b2 ideas

Berkley/Abu Garcia Extend Bass Champs Sponsorship - Excitement Builds for Berkley Big Bass Tournament

Fort Worth, Texas, December 18, 2009 — Like fishing for lunkers, Bass Champs has landed another major sponsor, as industry leader Pure Fishing, with its Berkley, Abu Garcia and All-Star Rod brands, will continue its sponsorship as the Official Baits, Rods, Reels and Line Sponsor of the Bass Champs Tournament Trail.

“The Berkley and Abu Garcia brands have been with Bass Champs for the past five years, and our association with three of the fishing industry’s most well-known and respected brands, has helped establish Bass Champs as an angler and fan favorite,” says Chad Potts, President of Bass Champs.

In addition to being the Official Baits, Rods, Reels and Line Sponsor of Bass Champs, Berkley and Bass Champs will also host the 5th Annual Berkley Big Bass Tournament on Lake Fork, a wire-to-wire fishing tournament where anglers exclusively use Berkley baits for a chance at thousands of dollars, and a chance to win one of two Skeeter bass boats.

Berkley/Abu Garcia Extend Bass Champs Sponsorship

“Berkley is thrilled to continue its relationship with Bass Champs,” says Andrew Marks, Senior Marketing Manager for Berkley. “It is important to reach out to the avid bass fishermen, and offer him/her a chance to compete without intrusion by serious professional anglers. With our continued support of Bass Champs, competitors will reap the rewards of larger and more exciting prizes, and Bass Champs will be able to grow with this success,” Marks added.

The 5th Annual Berkley Big Bass Tournament will be held on October 23rd and 24th, 2010 on the bass-rich waters of Lake Fork. This tournament has continued to grow in size every year since 2004 since its inception. (747 contestants in 2009) According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Lake Fork currently holds 33 of the top 50 heaviest largemouth bass caught in the state, including the 18.18 lb. record holder.

For 2010, the Bass Champs Tournament Trail hits some of the best bass fisheries in the state of Texas, including Cedar Creek, Lake Fork, Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Lewisville, Lake Tawakoni, Sam Rayburn, Lake Belton, Lake Travis, Lake LBJ, Lake Amistad, Choke Canyon and Falcon Lake. Tournament winners earn a guaranteed $20,000 check, with qualifiers from the North, Central, East and South Divisions meeting at the Team Championships for a shot at their share of more than $100,000.

Pure Fishing, Inc. is a leading global provider of fishing tackle, lures, rods and reels with a portfolio of brands that includes Abu Garcia®, All Star®, Berkley®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Pflueger®, SevenStrand®, Shakespeare®, Spiderwire®, Stren®, Trilene® and Ugly Stik®. Pure Fishing, Inc. is part of Jarden Outdoor Solutions, a leader in developing outdoor and active lifestyle products and a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation. For more information about the Pure Fishing product line-up, visit www.purefishing.com.

Bass Champs sponsors include some of the fishing, marine and outdoor industries most well known brands, including Skeeter, Yamaha, The World Fishing Network, Minn Kota Trolling motors, Humminbird Electronics, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Costa Sunglasses, Sure Life Industries, Continental Batteries, Navionics, Billy Bob’s Texas, Jasper Chamber of Commerce, Sabine Country Chamber of Commerce, Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, Wood County Industrial Commission and Zapata County Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, tournament schedule, entry forms, Bass Champs merchandise, or to receive the Bass Champs e-newsletter for regular updates on tournament happenings, visit www.basschamps.com.

Lake Fork Trophy Lures Joins Forces with ArmyBassAnglers

San Antonio, TX, December 14, 2009 – The mission statement behind the ArmyBassAnglers (ABA) is “SUPPORT. DEFEND. FISH.,” and Lake Fork Trophy Lures, one of the nation’s leading tackle manufacturers, announces its “support” of ArmyBassAnglers through a multi-year sponsorship as the Official Weight, Line and Soft Plastics Sponsor.

