The Bassmaster Classic is not about subwoofers, as some readers may be thinking, but rather is a professional bass fishing competition, and in fact, the winner of this annual tournament is widely considered to be the world champion of the sport.
The first classic was first held in 1971 on Lake Meade, NV, and over time it has grown into a compelling spectacle.
Each year in late winter, the top bass anglers converge on a pre-selected U.S. site for three days of fishing, with each day followed by a theatrical presentation of the weigh-ins.
The event is organized by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS), which was acquired in the fall of 2010 by Jerry McKinnis, Jim Copeland, and Don Logan, continuing a long-standing media relationship with ESPN, which provides hours of television coverage.
This year’s contest, held in February on the Louisiana Delta, featured a field of 50 anglers, with the nightly weigh-ins presented at the 19,000-seat New Orleans Arena, adjacent to the Superdome in the city’s central business district.
These festivities were outfitted with complete production, including concert-level sound reinforcement for the entire arena, by Reel Rock Productions and its sister company, Production Support Group (PSG).
Founded in 1980 by Larry Schmidt and based in Tallahassee, FL, the companies have steadily grown to provide full production services to a wide variety of clientele throughout the continental U.S.
This was the first time out with the Bassmasters Classic for Reel Rock/PSG, with Schmidt noting that the organizers were seeking a different direction than the past with regard to production.
A bass fisherman himself, Schmidt presented some creative, relevant ideas, and his companies were awarded the project last summer, with planning for this year’s event commencing shortly after for total turnkey production – staging, lighting, video, special effects and sound reinforcement.