When Freddy De La Paz saw a Texas area code he recognized on his caller ID, he just thought a friend from that area was calling to say hello. Little did he know, Bassmaster Elite Series pro and four-time B.A.S.S. tournament winner Dean Rojas would leave a voice mail to congratulate him on winning B.A.S.S.’s “Fish With Dean Rojas In Mexico” sweepstakes.
“I thought it was somebody pulling my leg,” said De La Paz, of Arlington, Texas. “After I listened to the recording, I had my wife listen to it just to make sure I was hearing it right.”
After his wife assured him that he wasn’t hearing things, De La Paz called Rojas back, and that’s when he learned he would be traveling to the famed big bass factory, Lake El Salto, Mexico, to fish with Rojas.
The trip includes four nights’ accommodations and three days of fishing at Anglers Inn in El Salto, Mexico, round-trip airfare and $500 cash. The grand prize also includes gear from Rigid Industries and Spro/Gamakatsu, totaling an estimated $4,995.
De La Paz, who has been fishing for nearly 35 years and is an officer in his local B.A.S.S. club, is looking forward to spending time with Rojas and learning as much as he can. Rojas is known as a big-bass specialist; he holds the all-time record for the heaviest one-day Bassmaster tournament catch in the five-bass limit era — 45 pounds, 2 ounces from Lake Tohopekaliga, Fla.
“Fishing with a pro like Dean and having the chance to pull in a double-digit bass are the two things I’m most excited about,” De La Paz said. “I’m just excited to learn as much as I can from fishing with a pro.”
Fans have another chance to win big with the 2014 Bassmaster Summer Boat Giveaway Sweepstakes launched on Monday, June 2. This contest will run through August 29.
The winner will receive a Skeeter TZX180 bass boat package, including a Yamaha F150LA outboard motor, a Humminbird 728 fishfinder, a Minn Kota 70 Edge trolling motor and a single-axle trailer — a prize totaling $36,690. Ten runners-up will also receive a YETI Cooler.
To enter, visit Bassmaster.com/sweepstakes. The winner will be selected Sept. 10, 2014.