B.A.S.S., in conjunction with Toyota, announces exciting changes in the format of the 2011 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year program and the popular postseason event of the Elite Series.
At the conclusion of the final Elite Series tournament on Wheeler Lake, Ala., B.A.S.S. will crown the 2011 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year based on points earned during the regular season. The winner will be awarded $100,000, and others in the top 50 will be awarded a share of the Angler of the Year purse.
But that won’t be the end of the fishing season for top Elite Series pros — or their fans. “These exciting format changes will create an even more compelling ending to the Bassmaster Elite Series,” said Jerry McKinnis, an owner of B.A.S.S. “A few weeks after the Angler of the Year is crowned and celebrated by the bass fishing world, a unique playoff week involving 12 Toyota Tundra All-Stars and Bassmaster fans will take place in the River Region of Montgomery and Wetumpka, Ala.
” The top eight anglers in AOY points, including the 2011 Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year champion, will be invited to Toyota Trucks All-Star Week, beginning Saturday, July 23, with preliminary competition on Lake Jordan near Wetumpka, Ala. In addition, Bassmaster fans will be able to select four wild card competitors from the Bassmaster Elite Series lineup, based on votes cast on www.bassmaster.com. Twelve Bassmaster fans will be selected randomly and paired with the 12 Bassmaster Elite anglers as virtual competitors during Toyota Trucks All-Star Week.
These 12 fans will be able to follow their angler daily on Bassmaster.com. The fan paired with the eventual winner of the Toyota Trucks All-Star Week competition will win a fully rigged bass boat. All-Star Week adds another interesting twist to Bassmaster competition.
Following the two-day preliminary round on Lake Jordan, the top eight All-Stars, based on cumulative weights turned in, will be seeded and move to the Alabama River in Montgomery for a bracket-style, head-to-head format over three days of competition. After two elimination days, the two anglers left standing will duel it out for the winner-take-all prize of $100,000.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers.
Toyota directly employs more than 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 1.76 million vehicles in 2010.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.
2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter, Yamaha
2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Lowrance, Nitro Boats, Power Pole, Ramada, Triton