Shreveport-Bossier City, to be 2012 Bassmaster Classic venue

The 42nd Bassmaster Classic will be Feb. 24-26, 2012, on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.

The world's premier fishing event will return to "Sportsman's Paradise" in 2012. The 42nd Bassmaster Classic will be Feb. 24-26, 2012, on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.

The Shreveport Regional Sports Authority welcomes the prestigious event for the second time in four years; counting the 2011 Classic slated for New Orleans, the 2012 event will be the sixth Classic to be in Louisiana.

When the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority was host to the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, several attendance records were smashed for the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick's Sporting Goods.

Classic programming will be available across several multimedia platforms throughout the event, and fans can follow the competition by tuning in, attending the daily launches and weigh-ins or logging on to Bassmaster.com, which will provide extensive hourly coverage.

"What a great opportunity for our state, our Federation Nation organization — and what could be a better compliment to our fisheries?" said Kevin Gaubert, president of the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. "We are pleased to be the host site once again for the world's greatest fishing event."

Launches on the Red River through the three days of competition in 2012 will be from Red River South Marina in Bossier City, La. The Shreveport Regional Sports Authority will roll out the red carpet for Classic weigh-ins at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City. The 2012 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be at the Shreveport Convention Center.

Those interested in volunteering at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport-Bossier City should call B.A.S.S. at 877-BASS-USA.