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Final event of next year's Bassmaster eastern divisional to be hosted by Waddington in September

Posted 11/18/13

WADDINGTON – Drawing upon the success of the Bassmaster Elite Series held over the summer, the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional will host its final event on the St. Lawrence River in …

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Final event of next year's Bassmaster eastern divisional to be hosted by Waddington in September

Posted

WADDINGTON – Drawing upon the success of the Bassmaster Elite Series held over the summer, the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional will host its final event on the St. Lawrence River in September.

Anglers who have qualified for the divisional will have be eligible to compete and the top competitor from each state will advance to the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

“I think what I like most about B.A.S.S. Nation divisionals is the opportunity to go to places that you don’t often think of as well-known tournament destinations, such as Noxon in Montana and Lake Monroe in Indiana,” said Jon Stewart, director of the B.A.S.S. Nation, “and then turn around and go to fisheries like Lake Eufaula and the St. Lawrence River that are very popular.

The 2014 B.A.S.S. divisional will run in the North Country from Sept. 24 through 26.

The Bassmaster Elite Series set an all-time attendance record in August in while in Waddington, population 972.

A total of 34,100 people turned out for the Aug. 8-11 Evan Williams Bourbon Showdown at St. Lawrence River, breaking the record for the second time in this 2013 Elite Series season.

The previous four-day record of 33,650 was set at this season’s opener, the March 14-17 Sabine River Challenge near Orange, Texas, which beat the previous Elite Series attendance mark of 17,920 set in 2011 in Alabama.

Waddington Mayor Janet Otto-Cassada said attendance far exceeded her expectations.

“You could not find someone who’s happier than I am right now,” she said after the crowd numbers, compiled by law enforcement officials, were released.

“The event put us on the map. I knew that it would draw people. I knew that it would be big because it was something new and different. We needed that here in upstate New York.”

Brandon Palaniuk, whose Elite Series berth was earned through the B.A.S.S. Nation, won the event handily with 88 pounds, 12 ounces.

Each state sends a team of its top anglers to its respective divisional. The top angler from each state advances to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, which will be held in October or November at a site yet to be selected.

To read our earlier reported story on the Bassmaster Elite Series from August click here.

LINK: http://northcountrynow.com/news/more-34000-attendees-make-waddington-bassmasters-tournament-biggest-ever-093314