MUSKOGEE, Okla. (May 26, 2014) – Major League Fishing has completed the filming of its first GEICO Select event, which features 24 mostly first-time league anglers. The competition “far exceeded our highest hopes,” according to Major League Fishing Commissioner Don Rucks.
The event – the Bass Pro Shops Summit Select, presented by BACAS – was filmed on lakes in the Muskogee, Oklahoma region. The Summit Select will first be offered in the fall 2014 as a two-hours-plus, web-based production. It will be shown in early 2015 as a series on Outdoor Channel, America’s Leader In Outdoor TV.
“I was blown away by the intensity and the drama we found at this Select event. Day after day after day we had tight finishes. You never knew what was going to happen until the final minute. It was really amazing,” Rucks said.
“The television shows will be great. There is no doubt about that.”
The Summit Select features 24 anglers that are not regular competitors in the Major League Fishing Cup series, which is the original MLF Series. Anglers participating in Muskogee were: Scott Ashmore, Brent Chapman, Jason Christie, Keith Combs, Ott DeFoe, Kurt Dove, Paul Elias, Todd Faircloth, Randy Howell, Andy Montgomery, Cliff Pace, Brandon Palaniuk, Keith Poche, Marty Robinson, Mark Rose, Casey Scanlon, Morizo Shimizu, Kevin Short, Fletcher Shryock, Michael Simonton, Scott Suggs, Gerald Swindle, James Watson and Jacob Wheeler.
Six anglers from the Summit Select earned a spot in the companion Major League Fishing Summit Cup, which will feature the original 24 MLF anglers. The Summit Cup, with the addition of the six Select anglers, will increase in size to 30 competing anglers.
“This is still Major League Fishing. We use the same on-the-water format in the Cup and the Select events. There are leader boards and penalties and all of those things. But there are some structural differences in the Cup and the Select events. The competition setup isn’t the same,” Rucks said.
“We changed things in away that I’m pretty certain viewers will find interesting. Real interesting, in fact.”
Three Select anglers have actually competed in Major League Fishing Cup events. Chapman, Faircloth and Howell have filled in for anglers that were unable to compete in previous Cup events.
As in all Major League Fishing events, competing anglers are not allowed to practice or research venues. The anglers are chauffeured by boat officials to their fishing sites and are not told the actual location until they reach a staging area.
Select events utilize the innovative Major League Fishing format, in which anglers are allowed to weigh all the “scorable” bass they catch. The bass are immediately weighed after they are caught, then are released back into the water. In Major League Fishing competition, anglers know where they rank in the standings at all times via SCORETRACKER LIVE devices in their boats. Anglers are not allowed to practice before events and were notified of the Summit Select location two days before the start.
About GEICO
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the third-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO, which was founded in 1936, provides millions of auto insurance quotes to U.S. drivers annually. The company is pleased to serve more than 12 million private passenger customers and insures more than 20 million vehicles (auto & cycle). GEICO’s online service center helps policyholders take care of policy sales, policy changes, claims reporting and to print insurance ID cards. Policyholders can also connect to GEICO through the GEICO App, reach a representative over the phone or visit a GEICO local agent. GEICO also provides insurance quotes on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), travel trailers and motorhomes (RVs). Coverage for boats, life, homes and apartments is written by non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available. For more information, go to www.geico.com.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing is a partnership of 24 of the world’s most talented, influential professional bass anglers and Outdoor Channel. Jack Link’s is the organization’s title sponsor. For more information, visit www.majorleaguefishing.com.
About Outdoor Channel
Taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1993, Outdoor Channel is America’s Leader In Outdoor TV. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, LLC and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is received by 39.1 million U.S. households – the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country – and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter and on Facebook, and download our iPhone and iPad app.
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