As USA Bassin anglers we all have heard of BPS Tournament Rewards.  It’s a great program to reward anglers who choose to run Nitro, Trackers and ProCraft bass boats and provide these anglers with rewards for winning tournaments in the form of CASH and BPS gift certificates.  USA Bassin anglers do a wonderful job cashing in and anglers from Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee have made the splash overwhelmingly. 

 

Not to be forgotten, but New England has cashed in as well.  In Massachusetts’s first event, held on Long Pond – Freetown Massachusetts and hosted by Captain Bub’s Marine, a Marine USA Inc. location, we had our first Tournament Rewards winner for 2009.  Billy "Hawkeye" Decoteau's, one of our newest New England Directors said the fishing was a bit challenging, stating “Most anglers agreed it was an extremely tough day due to the weather conditions and the extreme cold front that came in overnight. Only a few anglers caught 5-bass limits and with that said only two teams revealed they culled any bass. There were a variety of baits that caught bass: spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits, senkos and small worms seemed to produce. I actually caught bass on Andy's Rattlin Hair Jig blk with no trailer.”

 

Our First winners were Mike Mantha and Bob Mazzone, who fish from a 2009 Z9.  Over the past two years Mike has cashed in $2250.00 in reward moneys.  Mike commented on the Tournament Rewards program with this, “I think Rewards is important because if owning one of the best built boats on the market it also pays when doing well. In these tough times every dollar helps. The program also helps tournaments grow, someone buying a boat may not get into tournaments, but when they see the rewards pay outs they might be more apt to compete in a tournament or two.”  Mike is sponsored by the largest volume Nitro dealer in the country, Marine USA inc. and has been with them for over 10 years now and says “it has been a pleasure working them. Most everyone there has been there from the beginning. Everyone truly wants every customer to have a great experience. The family atmosphere is incredible.”

 

Mike and Bob said that Long Pond was very slow, and they didn't get a lot of bites but the ones we did get counted.  One thing did happen during the event that was funny.  Mike’s cell phone rang and it was me, Bill Schwarz. While talking to me, Mike continued to flip a jig into some trees, when he got bit!! He set the hook and handed the pole off to Bob and had him reel it in and Mike netted it.  “Thanks to Bill we got that Fish!, said Mantha”

 

Tournament Rewards, Bass Pro Shops, Nitro, Tracker and Procraft – A winning Combination!