Central Pro-Am Association |
Branson, MO – The Central Pro-Am Tournament Association (CPAA), a long time provider of local pro-am bass tournaments in the Branson and other areas of south west Missouri and northern Arkansas, has recently been acquired by long time competitive bass fisherman and local Branson businessman, Jim Thompson. In acquiring CPAA from its former owner, Kevin Bowling, Thompson said, “I am very excited about this new opportunity and challenge that I have been blessed with.”
Thompson said his number one goal is to serve the needs of the members of the association. “To help insure that result,” he said, “I will rely heavily on the advice of the CPAA advisory committee composed of David Barker, Billy Bird, Greg Dishman, Buster Loving, Mike Webb, Paul Rice and Lupe Garcia. He indicated that all are well known bass fishermen in the area dedicated to bass fishing and that members should feel free to contact them and let them know not only what changes they would like to see, but what they think of the changes currently being made.
The first change is the resumption of the regular publication of the CPAA’s magazine entitled “Fishin’ Magazine.” The magazine will contain information about CPAA’s tournaments and schedules, new products and techniques and articles designed to entertain and make the reader a better bass fisherman.
The second change is that the CPAA tournament format has been changed to provide for a one day Pro-Am tournament on Saturday followed by a Team Tournament on Sunday. The Pro-Am pairs a professional with an amateur selected by computer. The Team or “buddy” Tournament is two people who decide they want to fish a tournament together.Click here to see the complete 2009 CPAA Tournament Schedule.
Thompson pointed out that the prizes awarded in most CPAA tournaments are directly related to the entry fees paid; the more who enter larger the prizes. He said the prizes awarded for the Pro-Am Tournaments are more than the prizes awarded for the Team Tournaments and within the Pro-Am Tournaments the prizes awarded to the professional are more than the prizes awarded to the amateur. The fees for the Pro-Am Tournaments are $200.00 for the professional and $100.00 for the amateur and the fees for the Team Tournaments are $150.00 per boat.
A third change is a series of three guaranteed $10,000 Team Tournaments. Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Motors are sponsoring the “Skeeter Tour Missouri Division” tournaments. The $10,000 guaranteed first place prize will be paid regardless of the number of boats entered. Each participant must be a member of CPAA and there is a $200.00 per team entry fee which covers both fishermen in the boat. Thomson said there is no requirement to own a Skeeter Boat or Yamaha engine to fish in the “Skeeter Tour Missouri Division” tournaments.
He went on to say that membership or further information on the Central Pro-Am Tournament Association or its tournaments can be obtained by contacting either himself or Kris Maples, CPAA Administrator, by phone at 417-335-5075 or through its headquarters located at 220 Branson Hills Pkwy, Suite B, Branson, MO 65616.