VanDam’s $75,000 Amateur Big Bass Classic returns to Table Rock Lake

SPRINGFIELD, MO., January 18, 2011 — The Oakley Big Bass Tour presents the 2nd Annual Kevin VanDam Big Bass Classic, March 26th and 27th, 2011 at Big Cedar Lodge and Bent Hook Marina on Table Rock Lake. This open big bass tournament will offer amateur anglers the chance to compete for over $ 75,000 in cash and prizes during the 2-day event. The angler with the largest overall big bass of the tournament will take home a 2011 Nitro® Z9 powered by a Mercury® 250 horsepower motor and equipped with a Power Pole™ — a high-performance bass chasing package valued at $ 45,000.

The Kevin VanDam Big Bass Classic will be open to amateur anglers only. There will be seven hourly weigh-ins each day with thousands in hourly cash payouts and the overall largest fish of the event will earn the winner a fully rigged 2011 Nitro Z9 powered by Mercury guaranteed. The first 100 two day entrants to register online will receive a custom Oakley rod from Quantum.

Anglers may pre-register for this event online at www.oakleybigbass.com. Anglers may also register by phone, fax or mail. Additionally, on-site registration will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield on Friday, March 25th from 12:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Anglers may pick up registration forms at Big Cedar Lodge, Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Marine locations. Anglers must check in Friday at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield to pick up tournament registration and information.

Kevin Van Dam’s appearance times and locations will be posted at Bass Pro Shops prior to the event. Oakley’s Rolling O Lab www.oakley.com/community/olab will be onsite at Bass Pro Shops for registration. There will be complimentary food and drink on Friday along with prize raffles and contests for those anglers touring the Rolling O Lab. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will take place at the Toyota Main Stage at Bent Hook Marina on Table Rock Lake. The public is welcome at the live weigh-ins from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. After the weigh-ins there will be angler and attendee hospitality activities from 3:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. each day. For more information on Table Rock Lake visit http://www.visittablerocklake.org/

“We are thrilled to be back on Table Rock Lake for a second year,” says Louis Wellen with Oakley Sports Marketing. “Our partnerships with Bass Pro Shops and Kevin VanDam have allowed us to create one of the most unique amateur tournament events in the nation,” added Wellen.

Sponsors of the 2011 Kevin VanDam Big Bass Classic include: Oakley, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Nitro Performance Bass Boats, Toyota Trucks, Mercury Marine, TroKar Hooks, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, MotorGuide, Quantum, Power-Pole, Vitamin Water Zero, Powerade Zero, Sony, Big Cedar Lodge, KTTS 94.7, and Central Pro-Am. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the March of Dimes.

About the Oakley Big Bass Tour:

The Oakley Big Bass Tour is a premier big bass tournament series open to all amateur anglers. We provide anglers of all skill levels with an exciting tournament format and event experience on some of the nations best bass fisheries. Established in 2007 our tour is focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the grass roots level through our tournament events. Our founders and event staff have over a decade of experience organizing and hosting bass fishing tournament events. The 2011 Oakley Big Bass Tour will feature the following tournament events: Lake Conroe Big Bass Classic, Kevin VanDam Big Bass Classic, Jamie McMurray’s Carolina Big Bass Classic, Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic, Kelly Jordon Big Bass Classic and the Gerald Swindle Big Bass Classic. For more information regarding tour events please visit www.oakleybigbass.com or call (877) 958-TOUR (8687).

About Oakley:

Headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. Oakley’s HD Polarized fishing specific sunglasses are the cornerstones of optical superiority creating an optical force field around your eyes by protecting them from harsh glare without compromising the clarity of your outlook on the water. For more information visit www.oakley.com/sports/fishing.

Media Contact
Mark Jones, Mark@OakleyBigBass.com