Due to unsafe conditions on the Arkansas River, BASS announced a change in fisheries for the AutoZone Sooner Run, set for June 17-20. The competition will now be held on Fort Gibson Lake with weekend festivities and weigh-ins set for Muskogee, Okla.
With the change in tournament waters, anglers will have Wednesday, June 16, reserved for practice on Fort Gibson. The event will follow the typical Elite Series format with a full field fishing the first two days.
For the first two days of competition, weigh-ins will be held at Sequoyah Bay Marina, 6372 E. 101st St. N., Wagoner, Okla. Daily launches will be conducted from there as well. Weekend festivities will remain in Muskogee, Okla., at the Three Forks Harbor.
The last time BASS visited Fort Gibson was in October 2008 for the now-defunct 2008 BASS Club World Championship.
Along with the top prize of $100,000, the Sooner Run awards valuable points in the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.
The public is invited to attend the festivities surrounding the event. Launches will begin at 6:30 a.m. CT Thursday-Sunday, and weigh-ins will take place at 3:30 p.m. CT. Activities will kick off Saturday and Sunday at Three Forks Harbor, 5201 Three Forks Road, Fort Gibson, Okla., at 12 p.m. CT. All events are free and open to the public. Included in the Three Forks Harbor festivities will be a kids' area with face painting, arts and crafts and games.
On Saturday, the penultimate day of competition, the Okie Country Music Fest will take place featuring Jason Boland and the Stragglers; and Brandon Jenkins and The Swon Brothers. On Sunday, Brian Jackson will be on hand and will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records in the category of blowing up the most balloons by an individual.
The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance will be on hand Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., presenting youth outdoor activities including archery, casting, game calling, boating education and trapping.
The local sponsor of the Sooner Run is the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce.
Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter, Yamaha and Bass Pro Shops.
Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Triton Boats, Nitro Boats and Ramada.