Ahoy! Dallas Boat Show
Lands The "Bass Boss" 

B.A.S.S. Founder Ray Scott
And Triton Boats Designer
Earl Bentz appear February 8-9
At Dallas Market Hall…

DALLAS, Texas - The 48th Annual Dallas Boat Show, January 31 - February 9, at the Dallas Market Hall will offer bass fishing fans the chance to talk bassin' with Ray Scott, the Alabama angler credited with launching the modern-day sport of bass tournament fishing.

Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), will be on hand February 8-9 as a special guest of TRITON BOATS and North Texas Marine, a Triton dealership in Gainesville.

Triton's president Earl Bentz, the designer of the popular high-performance hull, will also be on board to discuss the Ashland City, Tennessee manufacturer's 2003 lineup of fiberglass rigs and aluminum bass boats.

Scott and Bentz will be appearing in the North Texas Marine's booth during the weekend show hours. The two bassin' icons of the fishing and marine business will be signing autographs, swapping bass fishing tips and showing off Triton's newest fishing features to showgoers.

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

With Bentz, a former world champion boat racer, TRITON has gained the reputation as a "new breed of bass boat."

"Performance is the key," says Joe Wallace of North Texas Marine. "Triton's Vortex hull offers an incredibly smooth, dry ride. And, it's built entirely wood-free with 100 percent composite construction."

Wallace says the "flagship" of the TRITON fleet at this year's Dallas show is the limited edition Triton Citgo BASS Masters Classic special, the same package the pros are equipped with in the world championship of bass fishing.

"The bass boat of a lifetime" is how Ray Scott views it. From the "official" Classic emblems and markings, to the high-performance jackplate, to the space-age driver's console and the custom-matching boat trailer. The Classic package is available in Triton models from 19 to 22 feet.

"The Triton Classic edition captures all the excitement and prestige of the world's premier fishing event, the BASS Masters Classic," opines Joe Wallace. And, invites showgoers to "come to our booth and see for yourself and talk bass boating with Ray Scott and Earl Bentz."

However, Bentz and his Triton boat builders are not content to stand pat and offers a line-up of aluminum bass boats with all the features associated with the high-dollar fiberglass tournament rigs.

The Triton 186 Magnum is rated for 150 horsepower, boast a stable 85-inch beam and 18-feet, 6-inches in length. All welded, 100-gauge aluminum construction, wood-free with no materials that rot or leaks.

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

"The Bassmaster Tournament Trail has been the proving grounds for today's bass boat innovations in performance and boating safety," points out Scott. "Just as the Indy 500 improved the automobile for drivers."

Scott left B.A.S.S., Inc., in 1998 to form his marketing and consulting group, Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc., for the boating and fishing tackle industries.

Besides TRITON Boats, Scott serves as national promotional spokesman for Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide trolling motors, SOSPENDERS inflatable life vests and U. S. Reel, a new revolutionary lightweight spinning reel with an oversize spool to improve casting distance and accuracy.

As a new Trustee with the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA), Scott is working with the organization to increase interest among freshwater anglers in the IGFA's record setting program. Scott's move to "put the sport back in sportfishing" is his effort to get some fun and excitement in bass fishing.

"Where's the challenge for a 200-pound man to whip a 2-pound bass on 20-pound test line?" asks Scott. "But, level the playing field. Use only 4-pound test line. And, see what happens when a big bass bites."

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.

The 10-day long Dallas Boat Show houses over 250 exhibits spread over 270,000 square feet in the Market Hall, located off the Stemmons Freeway at Wycliff.

North Texas Marine is located at East Highway 82, Gainesville, TX 76240. For information, contact: Joe Wallace at (940) 665-9331.