“Since the founding of ABA in 2006, our sponsors like Lake Fork Trophy Lures have raised both awareness and funds for Returning Heroes Home, a foundation that supports a state of the art medical recovery facility at Fort Sam Houston’s Brooke Army Medical Center,” says MAJ Cody Roberson of ABA.

“As a soldier, having the right weapons is critical, and LFT Lures soft plastic lures, tungsten weights and new Parallelium fishing lines are our weapons of choice while on the water,” says Roberson.

Lake Fork Trophy Lures Joins Forces with ArmyBassAnglers

“The leadership and passion of ABA speaks loudly, and group’s support of our nation’s real heroes who return home from their missions needs to be applauded,” says LFT Lures CEO, Ronnie Parker, whose father, C.W. Parker was awarded a Purple Heart for service in the Army in World War II.

According to Shawn Preator, COO of Lake Fork Trophy Lures, the company actively plans to cross promote its relationship with ABA through trade shows, tournaments and the Internet. The company currently offers discounts to military personnel, supports fishing days for returning military, and helps to sponsor military fishing events each year.

“We hope to increase the trial and education of our products through grassroots activities, and we believe that ABA will be helpful in providing our company with strong brand awareness and product credibility,” says Preator. “We are proud to support the group’s efforts, and are honored to work with a group of anglers who are as passionate about fishing, as they are about supporting and defending our freedoms,” adds Preator.

ABA consists of 12 pro staff anglers, all of which are active duty or retired U.S. military. The group currently fishes the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail and Bass Champs, and gained national prominence as the Ceremonial Launch Boats for the 2009 Bassmasters Classic.

Returning Heroes Home, a 12,000 square-foot rehabilitation center, is funded solely by private donations, and provides space for wounded soldiers undergoing treatment in San Antonio, allowing them to spend private time with their friends and families when they are not actively participating in rehabilitative treatment. In addition to supporting Returning Heroes Home, ArmyBassAnglers is dedicated to taking soldiers fishing through its Fishing For Freedom bass tournaments.

“We don’t consider ourselves professional fishermen, but professional soldiers who just happen to be really good, avid anglers with a far more important mission,” says Roberson.

For more information about Returning Heroes Home or Fishing for Freedom, make a contribution, view tournament schedule or subscribe to the ABA e-newsletter, visit www.armybassanglers.com. Lake Fork Trophy Lures may be found at retailers nationwide, including Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mountain, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Cabela’s, and Sportsman’s Warehouse among others.

Costa Del Mar Extends Bass Champs Sponsorship - “Costa Big Bass Bonus” Offered for 2010 Tournament Trail

Costa Del Mar Sponsors Bass Champs

With the “Costa Big Bass Bonus,” the winner of any Bass Champs “big bass” award will earn an additional $200 for wearing a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses while on stage.

# # # #

Melissa B. “Missy” Thomas Announces Candidacy - Lee County Circuit Court, Place 3 – Family Court Judge

Opelika, Alabama, December 1, 2009 – Lee County attorney Melissa B. “Missy” Thomas has announced her candidacy for Lee County Circuit Court Judge, Place 3 – a position being vacated by retiring Family Court Judge Richard Lane in 2010. Thomas has practiced family law in Lee County for the last 16 years, specializing in cases related to domestic law.

“I feel I am uniquely qualified to serve the citizens of Lee County in this capacity – as a working mom, I understand what it is like to balance work and family,” says Thomas. “And as a family law attorney I have seen firsthand the impact family court decisions have, not only on the families involved, but also on the community as a whole. My years of practice have given me not only the opportunity to represent husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers in divorce actions and child support cases, but also parents, children, grandparents, and other relatives in juvenile cases. Additionally, I have practiced in other areas including civil litigation and criminal defense which, combined with my family court experience, give me the necessary background to be an effective judge. ”

Thomas Announces Candidacy

“Family Court cases are particularly gratifying to me because it allows me to help people when they are in the very worst of personal circumstances. If elected Family Court Judge, I will focus on running the Family Court docket as effectively and efficiently as possible, and bringing proven and effective programs and ideas to Lee County in order to continue helping people in their times of need,” says Thomas. “Of particular interest to me are the children who pass through the doors of Family Court in the juvenile system, and I am a firm believer in the Court playing an active role in the guidance of juvenile offenders so that they may become responsible citizens of this county.”

