Iowa Awaits Bassmaster Elite Series’ First Visit for the Genuity River Rumble on Mighty Mississippi
The second longest river in America has been waiting for BASS for a while. The Bassmaster Elite Series travels this month to the Mississippi River out of Fort Madison, Iowa, for the Genuity River Rumble, marking the first Elite Series event for the state.
During the 2008 season, the Elite Series had to cancel the River Rumble in Fort Madison because of flooding along the river that affected nearly a dozen states.
Fishing fans can catch all of the on-the-water action from the River Rumble on The Bassmasters, which airs Saturday, June 20, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The daily weigh-ins for all regular-season Elite events and the two postseason events will air live on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, while a wealth of unique content will also be available at Bassmaster.com.
The river last was host to a Bassmaster Tour event in 2006, when Elite angler Darrin Schwenkbeck won a Bassmaster Northern Tour competition with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 12 ounces. The river has previously been the site of four other BASS pro tournaments since 1983, including the 1995 Top 100 event won by current Elite Series pro Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla.
The Mississippi, which runs through or borders 10 states on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, has previously hosted BASS events across several states. The Elite pros will launch from Pool 19. Because water levels are always normal there while other parts of the river are at flood stage during rainy season, fish can spawn regularly in Pool 19.
Biffle, who won the 1995 event with a four-day total of 48 pounds, 8 ounces, isn’t sure whether the river will produce good-sized fish for weights similar to his winning total in 1995 or end up pushing overall weights lower.
“I would say it’ll take 15 to 18 pounds a day, maybe,” Biffle said. “It could be better than it used to be, but with the floods they’ve had it might take 45 pounds to win, it might be lower.”
Biffle added that he thought the Elite pros would go with typical river fishing, using crankbaits, spinnerbaits and some flipping.
The Genuity River Rumble includes a top prize of $100,000 and awards valuable points in the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title race. With 1,298 points heading into this week’s Tennessee Triumph at Kentucky Lake out of Paris, Tenn. Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., leads the AOY standings. Trailing him are 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion and 2007 AOY Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., in second with 1293 points, and 2008 Classic champion Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, in third with 1240 points.
The top 12 pros in the AOY standings at the end of the regular season will advance to the inaugural Bassmaster Elite Series postseason, when the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be determined. Toyota Trucks Championship Week is set for Sept. 10-18, and will be played out on two productive Alabama fisheries. The first of the two post-season tournaments will take place on Lake Jordan out of Wetumpka; the finale, the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph, is slated for the Alabama River from Montgomery.
In the race to qualify for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 19-22 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala., Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., and Gerald Swindle, of Warrior, Ala., are on the bubble. They are in a tie for 36th place in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 955 points. Another Alabaman, 2000 AOY Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, is right behind the pair, in 38th with 951 points. Two-time AOY and 1999 Bassmaster Classic winner Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C., trails by just a few more points, in 39th with 942 points. BASS qualifies the top 36 anglers in the AOY standings for the Classic, but Reese, the 2009 champion, will automatically qualify, thereby allowing the angler in 37th place to make the Classic cut as Reese is among the top 36 in AOY points.
Fans are encouraged to attend the Genuity River Rumble’s daily launches (7:15 a.m. CT) and weigh-ins (4 p.m.) Thursday through Sunday at Riverview Park, 902 4th St., Fort Madison. After Day Two’s competition Friday, the field will be cut to the top 50 anglers for Day Three. Only the top 12 will go on to compete in Day Four.
Other activities Saturday and Sunday at the River Rumble will begin at 1 p.m. CT at Riverview Park, featuring the popular Dog Training & Retriever Demonstrations Brought To You By SportDog; a children’s carnival with a bounce house and gummy-worm-eating contest; tethered balloon rides (for a nominal fee); and a live shooting of a cannon brought from Fort Mig.
At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, fans are invited to experience Bassmaster University, which includes the “Ask the Experts” session with Elite pros at 3 p.m.
Also on-site as part of the consumer expo Saturday and Sunday, Monsanto will bring its Mobile Technology Unit (MTU) to the Riverview Marina offering tours free of charge every 30 minutes. The Mobile Technology Unit is a unique traveling exhibit showcasing Monsanto’s latest advances in plant breeding and trait technology.
Furthermore, with its sponsorship of the event, Genuity will be making a donation based on the number of pounds of fish caught during the tournament to the local organization Community Services Food Bank. There will be a check presentation at the final weigh in on Sunday, June 14.
Sunday’s activities will include the live taping of Hooked Up, hosted by ESPN Outdoors personalities Mark Zona and Tommy Sanders. The show, which will air live at 3:30 p.m. ET on Bassmaster.com, will preview Sunday’s final weigh-in.
