Oakley Big Bass Tour to Host the Kevin Van Dam Big Bass Classic on Table Rock Lake, June 5-6, 2010

    SPRINGFIELD, MO, April 27, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Based at Big Cedar Lodge, the 1st Annual Kevin Van Dam Big Bass Classic comes to Table Rock Lake on June 5-6, 2010; offering amateur anglers the chance to compete for over $100,000 in possible cash and prizes. The amateur angler with the largest overall big bass will take home a 2010 Nitro Z9 valued over $43,000.

"Kevin represents the best in the sport," says Louis Wellen with Oakley Sports Marketing. "There's no better place to establish the KVD Big Bass Classic event than on Table Rock Lake in the heart of Bass Pro Shops country. It's anybody's race at this point and any given cast could change an angler's life."

The KVD Big Bass Classic will be open to all amateur anglers. Anglers will compete for thousands in hourly cash payouts throughout the two day event. There will be seven hourly weigh-ins each day with the overall largest fish of the event earning the winner a 2010 Nitro Z9. The first 100 anglers to pre-register for this event will receive a Quantum PT Energy Rod valued at $100. Anglers may pre-register for this event online at www.oakleybigbass.com Anglers may also register by phone, fax or mail. Additionally, event registrations will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield and Branson on Thursday June 3rd from 5-9pm and on Friday June 4th from 9am-9pm. Anglers may pick up registration forms at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield and Branson.

"I'm really looking forward to this event and proud to be working with Oakley and Bass Pro Shops," says Kevin Van Dam. "This tournament format provides some exciting fishing and gives everyone in the field a shot at the Nitro Z9."

Kevin Van Dam appearance times and locations will be posted at Bass Pro Shops prior to the event. Oakley's Rolling O Lab http://www.oakley.com/community/olab will be onsite at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield on Thursday June 3rd and Friday June 4th and at the Bass Pro Shops in Branson on Saturday June 5th and Sunday June 6th. Saturday and Sunday's weigh-ins will take place at the Toyota Main Stage at Big Cedar Lodge and Bent Hook Marina. The public is welcome at the live weigh-ins from 8am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday and after the weigh-ins there will be angler and attendee hospitality activities from 3-5pm each day.

"We are thrilled to partner with the number one angler in the world to deliver this event to the anglers," says Keith Odom with the Oakley Big Bass Tour. "Our partnerships with Oakley, Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Marine have allowed us to create one of the premier tournament experiences that exist at the amateur level. This will undoubtedly become the flagship event for our tour and quite possibly one of the largest events of it's kind."

Sponsors of the KVD Big Bass Classic include: Oakley, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lock-n-Haul, Quantum, Toyota, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, and Power-Pole.

Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. Headquartered in Southern California, the company's optics brand portfolio includes Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its worldwide wholesale business, Oakley operates retail locations including Oakley Stores and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded technical and active apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com

The Oakley Big Bass Tour is a premier big bass tournament series open to all amateur anglers. We provide anglers of all skill levels with an exciting tournament format and event experience on some of the nations best bass fisheries. Established in 2007 our tour is focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the grass roots level through our tournament events. Our founders and event staff have over a decade of experience organizing and hosting bass fishing tournament events. For further information, please contact us at (877) 958-TOUR or visit us on the web at www.oakleybigbass.com

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