Thomas, an Opelika native, graduated from Opelika High School in 1986 and then earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) in 1989 from Auburn University. In 1992, she graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She worked as a legal assistant/secretary in various law offices in the Auburn and Opelika area while a student at Opelika High School and Auburn University from 1985 until 1992. Thomas began her law practice in Phenix City, Alabama approximately 17 years ago. She previously was an instructor in Business Law at Southern Union State Community College. She currently has law offices located in Opelika and in Phenix City.

She resides in Opelika with her husband of almost ten years, Thomas McEntire, and their three-year-old son, Bryan. Her parents, Fred and June Thomas, and sister, Cyndi Thomas, have been residents of Lee County for more than 40 years. Thomas is a member of the American Bar Association, Alabama Bar Association, Family Law Section of the Alabama Bar Association, Certified Mediator by Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, Alabama Certified Guardian Ad Litem, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, Lee County Republican Executive Committee, Lee County Republican Club, Republican Women of East Alabama, Auburn University Campus Club, Opelika Chamber of Commerce, and Auburn Chamber of Commerce. She and her family are members of First Baptist Church of Opelika.

More information about Thomas and the campaign is available at www.electmelissathomas.com. The campaign office can also be contacted at electmthomas@aol.com, or by phone at 334-749-1099. The primary for Lee County family court judge is scheduled for June 1, 2010, with the general election following in November 2010.

Holiday Gifts for the Home

Tampa, Florida, November 16, 2009 – Men are some of the most difficult individuals to shop for during the holidays, with loved ones often resorting to a shirt, tie, cologne, or gift certificate to a local sporting goods store. Tampa, Florida-based Deep Glow Technologies offers the latest must have gadget for the man in your life – a high-tech underwater dock lighting system that can be easily installed and quickly enjoyed by the entire family.

“Deep Glow underwater dock lights start at $399 and can be enjoyed every day of the year unlike many gifts,” says Brad Ball of Deep Glow Technologies, Inc. “Once the light is dropped into the water and turned on, it creates a virtual aquarium, great for fishing with kids or entertaining dockside with friends and family members,” adds Ball.

Available in green, blue, red and clear colors, the Deep Glow system is perfect for any type of water, from saltwater canals, bays and bayous, to freshwater ponds, lakes and rivers. Underwater dock lighting systems are fast replacing traditional dock-mounted lights that often attract insects and create glare.

Holiday Gifts for the Home

“My husband was so thrilled to find a Deep Glow light under the Christmas tree last year, that I purchased another one for him on Father’s Day,” says Donna Dicosola of St. Petersburg, Florida. “It’s a gift that we use each night, and my husband and son frequently fish for snook off of our dock in the evenings. It’s great to have a product that the whole family can enjoy,” says Dicosola.

Deep Glow lights may be thrown, dropped or placed in the water at a depth of 3-20 feet and installation options are available for deeper waters. Deep Glow lights illuminate the water, attracting vast amounts of marine life, providing unique navigation for nighttime boating and increasing security by casting a soft glow on above water structures.

“At this time of year, we find that people are sprucing up their homes to prepare for evening entertaining, and they really like the idea of extending the holiday atmosphere all the way out to the dock and lighting the water in a beautiful green glow,” says Ball.

Deep Glow invested heavily in product design, development and testing – ensuring ultimate satisfaction and durability in tough underwater conditions. Deep Glow lights are environmentally friendly and depending on water clarity, can illuminate a diameter of up to 30 feet.

Installation requires nothing more than mounting a ballast enclosure to a dock or pier adjacent to an 110V GFCI outlet and dropping the light into the water. The light automatically falls to the bottom with the light facing upward. Each light features an automatic timer for carefree operation.

A patent-pending design, featuring a metal halide bulb encased in a tri-level custom injection molded and waterproof housing, was years in development. Each light produces heat to combat marine growth, and goes through a self-cleaning process. The lights can be easily pulled out of the water for additional cleaning, and the replaceable bulb is guaranteed for one year.

