Skeeter Boats' Four-day Owner's Tournament Kicks Off June 9 With $100,000 Cash and Prizes on Tap

KILGORE, Texas, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Lake Fork in east Texas, one of the world's legendary bass fishing destinations, is again home to the Skeeter Boats 12th Annual Owner's Tournament June 9-12 at Lake Fork Marina near Alba.

According to Skeeter Marketing Manager Daren Cole, the Skeeter Owner's Tournament is the largest such tournament in the United States and this year will award more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, with the top prize an SX200 bass boat with Yamaha VMAX 200hp engine.

Comprised of two days of demo events for young and old, plus two days of competition set on Lake Fork, known for its record bass, Cole said Skeeter expects more 1,700 anglers in 900 boats to fish the lake.

Lake Fork Marina is the site for all activities, including a new silent auction with all proceeds supporting regional and national youth and marine enhancement organizations. The events start Thursday, June 9 with pre-fishing, displays and test rides with Skeeter's professional boat drivers. Each test drive participant is entered into a drawing for a Yamaha ATV. Friday, June 10 continues with registration and Kick-Off Party with live music, held after the lake becomes off-limits to anglers at 7 p.m. Fishing days are Saturday and Sunday. Each day, there will be sponsor exhibits, Skeeter Pro Team seminars and casting demonstrations on a 35,000 gallon aquarium, interactive displays, a kid's fishing venue and a Texas-size BBQ Saturday followed by the Great Skeeter Duck Hunt where each "rubber duck" returned to the dock wins one of fifty prize packages donated by tournament sponsors. The ducks are dispersed throughout the lake for the anglers and family members to find.

A perennial fan favorite, the "tournament within a tournament" Skeeter Bug Shootout, pairs the nation's most elite bass fishing pros like Jay Yelas, Mark Davis, Dean Rojas, Kelly Jordon, and Alton Jones with winners from the hourly weigh-ins in a two hour, 5 fish limit tournament.

Also returning as master of ceremonies is Fish Fishburne, former bass pro and television personality. "Fish is a natural for us," said Cole. "People of all ages relate to him and he makes everyone feel at ease during weigh-in, even those who don't bring in any fish.

"With new categories such as the Antique and Classic Skeeter Divisions as well a new Ladies competition, we will easily draw more than 900 Skeeter boats to our home in east Texas. Skeeter invented the bass boat more than 50 years ago, and it's not unusual to see older restored Skeeters docked alongside the much larger new models.

"This year's tournament has changed. We listened to our owners and changed the tournament to an individual format instead of the long-time team format. Cole said, "We have many anglers who want to fish with additional friends and family members. To accommodate our owners and increase their enjoyment, we are allowing up to three persons per boat. Of course one of those anglers in the boat must be the registered Skeeter Boat owner."

Dockside activities are open and free to all. For those not traveling with a registered Skeeter owner and not participating in the tournament, Texas BBQ meal tickets can be purchased on-site for $8.00.

For more information visit http://www.skeeterboats.com/ and download a complete tournament brochure. Entry applications, as well as rules and regulations are also available from Skeeter Dealers.