Skeeter Owner Takes Advice from Bassmaster Elite Series Pro

Skeeter Owner Takes Advice from Bassmaster Elite Series Pro – Company Hosts 1,546 Anglers at Owner’s Tournament
KILGORE, Texas, June 23, 2009 – Skeeter owner Troy Rossman of Rowlett, Texas took some advice from Bassmaster Elite Series mainstay and Team Skeeter’s Kelly Jordon, fishing the deep waters of Lake Fork to earn a victory in the 16th annual Skeeter Owner’s Tournament held this past weekend.

Rossman, a Skeeter owner since 2003, bested 1,546 other anglers, weighing in a 9.28 lb. bass, and winning a new Skeeter ZX200 bass boat powered by a Yamaha VZ200.

“My fishing partner and I were listening to the radio, when we heard Skeeter’s Kelly Jordon suggest fishing deep water,” says Rossman.  “We were fishing in 20-feet of water, and immediately began to fish at a depth of 25-feet when I got the bite.”

Rossman, who won a Bass Champs tournament on Lake Fork in April, caught the largemouth bass off of a Lucky Craft D20 Crankbait, making long casts into underwater timber.

Despite the slow economy, Skeeter owners descended on Lake Fork from across the country, with 780 boats competing in the tournament, just 26 shy of last year’s all-time record of 806 boats.

“It seems like just yesterday that we gathered a t Lake of the Pines for our first Owner’s Tournament, but that was 1993.  It ceases to amaze me as to what goes into making this event a success, and we have our owners to thank for that,” says Jeff Stone, General Manager/Senior Vice President of Skeeter Products, Inc.  “Today, Skeeter is the nation’s strongest and fastest growing bass boat brand, and anyone who carries the Skeeter flag does so with great pride,” adds Stone.

Not many people left Lake Fork empty handed, as Skeeter handed out more than $100,000 in cash and prizes to the top 11 finishers each hour.  Chris Coco of Paris, Texas was the random draw winner of a Yamaha 350 4×4 Grizzly.

Skeeter also rewarded anglers in the Junior and Ladies Division, with Cody Clark of Wills Point, Texas weighing-in a 2.68 lb. bass to win the Junior Division, while Janie Shinn of Ben Wheeler, Texas won the Ladies Division with a 2.48 lb. bass.

In the tournament’s “Guide to Green Shoot Out” matching Saturday’s hourly big bass winners in a two-hour competition with Skeeter professional anglers and Lake Fork guides, Rhome, Texas native Brett New partnered with Lake Fork guide Brooks Rogers to win the shoot out.  Rogers caught a 2.60 lb. bass on his last cast of the competition, helping to secure the victory.  With the win, New earns an all-expense paid trip for two to the 2010 Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Alabama, including VIP credentials.

Skeeter owners were treated to a host of on-site activities, including demo rides, fishing seminars, kid’s casting contest, vendors and a Texas barbeque.  “Everyone at Skeeter takes great pride in the product we produce, and our annual Owner’s Tournament provides us with the opportunity to thank our owners for helping make Skeeter the nation’s number one boat brand,” says Ben Jarrett, Skeeter’s National Sales Manager.

Jarrett heads up a group of Skeeter employees who cook and serve a Texas-sized meal to owners.  This year’s barbeque featured 500 lbs. of hot links, 1,960 lbs. of brisket, 600 lbs. of potato salad, 80 gallons of Skeeter baked beans, 40 gallons of barbeque sauce, 6,000 bottles of water, 400 cases of soft drinks and one ton of ice.
Skeeter Products, Inc., the Official Boat Sponsor of BASS, makes fishing and boating fun and rewarding with an owner’s tournament, its “Real Money” tournament incentive program, and a top-notch dealer network.  Skeeter designs and manufactures innovative and high-performing bass, walleye, fish & ski, and saltwater boats.  Skeeter is the recipient of seven consecutive CSI customer satisfaction awards, and its boats are NMMA certified to meet strict U.S. Coast Guard and American Boat & Yacht Council standards.  For a catalog call (800) SKEETER, or for more information visit www.skeeterboats.com.