FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2008

Bassmaster Elite Series Returns to ‘Classic’ State for Carolina Clash

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Marking the first trip to the Palmetto State since the enormously successful and exciting 2008 Bassmaster Classic, South Carolina is the destination for the Bassmaster Elite Series’ Carolina Clash presented by Evan Williams Bourbon, set for May 15-18 on Lake Murray out of Columbia, S.C.

As always, fishing fans can watch the on-the-water action from the May 15-18 Carolina Clash on The Bassmasters, which airs Saturday, May 24, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

Created in the 1930s, Lake Murray is a top fishing destination in the Southeastern U.S and has been the site of 10 previous BASS events. This will be the first Bassmaster Elite Series event held there.

Elite pro Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., has fished Lake Murray many times, and he said next week’s event will bring some big fish.

“It’s going to be a topwater slugfest,” Ashley said. “The herring will be running. It’ll be a lot like Clarks Hill, it’ll be post-spawn and the fish will be up in the flats. A lot of topwater action … that’s all you can do. Maybe throw in a jig now and then.”

Last week, Ashley finished fifth in the Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon. Since he thinks Murray will fish similarly to Clarks Hill, the South Carolinian hopes the upcoming event in his home state will deliver a second straight top-five finish, and maybe victory.

“I sure hope so,” Ashley said.

He’ll have some serious competition for the win from fellow South Carolina native Davy Hite, the 1999 Bassmaster Classic winner and a seven-time BASS event winner who also enjoyed a top-five finish at Clarks Hill.

“I lived on that lake for 30 years,” Hite said of Lake Murray. “It’s a great lake, a beautiful place. There’ll be an awful lot of fish caught. I can promise you I’ll go there trying to win. Other than winning the Classic, winning an Elite tournament on Lake Murray would probably be my No. 1 goal for a tournament to win. It’s got a very, very special place in my heart.”

Hite estimates that it will take about 65-70 pounds to win the Carolina Clash, while Ashley guessed it would take around 80 pounds.

Daily weigh-ins and launches will take place at the Lake Murray Marina & Yacht Club, 1600 Marina Rd., Irmo, S.C. Launches Thursday-Sunday begin at 6:30 a.m. and weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m.

Fans can meet the Elite Series pros at Angler Alley presented by OPTIMA Batteries from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Lexington Municipal Center, 111 Maiden Lane, Lexington, S.C.

Activities at the Carolina Clash include live musical performances at 12:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday by Black Bottom Biscuits, and Cherry Dillinger. There will be a Berkley Beginner fishing class at 2 p.m. and a “Boat Performance with Skeeter” class daily at 2:15 p.m. both days.

On Saturday, fans can talk to the Elite pros during “Ask the Experts” at Bassmaster University, set for 2:30 p.m. at the weigh-in site.


Sunday’s activities include the live taping at 2:30 p.m. of Hooked Up, hosted by ESPN Outdoors personalities Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona. The show, which airs on Bassmaster.com, will preview the final weigh-in. Live, streaming video of the Carolina Clash’s daily weigh-ins begins at 3 p.m. ET on Bassmaster.com.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNMediaZone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video, audio clips and more.

The local sponsor of the Carolina Clash is Capital City/Lake Murray Country RTB.

Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Berkley, Lowrance, Mercury, Purolator, Skeeter, Yamaha, Evan Williams Bourbon, Longhorn, OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Costa Del Mar, MotorGuide and Ramada Worldwide.

About BASS

For 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive web properties in Bassmaster.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.

BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 525,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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Media contact: Doug Grassian, (407) 566-2216 or doug.grassian@espn.com

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