Ahoy!  Boyd's Marine Open House
Features Bassin' Celebrities 

"Bass Boss" Ray Scott joins
TRITON Boats Earl Bentz
As a special guest for
Dothan dealer's big week, Feb. 3-9…

DOTHAN, Alabama - Known around the world as "Mr. B.A.S.S.", Ray Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, will headline a cast of outdoor celebrities scheduled during the annual Boyd's Marine Open House and Boat Show, February 3-9, in Dothan.

Scott of Pintlala, Alabama changed bass fishing from a weekend pastime to a big-time professional fishing sport with his cast-for-cash tournaments. His Bassmaster Tournament Trail is credited with creating the bass boat industry, revolutionizing bass fishing tackle and techniques and turning weekend fishermen into full-time fishing professionals.

Scott, along with Earl Bentz, president of TRITON Boats, will be on hand February 7th, at the Boyd's Marine dealership, located at 2481 Hwy 431 North in Dothan. Bentz's TRITON brand has claimed the boat buyer's seal of approval as the top selling high performance bass boat across the country.

The two bassin' icons will be signing autographs, talking bass fishing and discussing the fishing features on TRITON's lineup of fiberglass and aluminum bass boats, according to Julian Boyd, host for the event.

Bentz and Scott will attend the special customer appreciation night and fish fry on Friday (Feb. 7) evening during the open house.

"Our appreciation night is a great opportunity for Triton owners, boat buyers and bass anglers to go one-on-one with two of the best known names in the sports," said Boyd. "There's no better chance to get first-hand answers to bass rig setups or how-to catch more bass."

For information on the Boyd's Marine Open House, contact: Julian Boyd or Matt Nall at (334) 794-2598. Several Alabama-area bass fishing greats, such as Jack Wingate of famed Lunker Lodge on Lake Seminole, Triton's pro staffer Fred Bland of Birmingham, and Humminbird Electronic's Larry Colombo of Eufaula are expected to attend.

And, for bass fishing buffs and collectors, Ray Scott will be autographing copies of his best-selling, "Bass Boss," the story of the modern-day sport of competitive bass fishing.

Scott's first All-American Invitational Bass Tournament in June 1967 at Beaver Lake, Arkansas launched the bass fishing revolution. From 106 tournament entries, Scott built the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) with over 650,000 worldwide members and created the Bassmaster Tournament Trail.

The spinoff of fishing heroes and big-time pros, like Tom Mann of Eufaula and Lake Seminole's legendary Jack Wingate, their tips and tactics, and the fishing public's fascination with their bass fishing machines spawned today's high-tech bass rigs.

With Bentz, a former world champion boat racer, TRITON, manufactured in Ashland City, TN., has gained the reputation as a "new breed of bass boat."

"Performance is the key," says Julian Boyd. "Triton's Vortex hull offers an incredibly smooth, dry ride. And, it's built entirely wood-free with 100 percent composite construction."

Boyd says the "flagship" of the TRITON fleet at this year's open house is the limited edition Triton Citgo BASS Masters Classic special, the same package the pros are equipped with in the world championship of bass fishing.

"The bass boat of a lifetime" is how Earl Bentz views it. From the "official" Classic emblems and markings, to the high-performance jackplate, to space-age driver's console and the custom-matching boat trailer. The Classic package is available in TRITON models 19 to 22 feet.

"The Triton Classic edition captures all the excitement and prestige of the world's premier fishing event, the BASS Masters Classic," opines Boyd, "Come and see for yourself and talk bass boating with Earl Bentz and Ray Scott."

Show hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 3-8. The dealership will also be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 9).

For specifications and features on the full line of new TRITONs, contact: Earl Bentz, TRITON BOATS, 15 Bluegrass Drive, Ashland City, TN 37015 or visit the company's website: www.tritonboats.com.

"The Bassmaster Tournament Trail has been the proving grounds for today's bass boat innovations in performance and boating safety," points out Ray Scott. "Just as the Indy 500 improved the automobile for drivers."

Scott left B.A.S.S., Inc. in 1998 to form his marketing and consulting group, Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc., for the fishing tackle and marine industries.

Besides TRITON Boats, Scott serves as national promotional spokesman for Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, SOSPENDERS by S.O.S., Inc. the inflatable life vest; and U. S. Reel of St. Louis, MO., a new, revolutionary spinning reel with an oversize spool for light-line fishing.

As a new Trustee with the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA), Scott is working with the organization to increase interest among freshwater anglers in the IGFA's record setting program. Scott's move to "put the sport back in sportfishing" is his effort to get some fun and excitement in bass fishing.

"Where's the challenge for a 200-pound man to whip a 2-pound bass on 20-pound test line?" Asks Scott. "But, level the playing field. Use only 4-pound test line. And, see what happens when a big bass bites."