Deep Glow Technologies, Inc. manufactures Deep Glow underwater dock lights available in green, blue, red and clear. Deep Glow lights are designed to withstand harsh saltwater conditions and are easy to install by simply dropping the light into the water and plugging the ballast into a 110V GFCI outlet. The lights can be ordered on the company’s website at www.deepglow.com or for more information call 888-871-3334.

Wickles Pickles Offers Holiday Gift Packs

Dadeville, Alabama, November 17, 2009 – The Christmas shopping season is upon us, and finding that perfect gift is always a chore – until now. Wickles Pickles, a southern delicacy for more than 80 years, offers a unique and delicious gift idea for that hard-to-shop-for friend or family member, with its Wickles Pickles Holiday Gift Pack.

The Wickles Pickles Gift Pack features four 16-oz. jars of Wickles Pickles products, including Wickles Pickles slices, Wickles Relish and Wickles Sub & Hoagie Relish.

Great Gift Packs for the Holidays

The unique taste behind Wickles Pickles is an 80-year-old secret family recipe. What makes the product unique from other jarred pickle products is that Wickles Pickles are packed in a sugary cider vinegar with spicy peppers and garlic, providing a balance of sweetness with a touch of heat.

“The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year, especially when shopping for the perfect gift for that special someone,” says Andy Anderson of Dadeville, Alabama-based Sims Foods, Inc. “Our Wickles Pickles Gift Packs make shopping easy and hassle-free, allowing you to give a gift that will be appreciated and consumed (sometimes on the spot),” says Anderson.

According to Anderson, Gift Packs may be ordered through the Wickles Pickles web site at www.wicklespickles.com, or by calling 1-877 WICKLES (942-5527). Wickles Pickles Gift Packs cost $19.80, plus $5.00 for shipping and handling. Gift Packs generally arrive to their destination within two-three days of ordering. Wickles Pickles also accepts bulk Gift Pack orders for corporate gift giving.

Wickles Pickles are great for holiday recipes, including deviled eggs, chicken, tuna and potato salads, sandwiches, dips and salad dressings, and for spicing up leftovers.

The Wickles Pickles product line-up features sliced Wickles Pickles, Wickles Relish, Wicked Banana Pepper Rings, Wickles Pepper Strips, Wickles Sub and Hoagie Relish, and its recently introduced Wicked Okra. Wickles Pickles are great for everyday occasions, holiday recipes, hors d’oeuvres, entertaining, grilling out, picnics, or to spice-up a favorite cocktail such as the Wickletini or Wickle Mary.

Short for “wickedly delicious pickles,” Wickles Pickles are produced by Sims Foods, Inc. All Wickles products are kosher, gluten-free, and are not processed with high-fructose corn syrup. For more information, visit www.wicklespickles.com. Join the Wickles Pickles Facebook page for recipes and customer testimonials.

Skeeter FX Series (FX20 & FX21) Fact Sheet

SKEETER’S FX SERIES – Today’s competitive and “no compromise” bass boat buyer desires to fish out of a longer, more comfortable, feature-enhanced boat with a fuel-efficient and high-performance outboard engine.

AN INDUSTRY FIRST – The design and planning process for the FX Series was the perfect opportunity to develop a bass boat series in conjunction with the design of an entirely new outboard engine series, Yamaha’s VMAX® SHO™.

NO PERFORMANCE COMPROMISES – With more than 60 years of experience in the bass boat industry, Skeeter has learned to never compromise in bringing a new boat to market, and the same goes for the new FX Series. This series has a new look, but is built on the traditional Skeeter values that have made the brand a success for decades. The FX Series needed to be the ultimate fishing platform, capable of carrying more gear, batteries, tackle and accessories and must be held accountable for improved performance, such as hole shot, top-end speed, maneuverability, midrange punch and efficiency.

