Top 100 Elite Bassmasters to Return to Grove '07

For the first time ever, the Top 100 Elite Bassmasters Series will return to a site two years in a row, with June 21-24, 2007 being announced as the date by Deb Wolek, Executive Director of the Grand Lake Association.

Wolek told City Council Tuesday night that she would return about half of the $75,000 given by the city to the Association to help host the event, and then announced that she had just received word that the event would be repeated next year. She said the Bass organization was so pleased with the way Grove responded, with security, volunteers, city staff, the lake itself, the fans and of course the fishing, they wanted to return next year.

The site will be at North Beach, which in another year should have more facilities, streets and parking available.

"The participants said they had never had security at this level before, with help from the Grove Police, Delaware County Sheriff's office, Cherokee Nation Police, EMS services, and volunteers. One of the participants said he had 40 boats following him one day but they all kept a good distance away so as to not interfere with the fishing," Wolek said.
An estimated 20,000 people attended the four-day event, she said, beyond expectations.

Wolek said she was looking forward to the sales tax figures for June, which should be released in August, to compare with the previous year. She also told Council that BASS had agreed to a $10,000 sponsor fee for 2007 compared with $50,000 this year.
Councilors congratulated Wolek and the GLA for their hard work in putting on this year's event with a packed room responding with applause.