Ahoy! Dallas Boat Show
Lands The "Bass Boss"

B.A.S.S. Founder Ray Scott
And Triton Boats Designer
Earl Bentz appear February 9th
At Dallas Market Hall...

DALLAS, Texas - The 47th Annual Dallas Boat Show, February 1-10, at the Dallas Market Hall will offer bass fishing fans the chance to talk bassin' with Ray Scott, the angler credited with launching the modern-day sport of bass tournament fishing.

Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), will be on hand February 9 as a special guest of TRITON BOATS, the "No. 1 selling fiberglass bass boat" in the world.

Triton's president Earl Bentz, the designer of the popular high-performance hull, will also be on board to discuss the Ashland City, Tennessee manufacturer's 2002 lineup of fiberglass rigs and the all-new aluminum bass boats.

Scott and Bentz will be appearing in the North Texas Marine's booth during the Saturday show hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The two bassin' icons of the fishing and marine business will be signing autographs, swapping bass fishing tips and showing off Triton's newest fishing features to showgoers.

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

Scott's first All-American Invitational Bass Tournament in June 1967 at Beaver Lake, Arkansas launched the bass fishing craze. 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 fishing heroes and pros, their tips and tactics, and the fishing public's fascination with their fishing machines spawned today's high-tech bass boats.

The latest models in TRITON's lineup of 18 to 22 feet bass boats will be on display, including the special-rigged 2002 Triton Classic, fished by the world's leading pros in the BASS Masters Classic in New Orleans and the Louisiana Delta.

"This is everything the serious bass angler can find in a bass boat," said Ray Scott. "The ultimate bass boat, in my opinion."

However, Earl Bentz and his Triton boat builders are not content to stand pat. For the 2002 season, Bentz introduces an all-new lineup of aluminum bass boats with all the features associated with the high-dollar fiberglass tournament rigs.

The Triton 186 Magnum is rated for 150 horsepower, boast a stable 85-inch beam and 18-feet, 6-inches in length. All welded, .100 gauge aluminum construction, wood-free with no materials that rot or leaks.

"The 186 Magnum is tournament-ready and performance proven for big waters, like Lake Texoma," says Earl Bentz. "You'll discover a smooth, dry ride in rough water, without the slapping and pounding typical of many aluminum hulls."

Bentz adds the new 176 (17-foot, 6-inches) Magnum aluminum with a 125 hp rating "delivers outstanding performance and operating economy with outboards as small as 90 horses." The 176 Magnum's hole shot and performance is enhanced with Triton's setback transom that eliminates the need for a jackplate, according to Bentz.

"This is an opportunity for North Texas anglers to go one-on-one and talk bass boats with the designer of the country's No. 1 brand, Earl Bentz, and meet Ray Scott, the man that started the big-time bass tournament trail," said Nathan Dempsey of the North Texas Marine dealership, located in Gainesville.

Ray Scott serves as national spokesman for TRITON Boats, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Trolling Motors and SOSPENDERS, the U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable lifevest manufactured by SOS, Inc., (formerly Sporting Lives, Inc.) of Fruitland, Idaho. Scott of Pintlala, Alabama is president of RAY SCOTT OUTDOORS, Inc., a marketing and consulting firm for fishing and marine companies.

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 10-day long Dallas Boat Show houses over 250 exhibits spread over 270,000 square feet in the Market Hall, located off the Stemmons Freeway at Wycliff.

North Texas Marine is located at East Highway 82, Gainesville, TX 76240. For information, contact: Joe Wallace or Nathan Dempsey at (940) 665-9331.