Skeeter Performance Fishing Boats

PERFORMANCE DATA – The top-end speed of the FX Series has been measured at 2-4 mph faster than Skeeter’ award-winning 20i-Class with the same power. Hole shot data shows the FX Series as 2-3 seconds quicker than the 20i-Class with the same power. Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 15.05 seconds and 0-70 mph, 21.88 seconds.

WATER FLOW RELIEF – A new water flow relief system was designed specifically with the VMAX SHO series that concentrates water around the gear case during the hole shot. This allows for a quicker hole shot, better immediate “out of the hole” transom lift and faster top-end speed.

SPONSONS – The FX Series features larger sponsons, adding 1.7 cu ft of flotation, which is equal in offsetting floatation to taking two batteries out of the boat. This, in addition to sharpening the sponson edges for a racy profile, allows for a quicker hole shot, provides a more stable platform that floats shallower, increases Skeeter’s no-splashwell concept, and lets more of the boat’s surface touch the water, thus keeping the boats fishing platform parallel to the water when fishing.

WIDER and SHARPER STRAKES – Strakes were adjusted 1/8” to ½” with wider and sharper edges, offering a new lifting surface during the hole shot and top end, as well as giving a new feel for more responsive turns and handling.

RUNNING SURFACE – The FX Series blends all of the angles of the running surface to the forward entry point of the hull. This provides for a fast surface, maximizing the power of the VMAX SHO Series, yet while maintaining Skeeter’s width mid-ship, that allows for the large reverse chines to turn water down

GRAPHICS & DESIGN – The FX Series graphics package, modular consoles, full-flex upholstered seats, paint options and trailer upgrades were designed to compliment with the new look of Yamaha’s VMAX SHO cowling.

DATA (FX21): 33.4 mph @ 3000 rpm; 75.4 mph @ 6000 rpm; 3.26 sec to plane; 6.10, 0-30 mph.

KILGORE, Texas, November 17, 2009 – In an industry first, Skeeter Products, Inc. introduces its revolutionary new FX Series, featuring two bass boats designed to be introduced with Yamaha’s new “game changer” Four-Stroke V6 VMAX^® SHO™ outboard engines.

Skeeter/Yamaha Launch Industry First

Skeeter’s next generation of bass boats, the FX20 and FX21, was designed specifically to run with exceptional performance when combined with Yamaha’s new VMAX SHO 200 hp, 225 hp and 250 hp engines.

“The FX continues our aggressive new product strategy well into the next decade, and our partnership with Yamaha on this boat/motor package enabled us to manufacture a product with a better hole shot and higher top-end speed, with the benefit of the better fuel economy that a four-stroke engine has to offer,” says Jeff Stone, Skeeter Senior Vice President/General Manager.

According to Stone, the FX Series is sure to meet and exceed the demands of tournament anglers and serious bass fishing enthusiasts seeking the highest performing bass boat on the market. “We took our motto ‘Engineered Like No Other’ to the max with the development of the FX Series,” adds Stone.

Yamaha's New VMAX SHO

For the FX Series, Skeeter increased the size of its sponson area an additional 1.7 cu ft, the equivalent of removing two batteries from the boat. Next, Skeeter designed wider and sharper strakes along the running surface to provide lift and deflect water for more speed, better turning ability and a smoother ride. These innovations lead to a dry and stable ride, with no chine walking and no backwash.

Each engine in Yamaha’s VMAX SHO family of outboards has an all-new four-stroke 4.2-liter V6 powerhead that provides the best power-to-weight ratio in its class. New materials make the engines lighter, more efficient and powerful.  Larger throttle valves, intake and exhaust valves and water pickups ensure peak efficiency and performance. Yamaha also employed plasma-fused sleeveless cylinders instead of steel sleeves to provide a durable surface for the engine’s piston rings, thus reducing the overall weight of the VMAX SHO by 34 pounds compared to its two-stroke predecessor, the VMAX^®.

“In the past, all bass fishermen were concerned about was speed – getting to their fishing spot before anyone else. Even as times have changed, Skeeter and Yamaha still deliver the speed and fishability that anglers need to be competitive, but with the FX Series, we can also deliver a higher level of overall performance, reliability, efficiency and style in a single boat,” says Ben Jarrett, Skeeter’s National Sales Manager.

