More than 1,000 Anglers Take the Pledge at 2008 Bassmaster Classic

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) exhibited at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, held February 22-24, 2008 in Greenville, S.C., to promote the organization’s Anglers’ Legacy program. The Anglers’ Legacy exhibit, situated inside the BASS booth, received significant traffic throughout the event. RBFF staff and volunteers were on-site to discuss Anglers’ Legacy with attendees and to encourage people to “Take the Pledge” – to introduce a newcomer to the sport of fishing. By the end of the tournament, 1,004 anglers pledged to take someone new fishing, which may result this year in more than $120,000 for the fishing industry, $166,000 for the boating industry and the sale of nearly 3,200 fishing licenses – according to an RBFF survey of participants conducted in 2007.

Since its inception in May 2006, the Anglers’ Legacy program has collected more than 28,000 Pledges.

Expo activities in Greenville, S.C., celebrated BASS' 40th anniversary and included interactive displays, contests, appearances by top bass pros, thousands of fishing products, and deals on outdoor gear. The Expo featured up-to-the-minute coverage from Lake Hartwell, the site of the tournament. Alton Jones won his first Bassmaster Classic title, beating Cliff Pace by five pounds, two ounces at Lake Hartwell. Jones, from Waco, Texas, had a final-day catch of 13 pounds, seven ounces for a three-day total of 49 pounds, seven ounces. Competing in his 11th Bassmaster Classic, Jones earned $500,000 from the $1.2 million purse.