B.A.I.T. to partner with organizations that understand the considerable business value of community, media exposure, the outdoors, and the pro-environment components that comprise America's Best Team 'Trail'

SOUTHEAST USA | April 25, 2006 | The Bass Anglers Invitational Trail (B.A.I.T.), America's Best Team Trail for working-class anglers announces it added a new media-rich sponsor structure to attract partners. B.A.I.T. will partner with organizations that understand the considerable business value of community, media exposure, the outdoors, and the pro-environment components that comprise America's best team 'Trail'. Founded in 1999, the B.A.I.T. 'Trail' is well into its eighth team tournament fishing season. It is a seasoned business entity with considerable angler participation and consumer awareness.

B.A.I.T. partners gain access to a network of 137 bass tournaments segmented into 17 divisions across eight southeastern states. Sponsor participation will empower B.A.I.T. to incrementally enhance its team trail experience in a proactive, media-rich manner, which drives exposure to partner products as it maximizes angler participation in B.A.I.T. tournaments.

"Partnering enables B.A.I.T. to deliver on its vision to complement local communities, get more people fishing (children, seniors, and women), and make an environmental impact," says Allen "Bud" DeFoe, president and founder of The Bass Anglers Invitational Trail. "Our new sponsorship structure adds market value to attract brand savvy partners looking for a results-driven entry into the fourth most popular participation sport. Anyone who is willing to invest in our/their future will reap exceptional business value and quickly build their brand."

Proactive Media Contact

B.A.I.T. is ramping-up a media contact program to attract media exposure with proactive tournament promotion and tournament results reporting sent to local, regional, and national media outlets in print, radio, television, and the Internet. Video clips are also planned for distribution, which B.A.I.T. expects will drive its media coverage, impressions, insertions, and pickups.

B.A.I.T. tournaments and tournament results have been followed by local, regional, and national sports organizations. Most recently, ESPN radio has shown renewed interest in regional B.A.I.T. results.

B.A.I.T. is actively pursuing regular radio, television, and sport fishing magazine coverage. Taking into account what presently gets aired on outdoors channels, an upscale B.A.I.T. 'Trail' television show, is certainly possible.

Local Coalitions

B.A.I.T. plans a coalition with local Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Tourism bureaus throughout the southeast. Because it is in their best interest to attract local publicity, we expect considerable and immediate media exposure.

From this additional media exposure, B.A.I.T. expects to grow angler participation in its tournaments and ultimately prize monies. Prize monies have become a big draw to bass tournaments, and B.A.I.T. contends that larger prizes have become necessary to remain competitive and to stimulate expansion into new markets. It targets a 150-percent tournament prizes payback to gain anglers and grow its tournament trail.

Partner with B.A.I.T.

B.A.I.T. will customize sponsorship plans to meet the specific promotional needs of any size company. A wide spectrum of partnering begins at having a company or product name everywhere B.A.I.T. appears, on down to limited-regional opportunities that showcase products and build brand awareness at the B.A.I.T. divisional level.

Brand Partners | Unmatched sponsorship opportunity to have a company or product name everywhere B.A.I.T. appears

Feature Partners | High-profile sponsor level that promotes products and brands/logo second only to the brand partner level

Strategic Partners | Medium-high sponsor profile that promotes a company's single product and company logo

Regional Partners | Regional sponsorship opportunity to showcase products and build brand awareness at state-wide B.A.I.T. tournaments

Limited-Regional Partners | Limited-regional sponsorship opportunity to showcase products and build brand awareness

Tournament within a Tournament Partners | Reward product-specific usage especially when its part of a winning combination

Community Partners | "Take 'ME' Fishing", targets local children, seniors, and female anglers. B.A.I.T. is a socially responsible organization that strives to improve its relationship with local communities and increase everyone's opportunity to fish.

Pro-Environment Partners | B.A.I.T. "Clean Waters", established to lessen the impact of fishing on the environment. The active participation of tournament anglers to clean and leave less of an imprint is another exciting B.A.I.T. initiative. It will collaborate with partners on the development and implementation of creative stewardship programs with pro-environment rewards.

Publication Partners | B.A.I.T. local fishing guides help communities promote and generate new revenues. B.A.I.T. and its partners will co-develop B.A.I.T. fishing guides with interested communities, e.g., tourism and convention bureaus, chambers, and retail organizations.

B.A.I.T. Web-Only Partners | Web-only sponsorship is well suited to organizations which require a strong internet presence among bass fishing enthusiasts.

Single-Event Partners | Single-event sponsorship packages vary per event, participation requirements, and cost.

For more information on any level of partnership, please contact B.A.I.T. Promotions and Sponsorships at dusa@baitinc.com. We appreciate your continued interest in B.A.I.T., and look forward to discussing how partnering with B.A.I.T. can strengthen your brand.

About The Bass Anglers Invitational Trail | B.A.I.T., Inc.

B.A.I.T. (www.BAITinc.com) is a team bass fishing competition comprised of 137 tournaments per season. 136 are one-day tournaments segmented into 17 divisions across eight southeastern states. A two-day 'Classic' tournament completes the regular tournament season. Anglers qualify for the 'Classic' at different lake locations on the 'Trail'. Two fully-rigged Pro-Craft bass boats, cash prizes, and trophies are some of the prizes provided by B.A.I.T. and its partner/sponsors.

The 2006 B.A.I.T. 'Classic' is at Kentucky Lake on September 29-30. The host motel is the Inn by the Lake, telephone number (270) 362-4278 or (877) 360-4278. Be sure to mention the B.A.I.T. 'Classic' to get discounted rates.

There are B.A.I.T. divisions in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. B.A.I.T. is America's best team trail for working-class anglers, founded by anglers in 1999 and run today by anglers.

For tournament information, contact B.A.I.T. Inc. at (866) 414-BAIT (2248) , between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday - Friday | (276) 523-4213 after 4 p.m. and weekends.

Media Contact: Doug Kilarski, National Director of Promotions and Sponsorship (601) 427-1879 | (662) 549-4075