FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2012
Contact: Tawna Fenske, Visit Bend, 541-382-8048, Tawna@visitbend.com
Kevney Dugan, Visit Bend, 541-382-8048, Kevney@visitbend.com
Doug La Placa, Visit Bend, 541-382-8048, Doug@visitbend.com
Bend, Oregon to host 2012 Fly Fishing National Championships Oct. 18-20
(BEND, Ore.)—It’s no secret Bend, Oregon has become a fly fishing mecca, with publications ranging from Fly Fisherman to Field & Stream to Outdoor Life declaring its pristine waters some of the best in the nation for the sport. Now, Bend has been tapped to host the 2012 Fly Fishing National Championships October 18-20.
The event is expected to draw approximately 100 anglers to the area, as well as 100 family members, fans, and event organizers. Participants will fish a combination of lakes and rivers on a catch-and-release basis.
“This is an excellent opportunity to expose fly fishing experts from around the nation to see the amazing diversity of fishing in Central Oregon,” explained Doug La Placa, President & CEO for Visit Bend. “We had the pleasure of hosting a regional competition for the last two years, and it’s exciting to be recognized as a destination worthy of hosting a national championship.”
The event will have three days of fishing in five different areas. Scoring is done by size and number of fish caught, with points awarded according to regulatory guidelines. Though anglers must qualify at a regional championship to participate, there are ample spectator and volunteer opportunities for fishing enthusiasts who wish to be involved.
“All of the waterways will remain open to the public during competition, and we’re hopeful the dates we’ve selected will minimize impact on other anglers,” La Placa added. “From a tourism standpoint, this is an excellent way for us to share Bend’s amazing fly fishing opportunities with sportsmen and sportswomen from around the nation.”
In recent years, Bend has been named #1 Town for Sportsmen (Outdoor Life), America’s Top Adventure Town (Men’s Journal), Top 10 Fly Fishing Towns in the U.S. (Fly Fisherman), one of the Best Fishing Towns in America (Field & Stream), best trail running town (Outside) one of the country’s Top Five Ski Towns (Travel + Leisure), and the #1 mountain biking town in the United States (Mountain Bike Action).
About Visit Bend:
Visit Bend is a non-membership, non-profit economic development organization dedicated to promoting tourism on behalf of the City of Bend. We’re a leading provider of information on Bend, Oregon hotels, restaurants, activities, and Oregon vacation planning. To learn more or to order a complimentary Official Visitor Guide to Bend, contact Visit Bend at 1-800-949-6086 or visit www.phpstack-307602-2580524.cloudwaysapps.com.