April 8, 2004 – Athens, Al
American Bass Anglers 2004 National Championship and Outdoor Show
American Bass Anglers, the largest bass fishing tournament trail for the weekend angler, will bring 500 anglers to Decatur, Alabama and Wheeler Lake October 3-8, 2004 for the week long 2004 American Bass Anglers National Championship.
The top 500 point leaders and family members from across the nation will converge on Wheeler Lake to compete for over $300,000 in cash and prizes which includes 3 fully rigged Triton 21 foot bass boats powered 225hp Mercury outboards, MotorGuide trolling motors, and Lowrance Electronics all each worth just over $40,000.
This is a 6 day long event where the anglers practice for the first 3 days and then compete for the last 3 days with weigh-ins held each tournament day at the River Walk Marina located in Decatur Alabama.
The Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau will also operate an Outdoor Show October 1 – 3, 2004 at the SouthPoint Complex located on the corner of Interstate 65 and Interstate 565. This 108,000 square foot building will have hundreds of vendors showing the latest in products for the great outdoors. The Outdoor Show will be open to the public and admission is free with show hours of 9am to 7pm daily.
“We are very excited to have American Bass Anglers back in Decatur for their championship. Their last visit to Decatur was the most successful bass tournament event we have ever hosted. ABA brings anglers and their families from all over the US and even from overseas” said Pam Swanner, President of Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“This year we are adding a new dimension to the event by operating an Outdoor Show in conjunction with the event. The SouthPoint Building is such a great location for exhibitors and will be fun for the entire family ” continued Swanner.
Morris Sheehan, President, American Bass Anglers said “Decatur is a great location for our national championship not just because of Lake Wheeler, but the community really gets involved with the event. Our national championship is the largest event in bass fishing that is exclusively for the weekend angler. Our anglers and many of their families will be traveling from all over the US and from overseas to this event. It is a great time for them to see each other and get together to fish while competing for awards and prizes.
We have Military Active duty and Reserve members returning from combat that we will be glad to see this year at the championship. There is a lot for the anglers and their families to do in Decatur and with the addition of the Outdoor Sport Show there is even more to see and do. “
The championship begins at dawn on Wednesday, October 6 with a salute to America and her Armed Forces with an on the water flag ceremony set to patriotic music.
The first weigh in will be at 3:00pm Wednesday, October 6, 2004 at River Walk Marina. The final two day’s weigh-ins will be Thursday at 3:00pm and Friday at 2:30pm at the same location.
For more information on this event or American Bass Anglers visit http://www.americanbassanglers.com or call toll free 888-203-6222 and for more information on Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau visit http://www.decaturcvb.org or call toll free 800-524-6181
American Bass Anglers is the largest tournament trail in the world, offering over 775 tournaments a year, and is designed for weekend and collegiate anglers. American Bass Anglers provides low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler with a huge national championship the same season. For more information on American Bass Anglers visit http://www.americanbassanglers.com or call the weekend angler hotline toll free at 888-203-6222
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by: Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Lowrance, Gander Mountain, Berkley, Diamond Cut Jeans, All Star Rods, Anglers Advantage Insurance, Probass Networks, Motor Guide, Bill Heard Chevrolet of Huntsville Alabama, Trilene, ABU Garcia, and Bayou Outdoors.
American Bass Anglers MBAA since 1975, Tournament Trail, Military Bass Anglers Association, and ABA are all registered or pending collective membership or service marks of American Bass Anglers, Inc. All rights reserved.
American Bass Anglers, Inc PO Box 475 Athens, AL 35611 1-800-232-4428 or 1-888-203-6222 (FAX 256-233-2295) or email [email protected]