Lake Russell's Big Bass
Show Lands "Mr. B.A.S.S."

Ray Scott Weighmaster
for 17th Annual 72 Marine
Bass Tournament and
Boat Show, April 13th...

ELBERTON, Georgia - The 17th Annual Lake Russell Big Bass Tournament has already landed a "big fish" before the first cast has been made in the April 13th fish-off.

According to tournament director Andy Johnson of the 72 Marine Sales, "Ray Scott, the godfather of professional bass fishing tournaments, will be our special weighmaster and master-of-ceremonies."

Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), will appear as a special guest of TRITON Boats at the Open House and Big Bass Tournament at 72 Marine Sales, located at 3336 Calhoun Falls Highway.

"We'll hold a drive-in style weigh-in, starting at 3:30 p.m. at the marine dealership," says Johnson, who expects a field of 125 boats and 250 anglers to compete in the two-man team format.

Entry fee is $200 per team and an optional $10 for the big bass pot competition. "We'll payback one in every five boats, with a 50 boat minimum, and have a guaranteed first place prize of $3,500," said Johnson, who can be reached at Ph (706) 283-7800 for entry information.

"Mid-April is as good as it gets for bass fishing on Lake Richard B. Russell," believes Johnson. "The big largemouths will be up in the shallows."

Each team will be allowed to weigh-in a six-bass limit. "If the weatherman cooperates," says Johnson, "we're expecting to see several 18-to 20-pound bags come to the weigh-in."

Anglers can score with largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass measuring 12-inches or longer caught on artificial lures only.

Accompanying Ray Scott to the 72 Marine Open House and Boat Show will be Earl Bentz, president and designer of TRITON Boats, the "No. 1 selling fiberglass bass boat."

Scott and Bentz will be on hand prior to the tournament weigh-in to sign autographs, swap bass fishing tips and showoff the fishing features on Triton's 2002 lineup of high-performance bass boats and an all-new line of aluminum bass rigs.

"This is a great opportunity to go one-on-one and talk high-performance bass boating with Earl Bentz, and meet the man, Ray Scot, who changed bass fishing from a weekend recreation to a professional sport."

For bass fishing buffs and collectors, Scott will autograph copies of his best-selling "Bass Boss" book, the story of the modern-day sport and rise of competitive bass tournament fishing.

Scott's first All-American Invitational Bass Tournament in June 1967 at Beaver Lake, Arkansas launched the bass fishing craze. From 106 tournament entries, Scott built the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) with over 650,000 worldwide members and created the Bassmaster Tournament Trail.

The fishing heroes and pros, their tips and tactics, and the fishing public's fascination with their fishing machines spawned today's high-tech bass boats.

The latest models of TRITON's lineup of 18 to 22 feet fiberglass hulls will be on display, including the special-rigged 2002 Triton Classic, fished by the world's leading professionals in the BASS Masters Classic in New Orleans and the Louisiana Delta.

"This is everything the serious bass angler can find in a bass boat," says Ray Scott. "The ultimate bass boat, in my opinion."

However, Earl Bentz and his Triton boat-building team are not content to stand pat. For the 2002 season, Bentz introduces an all-new line of aluminum bass boats with fishing features associated with the high-dollar fiberglass tournament rigs.

"The Triton 186 Magnum is tournament-ready and performance proven for big lakes," says Earl Bentz. "You'll discover a smooth, dry ride in rough water, without the slapping and pounding typical of many aluminum hulls."

For specifications and features on the full line of new TRITONs, contact: Earl Bentz, Triton Boats, 15 Bluegrass Drive, Ashland City, TN 37015 or visit the company's website: www.tritonboats.com.

Ray Scott serves as national spokesman for TRITON Boats, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Trolling Motors and SOSPENDERS, the U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable life vest manufactured by SOS, Inc. (formerly Sporting Lives, Inc.) of Fruitland, Idaho.

Scott of Pintlala, Alabama sold his interest in B.A.S.S., Inc. in 1986, but continued as the special weighmaster for the Bassmaster Tournament Trail and the world championship BASS Masters Classic until 1998. He formed RAY SCOTT OUTDOORS, Inc., a marketing and consulting firm for fishing tackle and marine companies, and is also a designer and builder of trophy bass fishing lakes.

Scott's three-volume, video series on how-to create "Great Small Waters" is heralded by anglers and fisheries biologists for its information on designing, constructing and managing a small lake to catch trophy-class largemouth bass.

For information on the "Great Small Waters" videotape series or to order the set ($69.95), call 1-800-518-7222 at Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc., in Pintlala, Alabama.