DENVER, CO. – Ask any fisherman where’s the best place to fish and most of them will tell you about a hidden gem right in their own backyard. World Fishing Network is posing that question to anglers through a nationwide contest and will award a $25,000 prize and more to the community selected as WFN’s “Ultimate Fishing Town USA.”
Beginning March 1, WFN is accepting nominations from anglers who feel that they fish in the ultimate fishing town. In addition to the national recognition of being named Ultimate Fishing Town and a $25,000 donation to be used to assist fishing–related causes, the town will also receive 10 WaveSpin Reels and a tourism boost when they are featured on a 30-minute show on WFN about fishing in their town.
The promotion is being supported by Eagle Claw, manufacturers of fishing gear and tackle since 1925, and WaveSpin Reels, the only reel with a tangle-free guarantee. Charter Communications is supporting the contest through multiple marketing tactics, as well as on-air, including a free preview of WFN for the month of March in the Northwest region. In addition, Knology will promote WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town USA in four key markets (Sioux Falls, Iowa; Charleston, S.C.; Panama City, Fla.; and Pinellas Park, Fla.) and run a free preview of WFN in all Knology markets for the month of March. AT&T u-verse will be supporting the contest by broadcasting promo spots on their barker channel.
“No matter if they love to fish in a small rural community or a tourist mecca, we encourage everyone to nominate their favorite fishing spot,” said Shauna Gosevitz, Senior Director of Marketing for WFN. “This promotion gives us, and the participating towns, a great opportunity to profile the places where people love to fish all across the USA. We look forward to hearing their stories and letting the people choose WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town USA.”
Last year, when WFN ran a similar promotion in Canada, the tiny fishing village of Port Alberni, B.C., with a population of just 18,000, earned the title of WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town Canada because of their world-class salmon fishing and overwhelming community support. The result, according to the community’s tourism board, has been millions of dollars in free publicity and an immediate economic boom in tourism.
Baseball Hall of Famer and avid angler Mike Schmidt, who hit 548 home runs during a remarkable 18-year career, admits that he has probably reeled in more fish than that since his retirement. Schmidt will serve as the national spokesperson for the promotion, appearing in promotional spots and conducting a media tour to encourage anglers to nominate and vote for their ultimate fishing town.
People can nominate their town between March 1 and April 8 by visiting www.wfnfishingtown.com. Nominations may include photos, videos and essays about why any town should be WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town USA. If a town is already nominated, people are encouraged to add to the nomination with additional photos, videos and essays.
For the preliminary round of voting, WFN divided the United States into seven voting regions:
° PACIFIC: Alaska, Hawaii,Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada;
° ROCKIES: Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado;
° SOUTHWEST: New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana;
° MIDWEST: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana;
° NORTHEAST: Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, District of Columbia;
° SOUTHEAST: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama;
° FLORIDA: State of Florida.
Following the March 1 – April 8 nomination period, the first round of public voting will be open from April 12 – May 3. To help spread the word and encourage voting, WFN will provide a variety of social media tools at the website, www.wfnfishingtown.com. The 20 finalists, including the two entries in each of the seven regions with the highest vote totals plus six “wild card” entrants, will advance to the final round of voting from May 10 – 31. The results will be announced in June at a ceremony in the winning community emceed by a WFN personality.
WFN: World Fishing Network is the only 24/7 television network dedicated to all segments of fishing with programming that covers instruction, tips, tournaments, travel, food, boating, outdoor lifestyle and more. For more information, visit www.WorldFishingNetwork.com.