ANGLERS TO COMPETE FOR $80,000 IN CASH
AT TRITON GOLD ELITE FISH-OFF

Thirty-one bass anglers who won cash bonuses totaling $44,000 through the Triton Gold tournament rewards program during the past calendar year will compete for $80,000 in cash at the Triton Gold Elite Fish-Off, slated for June 23 at Kentucky and Barkley lakes, Tenn.-Ky. The event is being presented by Triton Boats of Ashland City, Tenn., a leading manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, and the official boat brand of BASS.

"The Triton Gold program was conceived as a way to reward Triton owners, who fish local and regional weekend bass tournaments, for their fishing skill and loyalty to our brand," explained Triton Boats president Earl Bentz. "The program pays a cash reward of up to $3,000 to Triton owners who win first place in sanctioned tournaments, and it's been incredibly popular.  In the last 12 months alone, we've awarded over $100,000 in tournament cash bonuses to Triton boat owners."

Triton is the only boat manufacturer that stages a fish-off among the winning anglers who have earned these incentive rewards, Bentz said. "In the Triton Gold Elite Fish-Off, anglers who won Triton Gold rewards over the past year will compete for $80,000 in cash, with $40,000 going to the winner. This is an unprecedented payout for a tournament involving weekend anglers, as opposed to full-time professionals. Among the thousands of anglers nationwide who compete in local and regional bass tournaments, Triton Gold Elite competitors represent the absolute cream of the crop. Many of these excellent anglers have a goal of one day becoming professional BASS anglers, and competing in this event represents a giant step toward fulfilling that dream."

The 31 anglers competing in the June 23 Triton Gold Elite Fish-Off come from 20 states and Canada, Bentz indicated. The tournament will be held out of Kentucky Dam Village State Park, Gilbertsville, Ky., from safe light until 2:30 p.m. Competitors will then drive into the nearby Paducah Expo Center for a drive-through weigh-in. The Gold Elite Fish-Off winner will receive $40,000, a cash payout that exceeds the top prizes rewarded in many professional-level bass tournaments. Second place will win $10,000, and an additional $30,000 will be distributed among the remaining 29 contestants. Each competitor will fish with an observer.

Triton is the official boat of the CITGO Bassmasters Classic presented by Busch Beer, the most prestigious fishing tournament in the sport. For additional information on Triton Boats and the Triton Gold tournament rewards program, log onto the company's website, www.tritonboats.com, call 1-888-8TRITON, or see an authorized Triton Boats dealer.