NPAA Working Hard to Grow Local Tournament Participation
Feb 17th, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Feb 17th, 2011 at 12:00 AM
We want to help these events grow, Pat Neu, Executive Director of the National Professional Anglers Association said about the new Tournament Partners Program being rolled out this year. He continued, “This program will grow the sport, get people fishing and help fill the one-time events and smaller circuits.”
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The NPAA is working with a number of organizations to promote their tournaments in 2011, learning as they go, with a full roll-out set for 2012. Gaining exposure via the NPAA website (npaa.net), the participating events will showcase news, photos and results. “Many NPAA members and their friends would fish these events if they knew about them, and they can also pass along details at sport shows, fishing clubs, seminars, etc., as they talk with the fishing public,” Neu said.
Two stand-alone events are part of the inaugural Tournament Partners program, including the Minnesota Fishing Challenge, hosted by Al Lindner. This is a fund-raiser for Teen Challenge, a very successful drug and alcohol treatment program. The multi-species tournament occurs on Brainerd’s Gull Lake on June 4. It’s open to all ages and all skill levels at a low entry fee. Contestants solicit funding from friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. Prizes include rods and reels donated by many NPAA pro anglers and NPAA Supporting Partners. Go to www.mntc.org/fishingchallenge to find out more.
The Kiwanis Invitational Walleye Tournament at Sault Ste. Marie is July 9 and 10, with a $15,000 guaranteed first prize. With a full field of 125 boats, the total payout will exceed $35,000. Entrants must be NPAA members or have fished a Northern Ontario Walleye Trail tournament in 2010 or 2011. After numerous PWT and Michigan Walleye Trail tournaments and the AIM Bay Mills events, the St. Mary’s River system has been a popular walleye hotspot. This event will be based on the Canadian side of the river, with fishing allowed in US and Canadian waters. Proceeds go towards community projects for children. Check out the event at www.kiwt.net .
The Full Throttle Fishing venue includes four one-day walleye tournaments in two divisions, on Mille Lacs and Mississippi River Pools 3 and 4. Top teams from each division qualify for an October Championship. Each event features dinner with an inspirational speaker, prizes, attractive payout and affordable entry fees. The Full Throttle team also handles weigh-in duties at St. Jude’s, Minnesota Fishing Challenge, Cops & Kids and the Liddle Marketing corporate events. Read more at www.ftfishing.com .
All money raised from the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail goes back to the resource and youth events. The series begins March 12 and 13 on Lake Kinkaid, with tournaments in April, May, September and October. A Championship on the Fox Chain takes place in early November. Catch the fever at www.illmuskie.com.
Entering its tenth season, the Midwest Walleye Series, with two tournaments on the Winnebago system (May 1 and June 5) and two on Green Bay (July 31 and Aug. 14), has grown in popularity every year. The Sunday competition allows teams to fit each tournament and a day of pre-fishing into a weekend. The top 25 teams qualify for a Championship. TFM Promotions, owner of the series, also manages the Merc National (Walleye Weekend) tournament on Lake Winnebago. Come fish with them at www.fishtfm.com .
Pat Neu said, “The NPAA will do all it can to get people fishing, and by promoting these tournaments, anglers will fish and learn and move up the ladder. We want these tournaments to grow.”
The NPAA is a non-profit organization focused on growing the sport of fishing and increasing the professionalism of its Members. Supporting Partners include: Northland Fishing Tackle, Navionics, Mercury Marine, Evinrude Outboards, Yamaha, Lund Boats, Ranger Boats, The Next Bite, Toyota, Oahe Wings and Walleyes Guide Service, Outdoor First Media, Advanced Tex Screen Printing, Worldwide Marine Underwriters, ProStaffGear.com, FLW Outdoors, AIM, North American Media Group, Frabill, John Butts Outdoors, Prairie Pillow Sportsman’s Lodge, J.J. Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, U.S. Forest Service, Great Lakes Sea Grant, FPS Financial Planning Services, Off-Shore Tackle, Fin-Tech Tackle, Berkley, Liddle Marketing, Do-it Corp., Optima Batteries, Pasha Lake Cabins, National Fleet Graphics, G2 Gemini and Fish On Kids Books. More NPAA member and association news can be viewed at www.npaa.net. Call Pat Neu, Executive Director, @ (920)856-6151 with questions.