| 

North America Bass Circuit Partners with Range Bassmasters for Gull Lake Tournament

Category: npaa

 Feb 22nd, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 AM

FEBRUARY 22, 2012-MINNETONKA, MN-Bass and competitive anglers benefit from a new partnership between the North American Bass Circuit and Range Bassmasters Club. The two groups are joining forces to present the NABC’s 2012 Gull Lake qualifying tournament.

Set for August 4 at Cragun’s Resort, the event is the third of four qualifiers on the 2012 NABC trail, which also includes the Lake Winnebago Chain at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, May 12; Madison Chain at McFarland, Wisconsin, June 23; and Leech Lake at Trapper’s Landing Lodge, Walker, Minnesota, Sept. 8.

Open to all anglers regardless of sponsor or club affiliation, the Gull Lake tournament is already shaping up to produce great bass action as two-person teams vie for thousands in cash and prizes. As part of the agreement with the Range Bassmasters, the club will provide volunteer support for tournament operations. In exchange, the NABC will donate $15 per boat through its Bass Conservation Fund to the club’s conservation efforts.

“We’re excited about hosting this event, and showing the world the great bass fishing in the Brainerd Lakes area,” said Range Bassmasters spokesperson Jenny Smith.

“It’s a win-win deal,” added NABC executive director Dan Johnson. “The Range anglers help us provide a great tournament experience, and we help them protect the area’s precious bass fisheries.” Along with its sister trail, the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, the NABC has donated more than $300,000 to fisheries conservation projects in states where its tournaments are held.

“I can’t wait,” said veteran bass angler Scott Bonnema, who’s already registered for the event with partner Mark Fisher. Though hailing from the Twin Cities suburb of Zimmerman, Bonnema is a huge fan of the Gull Lake fishery. “There are so many quality-sized bass and ways to catch them, anglers will be able to play to their strong suits, deep to shallow.”

The Gull Lake NABC tournament offers great payouts, based on the number of teams entered in the event. A full 50-team field will yield $10,000 for first place, $3,400 for second, $1,500 for third, and pays out to $500 for 10th place. The big-bass pot and sponsor bonuses, which in 2012 include Cabela’s Angler Cash, Ranger Cup, Stratos 2X “Double Your Winnings,” and U2/The Oxygenator awards add thousands more to the total.

As a bonus, teams fishing two or more NABC tournaments compete for berths in the NABC World Bass Championship, set for Oct. 5-6 on Pools 4 and 5 of the Mississippi River. The event offers a $30,000 cash purse plus sponsor bonuses, and carries a $20,000 first-place paycheck plus ultimate bassin’ bragging rights.

Although registration for Gull Lake remains open through Sunday July 29, at press time the tournament was already over half full. Two-person teams may register by mail, fax, or online. Complete rules, links to online registration and printable registration forms are posted at northamericanbasscircuit.com. For more information, call toll-free (877) 893-7947 or email [email protected].

NABC sponsors include Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, Mercury Marine, Rapala, Sufix, Trigger X, Angler’s Pal, O2 Marine Technologies and Optima Batteries.