Now that the final results are in, OperationBass.com would like to congratulate everyone who took the time to participate in the latest VISA $2 Million Challenge. While no state fishing records were broken this time around (a feat which would have earned one lucky contestant and one skilled angler $1 million a piece), 65 participants in the VISA $2 Million Challenge did manage to walk away with over $24,000 in generous cash prizes and merchandise from FLW Tour sponsors. The latest VISA $2 Million Challenge -which took place on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. – produced a wide variety of prizes as well. Awards ranged from a $1,000 Visa gift card and $2,700 Evinrude Outboard 15 HP four-stroke motor to a gift certificate for $1,000 worth of free Citgo gasoline and set of Spidercast baitcast reels and rods.
First place winners of the 13 sponsor challenge events included:
* Bob Ricketts of Davie, Fla., who won a $1,000 Visa gift card.
* Barbara Spangler of Louisa, VA., who won $500 worth of Land O’Lakes products.
* Mike Utley of Florence, Ala., who won $500 worth of Shop-Vac deluxe home assortment merchandise.
* Stephen Daly of Brockton, Mass., who won an Evinrude Outboard 15 HP four-stroke motor valued at $2,713.
* Derrick Watson of San Francisco, Calif., who won $750 worth of Coleman camping equipment.
* Greg Bettridge of Denver, Colo., who won $1,000 in Energizer products.
* Dolphus King of Florence, Ala., who won three EverStart batteries valued at $195.
* Scott Aune of Grygla, Minn., who won $200 worth of Spidercast baitcast reels with matching Spidershaft rods.
* Pat Gale of Baldwinville, Mass., who won his choice of $1,000 in merchandise from the Ranger Wear catalogue or $1,000 towards the purchase of a new Ranger boat.
* Matt James of Tuscumbia, Ala., who won a black Rancher Stetson hat from Hatco valued at $140.
* Gregg Collins of Stanley, N.C., who won a $1,000 cash card for Citgo gasoline.
* Stanley Neuhausen of Madison, Conn., who won a Ultra Classic fish finder from Lowrance valued at $269.
* Kenneth Grover of Decatur, Ala., who won $600 worth of Black & Decker products.
Click here for a complete list of winners.
If you missed out on the prizes during the last Visa $2 Million Challenge, don’t hesitate to sign up for the next one. Registration is free but must be completed online at OperationBass.com by Sept. 12, 2000. Participants must be at least 21 years old and a legal U.S. resident.
Don’t forget, $2 million in additional prize money will be given away for any state-record bass caught during the Sept. 13-16 Wal-Mart FLW Championship in Shreveport, LA.
And that’s no fish story.