Toyota Texas Bass Classic Set To Raise $250,000 for Charity

This weekend—deep in the heart of Texas—one of the most talented fields of competitive bass fisherman ever assembled converge on Lake Conroe for the Professional Angler’s Association’s (PAA) world championship.

This is the first year the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) will take place on Lake Conroe, offering the opportunity to showcase the innovative fisheries and habitat management strategies of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). According to TTBC co-founders Dan Friedkin and Donato Ramos, the event was originally created to highlight the unique conservation methods of the TPWD on Lake Fork, Texas, and fund several TPWD initiatives including their Neighborhood Fishing Program, the Texas State Fish Art Contest and “How to Fish” videos. This year financial donations from event sponsors, and proceeds from entry fees, will generate at least $250,000, which will bankroll TPWD’s urban fishing program. The Urban fishing program aims to improve water quality, prevent erosion and provide high quality habitat for fish and other wildlife, while attempting to expose teenagers and urban families to fishing and the outdoors. Additionally, the TTBC participates in the Toyota ShareLunker program—a program established in 1986 to encourage catch-and-release of exceptionally large fish, and selective breeding of superior largemouth bass. All fish caught during the competition weighing in excess of 13 pounds—or exceeding 21 inches in length—will be taken to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, TX to spawn and “help pass on their superior genes to a new generation of Lake Conroe fish.” “I look at Texas as a crossroads where the science of fisheries management intersects with the needs and desires of anglers—and the Toyota ShareLunker program and the quality of fishing on Lake Conroe are great examples of that,” said TPWD’s Chief of Management and Research for Inland Fisheries, Dave Terre. At the end of the first day five fish over 21 inches were caught and turned over to TPWD. These superior fish were transferred by a specially equipped Toyota Tundra pickup with a purpose-built, aerated tank installed in the bed. All fish caught by anglers—falling within a 14-21-inch size range—will be weighed in the boat by a certified and independent observer, before being immediately returned to the lake to ensure quality fishing continues on Lake Conroe. The TTBC also features an outdoor adventure area, sponsor expo and musical entertainment by; Pat Green, Josh Turner, Julianne Hough, Zona Jones, and the Kyle Hunt Band.