Love the Outdoors? Toyota Texas Bass Classic is for You
OutdoorHub 09.04.12
Event is Texas’s premiere gateway to the outdoors
The slogan of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is “Life’s Better Outside,” and the 2012 Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) in Conroe September 28—30 will offer outdoor activities for everyone—anglers, hunters, campers, barbecue lovers and concert-goers.
Plus the TTBC features the world championship of bass fishing and some of the best country music bands. The top 50 anglers in the world will compete for a $420,000 in cash and prizes, and evening weigh-ins will be wrapped around concerts by Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan, Jake Owen and Southern Slang.
Even better, the event benefits TPWD programs to get youth and their families involved in the outdoors, multiplying the effects of the money raised manyfold. So far title sponsor the TTBC has donated $1.25 million to TPWD to support programs like Neighborhood Fishin’ and the State-Fish Art Contest.
Can it get any better? Oh, yes, it can. It’s free, if you act now.
Free tickets are available online at toyotatexasbassclassic.com while supplies last. Tickets are available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday individually. You can also pick up TTBC tickets at any Toyota dealership or Academy Sports + Outdoors location in the greater Houston area. Walk-up tickets the day of the event require a donation to TPWD, and all days are subject to sell-out.
The 2012 TTBC will include a barbecue cook-off on Saturday, September 28, with divisions for brisket, chicken and ribs. You can vote for the People’s Choice winner or sign up to compete yourself.
Information and entry forms for the barbecue cook-off, event schedules and much more are available at www.toyotatexasbassclassic/com/bbq-cook-off.
The Reliant Energy Outdoor Adventures Area will feature kid- and family-friendly activities that emphasize TPWD’s youth fishing programs, but also included will be a rock climbing wall, archery, air rifle shooting, kids casting challenge and a host of other outdoor-themed educational and interactive exhibits.
If a new boat, fishing gear or perhaps some early holiday shopping is on your mind, the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Expo will offer many choices. And of course all the latest Toyota products will be available for viewing or test driving.
TPWD staff will be on hand to help you learn about many aspects of the outdoors in Texas and give advice on the best places to hunt, boat and fish.
If you want to know how you can help improve fish habitat and fight invasive species in your favorite fishing lake, the TPWD experts in those areas will be there to answer your questions. You can learn about a ground-breaking new program, Friends of Reservoirs, that allows anyone to play an active role in improving fish habitat and water quality in their favorite lake. The Seven Coves Bass Club of Willis is a pioneer in this area, and members of the club will be present to help you get started.
Are you looking for a place near your home where you and your family can catch some fish and take them home to eat? Visit the Neighborhood Fishin’ display. If you need help learning to catch those fish, check out the Fishing Fundamentals, Backyard Bass and Take Me Fishing activities.
Is there a budding artist in your home who would like to compete in a national fish-art contest? Drop by the State-Fish Art Contest display and learn all about it.
Displays will feature the Texas Game Warden Association’s Wall of Shame display; the Toyota ShareLunker display of the biggest bass ever caught in Texas; information about Texas rivers, streams and reservoirs; information on state parks and boater education and the chance to sign up for a subscription to Texas Parks & Wildlife, TPWD’s national-award-winning magazine.
In addition to the fun family activities and displays put on by TPWD and merchandise available for purchase from vendors, the following options are available for free to all visitors.
Concerts with Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan and Jake Owen. The TTBC will bring an exciting lineup of some of country music’s biggest artists to Conroe. Concerts will be headlined by Dierks Bentley on Friday, Sept. 28; Gary Allan on Saturday, Sept. 29 and Jake Owen on Sunday, Sept. 30.
Bass Fishing World Championship. The world’s best professional bass anglers will compete on Lake Conroe in a three-day tournament that combines the top PAA anglers from the Walmart FLW Tour, Bassmaster Elite Series and Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series. The winner will be crowned world champion. All of the thrilling action of tournament weigh-ins will be free to the public at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center through the exclusive free ticket offer. Attendees will be able to view live updates on the Jumbotron, see the huge bass brought to the daily weigh-ins and collect the autographs of their favorite pro anglers. Each morning’s 7:00 A.M. launch can be viewed for free at Waterpoint Plaza on Lake Conroe, 15256 Highway 105W (between County Line BBQ and Sam’s Boat).
Food and Drink. Families and fans will be able to enjoy a wide variety of food and drink options at numerous concessions stands located throughout the venue.
Fishing Seminars. Stop by the Academy Sports + Outdoors Expo area at the TTBC to see some Texas-sized bass in the Berkley Bass Tank and learn tips and techniques from the best anglers in the world. There will also be a casting pond to test out your casting skill.
Toyota Drive Center. This event is part of a nationwide series of events that provide consumers with a hands‐on opportunity to experience Toyota’s safety, durability and quality while engaging with several vehicles in the 2013 lineup. An off-road course will let you get behind the wheel of a Toyota truck or SUV lineup for a test drive.
The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center is a state-of-the-art facility conveniently located minutes from Lake Conroe and The Woodlands and only 40 minutes north of Houston. The location offers easy access to event activities, local shops and restaurants. For more information visit www.thelonestar.org.
