Ahoy!  Millers Boat Show Ahead

Ray Scott, Mr. B.A.S.S., and
Triton's Earl Bentz Headline
Cast of Pros, February 22-24,
At Ocala Marine dealership...

OCALA, Florida - 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 for the 11th Annual Millers Boating Center Boat Show and Fishing Clinic, February 22-24, in Ocala.

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 during the February 23rd open house hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Miller's Boating Center, located at 1661 Northwest 57th Street.

"Our open house and boat show is a great opportunity for boat buyers and bass anglers to go one-on-one with the biggest names in the sports," said Jeff Miller. "There's no better chance to get first-hand answers to bass rig setups or how-to catch more bass."

The two bassin' icons will be signing autographs, talking bass fishing and discussing the fishing features on TRITON'S lineup of fiberglass and all new aluminum bass boats, according to Jeff Miller, host for the three-day event.

Friday's show opening (February 22) will feature a how-to seminar with Roland Martin of Clewiston, Florida and host of the television show, "Fishing With Roland Martin." Martin with 19 all-time B.A.S.S. Tournament wins is an expert at pattern fishing for bass and catching trophy largemouth on live shiners. And, based at Lake Okeechobee, Martin can give anglers an insight to the revival of the Big-O with improved lake levels and clearer water conditions. More 5-pounders are being reported at Okeechobee in this early-season than in recent "bad water" years.

Also, on February 23rd, Gary Klein, another member of the TRITON pro staff, will take the seminar tent stage for how-to tips and winning ways of the pros. Klein of Weatherford, Texas is recognized as one of the most versatile anglers on the pro circuit, winning on big man-made reservoirs, natural lakes and rivers.

And, for bass fishing buffs and collectors, Ray Scott will be autographing copies of his best-selling, "Bass Boss" book, 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 Roland Martin and Gary Klein, their tips and tactics, and the fishing public's fascination with their bass fishing machines spawned today's high-tech bass rigs.

The newest innovations in bass boats, including the special rigged 2002 Triton Classic, fished by the world's top pros in the BASS Masters Classic championship, will be on display.

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

TRITON Boats, based in Ashland City, Tennessee, has claimed the top selling brand in fiberglass bass boats over five of the last six quarters, according to marine industry figures.

Bentz, a former world champion boat racer with Mercury Marine, has designed performance, fishability and wood-free 100 percent composite construction in his high-performance fishin' machines.

Not content to stand pat, Triton for the 2002 season has introduced a lineup of aluminum bass boats with all the standard features found on the high-end fiberglass tournament rigs. The Triton 186 Magnum hull is rated for 150 horsepower, boasts an 85-inch beam and 18-feet, 6-inches in length. All welded, .100-gauge construction, wood-free with no materials that rot or leaks.

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

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.

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) of Fruitland, Idaho. Scott stepped away from B.A.S.S., Inc. in 1998 to form Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc., a marketing and consulting firm for the fishing and marine companies.

For more information on the annual Millers Boating Center's Show and Fishing Clinic, contact: Jeff Miller at (352) 622-7757, or visit their website at www.millersboating.com.