BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The Bass Pro Tour is slated to be in Massena from Aug. 5 through Aug. 11 and a number of events will be open to the public to mark the occasion.

One such event is a watch party that will be hosted by Major League Fishing. That event will be from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Massena intake on Aug. 10, officials say.

Massena Sports-Fishing Promotion Director Don Meissner said the event "just keeps getting bigger and bigger every day it seems."

Meissner said the watch party in particular will be a great treat for those in attendance, as it will give them "a better idea of what's happening out there on the St. Lawrence."

On Aug. 10 and 11 there will be a hospitality event as well, highlighting the key sponsors of the tour, officials said.

Meissner recently told town board officials the events would be broadcast on national television and the shows would air during prime time on the Outdoor Channel and CBS during October and November this year.

To cap off the weekend, MLF will award the Angler of the Year award on Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m.

Meissner also touched on a number of other events during the fishing tournament, including a kids' derby on Aug. 10 and 11. Those who take part will receive a free rod and reel, he said.

One new addition to the lineup this year will be a church and concert hosted by the angler.

Meissner said an organization of the MLF anglers would put together a national church, which they call "their fishing church," he said.

"On the night of the 2nd at the Massena beach they're going to hold a concert called Break Every Chain. The top anglers are going to be part of the band. They played in other parts of the country, but never up north, so that will be a big thing,” Meissner said.

Another key contribution to the tournament is the Fish Clash app, a key sponsor of the tour.

Meissner said he recently received a text from the head of MLF, who informed him that the app company will also be hosting an event during the Bass Pro Tour event, allowing participants to simulate fishing on the St. Lawrence River.

Meissner said there are "a couple different backgrounds" for the app with millions of fans around the world using the Fishing Clash app.

“So, this is another aspect of this that is now going to open up this whole area of what they’re going to see. They’re going to be essentially virtually fishing like the pro anglers are out here on the St. Lawrence River, and we’re talking about millions of people around the world,” Meissner said.

Meissner said that was a big goal of his from the beginning, to start out at the regional level but eventually grow fishing in Massena to a national support level.

Now, it’s not just the nation. It’s countries of the world that are going to see this," he said.