BASS ANGLERS, COUNTRY ARTISTS TEAM UP FOR TOURNAMENT AT CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Pro fishermen and country music stars will team up June 12 for the 2004 BASS Anglers and Artist Invitational, a single-day BASS exhibition tournament in conjunction with the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn.

"We are looking forward to a fun, exciting, fan-friendly event," said BASS Vice President and General Manager Dean Kessel.  "When stars get together to participate in a friendly competition, it serves the fans."

Fans and BASS members will be able to attend the tournament weigh-in at the BASS Sponsor Expo, which anchors the Music Festival's SportZone.  BASS pros Roland Martin, Gary Klein, Gerald Swindle, Randy Howell, Marty Stone, Jay Yelas, Zell Rowland, Brent Chapman, Dean Rojas, and Ish Monroe will be paired with country artists including Chris Cagle, Chely Wright, Chad Brock, Tim Rushlow, Billy Currington, Craig Morgan, Billy Dean, Rodney Atkins and Doni Harris.

The weigh-in will be held at 1 p.m., when the top angler/artist team will earn $2,500 from Pure Fishing, which will be donated to the charity of their choice.  Purolator has added an additional $500 for the Purolator Big Bass of the Day, which will be donated to a charity designated by the angler or artist who catches the tournament's biggest fish.

The weigh-in will be Saturday's main event for the SportZone and the BASS Sponsor Expo, which are open and free to the public from Thursday, June 10 through Sunday, June 13.  The BASS Sponsor Expo will feature an exhibit from Tennessee-based Triton Boats as well as the Mercury Outboards Racing Truck, the Skeeter Interactive Truck, CITGO's Lake CITGO Casting Challenge, a Pure Fishing merchandise trailer, Bass Pro Shops retail area, Purolator and Busch displays, and a Flowmaster-sponsored giveaway of a 50th anniversary Fender Stratocaster guitar.  BASS will also offer children the opportunity to participate in the Bassmaster CastingKids scholarship program presented by CITGO.

For up-to-the-minute information about tickets, travel information, schedules, artist appearances and more, visit www.CMAfest.com and sign up for e-news. 2004 CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair is organized and produced by the Country Music Association.

BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation.  The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass-fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (334) 551-2375 or visit www.bassmaster.com.