World Bass Enterprises (WBE) is giving two average Joes the chance to compete in The Champions this fall, putting them on the same water, in the same tournament and in pursuit of the same record-setting prize money as some of the best bass fishermen in the world.No pressure.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEA fisherman holds a fishing rod by a lake during sunset in an outdoor setting.(scyther5 / Getty Images)The Champions, an inaugural tournament hosted by WBE, will feature a $3.25 million purse, including $1.25 million for the winning angler.
That’s the largest prize in the sport’s history.The field will include the top 25 anglers from the Bassmaster Elite Series and the top 25 from Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour.And now, two fans will get a chance to join them.WBE founder and CEO Brian Bird told OutKick Outdoors the idea came from fans themselves."You know, whenever we would do a podcast or we would do a social launch on one of our social media, there was always comments of, ‘Well, how do I get in? The everyday person should get to fish in something like this,’" Bird said.
"And so I just — it bothered me."So, he came up with a solution.Fans who buy the tournament’s pay-per-view streaming package will be entered for a chance to win one of the two spots.There is also a no-purchase-necessary mail-in option."You buy the pay-per-view event, and it’s 50 bucks," Bird said.
"We’re streaming the opening ceremonies.We’re streaming the tournament, of course, the weigh-ins, but we’re streaming the Champions Dinner.
We’re streaming the pro-am.You get to watch all of that."A trophy 10-pound largemouth bass fights a minnow imitation lure.
(Doug Stamm/stammphoto.com)Then WBE will draw two anglers from those entries."We’ll just have two anglers that we draw out of that that buy the pay-per-view that are just everyday Joes, and give them a chance to compete in this tournament at the same level as the professionals," Bird said."So I thi...