Bedford County to host ESPN’s Bassmaster Elite Series

Bedford County is preparing to jump back into familiar waters when it hosts ESPN’s Bassmaster Elite Series next month at Smith Mountain Lake.

Launch times for each day is 7:15 a.m. at the Parkway Marina at 16918 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston, VA 24104

Officials from Bedford and Franklin counties have planned for the four-day Blue Ridge Brawl at the Parkway Marina starting April 23. The event drew profes-sional anglers and roughly 15,000 people to the marina over several days on the Bedford County side of the lake amid soaring temperatures in June 2007.

“We are prepared to handle that capacity again,” said Bedford County Administrator Kathleen Guzi. “We are encouraging spectators to come out and watch.”

The series returns to a county and lake area that reflects the economy’s downward spiral with declining development. Guzi said this year is the first she’s seen in a career that spans 22 years with the county when local tax revenues dropped from the previous year.

The 2007 event generated more than $1 million for the area, according to local tourism offi-cials’ estimates, and is expected to positively impact the local economy again.

Live coverage and camera shots of the marina grounds on television, Internet and radio are other benefits local officials have labeled “priceless” in terms of name recognition on a national and even international level.

“It definitely gets the name and face of Smith Mountain Lake out to the public,” Guzi said. “As important, it is a major recreational event that is being held in our backyard so it’s easily available to our citizens … it’s enjoyable to bring something to our community that the citizens want.”

Michael Stokes, the county’s parks and recreation director, who sits on a joint county committee planning the event, said parking is expected to be completely on site at the marina this year. In 2007 there were shuttles that carried some to the event. Stokes said there should be plenty of places to park near the marina this time.

Despite the large crowd anticipated, Stokes said people shouldn’t be anxious about major traffic congestion or overcrowding.

“We learned from the first event so we are going to be that much more prepared,” Guzi said.

Around 100 professional anglers are slated to fish the waters, Stokes said. The marina in Huddleston is the location for the weigh-ins, which in 2007 drew the highest concentration of fans. The final awards presentation will be held at the marina’s weigh-in site next to the lake April 26.

Bedford County will also be the host site for another series in August 2010 at the same location. That would mark the last event of the year where the Angler of the Year would be crowned.

Tournament Timeline
April 23 Blue Ridge Brawl officially opens. Check-out and weigh-in times will be announced.
April 24 Fishing schedule will be posted and top 50 pros competing on Saturday announced.
April 25 Top 12 pros fishing on Sunday will be announced.
April 26 Final competition for top 12. Awards presentation held at weigh-in site.