Decatur, Ala. – The American Bass Anglers (ABA), who conducts the largest and most prestigious tournament trail for weekend anglers, is bringing the Ray Scott Championship to the River City. Formerly known as the Weekend Bass Series Championship, the first Ray Scott Championship will be held on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala. November 12-15, 2014, with approximately 200 anglers competing for the title.
Along with special appearances by Ray Scott, Bill Dance, Triton Elite Pros, and others, top weekend bass anglers from as far away as Oklahoma, New York, Ohio, Florida and Texas will make their way to Decatur for the no-entry fee championship. The Boater Division winner will receive $100,000 in cash and will be eligible for a $50,000 bonus if he is a Triton Boat owner registered in the Triton Gold program. The Co-Angler Division champion will win a big payout including $50,000 in cash and possibly contingency bonus. As a special Ray Scott Championship bonus, the Boater Division and Co-Angler Division champions will each receive entry fees and sponsorship into the one of two professional bass fishing series of the angler’s choice. The sponsorship includes entry fees into three professional events and sponsorship support.
The public is invited to a free Outdoor and Fishing Expo hosted by the American Bass Anglers on November 14 and 15 at Ingalls Harbor Pavilion. There will be fishing rods, reels, lures, outdoor retailers plus all ABA sponsors including Triton Boats, Garmin Electronics, Odyssey Batteries, Livingston Lures, Hammer Rods and others will have their latest products on display for sale. Expo hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 14 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on November 15.
Ingalls Harbor, located at 802-A Wilson Street NW in Decatur, will host the takeoffs and weigh-ins. Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Take-offs will take place at safe daylight each day. Weigh-ins are set for 3 p.m. November 12 through November 14 and the top 25 will be announced at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 14. Final weigh-in and awards presentation will take place at 3 p.m. on November 15. Official practice days for anglers will be from November 9 through 4 p.m. on November 11.
Ray Scott is the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) and has been actively involved with promoting professional bass fishing for over past 45 years. He has been honored many times for his influential work in conservation, boating safety and the fishing environment. He received the prestigious Horatio Alager award and was named by Field and Stream magazine as one of “Twenty Who Have Made A Difference” in the American outdoors during the 20th century along with people like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold. Earlier this year, officials with the Weekend Bass Series Championship announced the renaming of the tournament to the Ray Scott Championship in honor of the bass fishing legend. Scott serves as the official spokesman for ABA activities and makes personal appearances on behalf of ABA and membership promotions.
For more information on the championship tournament, visit www.americanbassanglers.com/BWS and click on Ray Scott Championship.
About American Bass Anglers:
The Weekend Bass Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path to professional bass fishing. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low-cost, close-to-home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