“This was a no-compromise effort in the long and tedious design and planning process, building a bass boat series to meet the expectations and demands of what modern fishermen expect in a boat,” says Jarrett.

“The FX20 and FX21 are entirely new boats, with an entirely newly designed deck and hull. A completely new high performance profile gives the new FX series a completely new look that defines the words under our logo “Performance Fishing Boats” says Jarrett.

The FX Series features a new Digital Multifunctional System (DMS) that runs a new boat security/alarm system and iForce locks, and also serves as a command center that controls Yamaha’s multifunction gauges. The cockpit, with available dual-console option, includes tilt hydraulic steering, driver and passenger glove boxes, custom grab handles, side panels, non-skid mats and bump stick holder, and upholstered full-flex seating with an under seat 30-quart ice chest. A foot-throttle and pro tilt and trim behind the new custom-made performance steering wheel are standard.

Classic Champion Checks Out FX Series

“Unlike most bass boat designs, our gas tanks are not located mid-ship under the seats, which allows us to optimize storage space for gear and tackle ” says Jarrett. The FX20 and FX21 feature 34-gallon rear livewells with independent fill, recirculating and drain modes, and adjustable pump timer and pump-out. A 28-quart in-floor compartment doubles as storage for gear or as an ice chest. Additional gear compartments are found under the aft and bow fishing decks, including a removable day box and an integrated rod storage holder. Storage compartments feature gas-assisted lifts for ease of access.

A digital bow panel includes trolling motor receptacle, lighting, and trim switches. Auto or manual 1500 GPH bilge pump, interior lighting, standard high performance 12” Jack place with two stern eyes, 15 Amp x 4-bank Minn Kota battery charger with charging inlet and 6-gauge trolling motor wiring system with four battery trays are also standard on both models. With a dual, 50-gallon fuel tank, combined with Yamaha’s VMAX SHO high performance offerings with unmatched fuel economy, the FX21 and FX20 will get you to your fishing spots on fewer dollars.

Both the FX20 and FX21 come standard with a Humminbird 788 dash-mounted fish finder and 728 bow-mounted fish finder with transducers, temperature probes, GPS antenna and interlink system, and Minn Kota Max 101 foot-operated, 101 lbs. thrust, 36V, 42” shaft trolling motor. Also standard is an FX touring trailer with tandem axle, disc brakes, spare tire carrier, swing tongue, ratchet tie-downs, aluminum wheels, color coordinated Euro-Step, polymer fenders, custom lighting and torsion axles.

The FX Series may be personalized with a host of optional features, including enhanced hull, deck color and graphics packages, dual console, electronics packages from Hummingbird and Lowrance, Yamaha Command Link, live-well aeration system, 12” hydraulic jack-plate, carpet padding, trolling motor options from Minn Kota or Motor Guide, in-floor cooler exchange, 13” fixed fishing seat, bike seat with Power Pro Pole, Hamby keel protector, Sirius-ready, AM-FM stereo with CD player, wired remote control and speakers, boarding ladder, tackle storage system and trailer upgrades.

MSRP: FX21/SHO250 $70,810, FX21/SHO225 $69,460, FX20/SHO250 $69,280, FX20/SHO225 $67,930.

Skeeter Products, Inc., the Official Boat Sponsor of BASS, makes fishing and boating fun and rewarding with an owner’s tournament, its “Real Money” tournament incentive program, and a top-notch dealer network. Skeeter is the recipient of eight consecutive NMMA® C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index awards, and its boats are certified to meet strict U.S. Coast Guard and American Boat & Yacht Council standards. For a catalog call (800) SKEETER, or for more information visit www.skeeterboats.com. Keep-up with Skeeter news, happenings, anglers and events by following us online at www.facebook.com/skeeterteam, www.myspace.com/skeeterteam and www.twitter.com/skeeterteam.

Home Sellers Seek Competitive Advantage - Staging Homes Becomes Big Business

Professional Home Staging with Deep Glow