Oklahoma, winner of the Ladies Division, and Alan Richardson of Millsap, Texas, winner of the Classic Division (boat between 1975-1985). Sixty lucky individuals won prize bags, some valued at $1,500, during Skeeter’s Great Duck Hunt – a search for rubber ducks placed randomly throughout the lake.
Skeeter will host another Owner’s Tournament on Lake Murray in South Carolina, September 19-21.
Skeeter Products, Inc. makes fishing and boating fun and rewarding with owner’s tournaments, its Real Money program, and a top-notch dealer network. Skeeter’s heritage dates back to 1948, and today it designs and manufactures innovative and high-performing bass, walleye, fish & ski and saltwater boats. Skeeter Boats is the recipient of six consecutive CSI customer satisfaction awards, and its boats are NMMA certified to meet strict U.S. Coast Guard and American Boat & Yacht Council standards. To order a catalog call (800) SKEETER, or for more information or to download an entry form for Skeeter’s Southeast Owner’s Tournament, visit www.skeeterboats.com.
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