Table Rock Lake in Branson is one of three host lakes for the 2011 Bass Pro Shops Professional Anglers Association Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix, according to a PAA news release.
The series stop June 23–25 at Table Rock Lake comes between a stop March 31–April 2 at Lake Lanier at Lake Lanier Islands, Ga., and a stop Aug. 18–20 at Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden, Ala.
The last PAA stop at Table Rock was in October when 90 anglers competed.
Danny Blandford, PAA program director, estimated that the seven-day events carry an economic footprint of about $375,000 when money spent on fuel, food, lodging and campsites is included.
Blandford estimated that PAA will draw about 220 anglers, staff and spectators. He noted the event is shown on PAA television programs and provides an opportunity for Branson to market itself.
“We’re excited. It’s important to us to spend time in that market,” Blandford said.
Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau will host the event at Table Rock Lake State Park and Marina, the site of the daily launches weigh-ins for the first two days. Bass Pro Shops at Branson Landing will be host for the final weigh-in.
Bass Pro Shops pro Brian Snowden is a guide on Table Rock and said December and June are the best months to fish on the lake.
“It will be consistently good and take probably 18 to 20 pounds a day to win,” Snowden said. “It’ll mainly be structure fishing unless the water’s up in the bushes, and if it’s up then we’ll have a good shallow bite. This will be a fun tournament.”
Some of the nation’s top professional fisherman will compete for cash and a new Nitro boat. The first two days’ weigh-ins will take place at the host lakes, with the final weigh-in featuring the top qualifiers to be held at nearby Bass Pro Shops.
“We have tried our best to accommodate anglers’ needs and at the same time select locations that are as popular as possible,” Chad Morgenthaler, PAA president, said in the release. “I believe we have a good handle on that in 2011 and look forward to continuing to work toward going to the best fisheries the nation has to offer as the time allows us.
New for the season is the Bass Pro Shops PAA All Star Series tournament, scheduled for April 21-23 on Lake Ray Hubbard in Garland, Texas. The no-entry fee tournament features a field of 50 invited qualifiers from the 2010 PAA Tournament Season, champions of the 2010 Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup, and the 2010 B.A.S.S. and FLW Tour anglers of the year.
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