All events at the Genuity River Rumble are free and open to the public. The Elite Series regular season culminates with the August 13-16 Champion’s Choice on Oneida Lake out of Syracuse, N.Y. At Oneida, the lineup will be determined for the top 12 anglers who will compete in the inaugural Bassmaster Elite Series postseason and a shot at the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNMediaZone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video, audio clips and more.
The local sponsor of the River Rumble is the Fort Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Official sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards.
Supporting sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series: Bass Pro Shops, Costa Del Mar, Ramada, SpongeTech and Triton Boats.
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multimedia platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.
The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS annually sanctions more than 20,000 events.
BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
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Media Contact: Doug Grassian; (407) 566-2216 or doug.grassian@espn.com
2009 TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
2009 Marine Formula STA-BIL Southern Challenge - Marine Formula STA-BIL Southern Challenge Pro Points After Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, Ala. Ending 05-10-2009, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Kevin VanDam Mich. 1298
2 Skeet Reese Calif. 1293
3 Alton Jones Texas 1240
4 Aaron Martens Ala. 1224
5 Gary Klein Texas 1207
6 Todd Faircloth Texas 1178
7 Greg Hackney La. 1155
8 Mark Menendez Ky. 1152
9 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 1116
10 James Niggemeyer Texas 1108
10 Kevin Short Ark. 1108
12 Mark Tucker Mo. 1104
13 Randy Howell Ala. 1095
14 Brent Chapman Kan. 1094
15 Bradley Hallman Okla. 1065
16 Denny Brauer Mo. 1060
17 Cliff Pace Miss. 1058
18 Tommy Biffle Okla. 1048
19 Dean Rojas Ariz. 1047
20 John Murray Ariz. 1037
21 Casey Ashley S.C. 1031
22 Matt Herren Ala. 1030
23 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 1027
24 Kevin Wirth Ky. 1022
25 Kelly Jordon Texas 1013
26 Mike McClelland Ark. 1003
27 Boyd Duckett Ala. 998
27 Byron Velvick Texas 998
29 Jami Fralick S.D. 996
30 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 990
31 Bobby Lane Fla. 985
32 Terry Butcher Okla. 981
33 Stephen Browning Ark. 978
34 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 966
35 Bill Lowen Ohio 959
36 Russ Lane Ala. 955
36 Gerald Swindle Ala. 955
38 Timmy Horton Ala. 951
39 Davy Hite S.C. 942
40 Jeff Kriet Okla. 939
41 Matt Reed Texas 938
42 Greg Vinson Ala. 935
43 Edwin Evers Okla. 931
44 Takahiro Omori Texas 926
45 Jason Williamson S.C. 903
46 Steve Kennedy Ala. 893
47 Billy Mccaghren Ark. 892
48 Marty Stone N.C. 888
49 Dave Wolak N.C. 887
50 Jason Quinn S.C. 885
50 Dustin Wilks N.C. 885
52 Kenyon Hill Okla. 883
53 Bernie Schultz Fla. 879
54 Jared Lintner Calif. 874
55 Pat Golden N.C. 865
56 Terry Scroggins Fla. 863
56 Todd Auten S.C. 863
58 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 857
59 Brian Clark Texas 856
60 Mark Tyler Okla. 855
61 J Todd Tucker Ga. 847
62 Chris Lane Fla. 842
63 Mark Davis Ark. 839
63 Brian Snowden Mo. 839
65 Rick Morris Va. 828
66 Marty Robinson S.C. 823
67 Jeff Connella La. 798
68 Jim Murray Ga. 779
68 Derek Remitz Ala. 779
70 Chad Griffin Texas 777
70 Vince Fulks Okla. 777
72 Charlie Hartley Ohio 775
73 Rick Clunn Mo. 773
74 Morizo Shimizu Japan 757
75 Ish Monroe Calif. 753
76 Wade Grooms S.C. 751
77 Britt Myers S.C. 743
78 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 715
79 Guy Eaker N.C. 705
80 Paul Elias Miss. 695
81 Scott Campbell Mo. 687
82 Scott Rook Ark. 681
83 Ken Cook Okla. 677
84 Clark Reehm Ark. 661
85 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 651
86 Mark Burgess Mass. 645
86 Pete Ponds Miss. 645
88 Mike Wurm Ark. 635
89 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 633
90 John Crews Va. 623
91 Jimmy Mize Ark. 615
92 Luke Gritter Mich. 611
93 Peter Thliveros Fla. 595
94 David Smith Okla. 567
95 Zell Rowland Texas 547
96 Grant Goldbeck Md. 544
97 Elton Luce Texas 531
98 Jon Bondy Canada 495
99 Kevin Langill N.C. 484
100 Brent Broderick Ohio 461
