The fishermen love it because Toyota treats them royally, the top 30 teams are guaranteed a paycheck and the winner takes home $5,000 in cash. They also like the opportunity to fish some of the finest bass lakes in the country.

“Things are shaping up very well for the tournament,” said Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships in Tulsa, Okla., which manages promotional events for Toyota. “We’ve got a lot of anglers already registered and with Wheeler being in the Geo-center of all things bass fishing we will continue to get registrations right up to the cut-off.”

McGuckin said pre-registration will end Sept. 2, Labor Day, so organizers will know how many angling teams to prepare for and how much food to order.

“A big part of this event is the fellowship and a big part of fellowship is food,” he said. “We will feed all the participants on Saturday night before the tournament with a sit-down dinner at Ingall’s Pavilion and then we’ll feed them a big barbecue lunch on Sunday, too.”

The tournament will be held out of Ingalls Harbor at Decatur, Ala.

McGuckin said that Toyota, which became a major player in the professional bass fishing field in 2006, recognizes that bass fishermen are a key part of their target audience because they tow boats “and it takes a full-sized truck to tow a bass boat.”

“Bass fishermen have responded with great allegiance and loyalty,” McGuckin said. “ They have purchased a lot of Toyota Trucks, especially the Tundra, and this is a way to say ‘thanks’ and provide a little fellowship among all those guys who have been so loyal.”

McGuckin explained that at least one member of a two-man team must be registered in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program. To join Toyota Bonus Bucks, an angler must own or lease a 2009 or newer Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or Tacoma, then register online at www.ToyotaFishing.com, or call Kendell at 918-742-6424. A registered angler who is the highest finishing eligible participant in a FLW or B.A.S.S. affiliated tournament wins the Bonus Bucks. Toyota launched the Bonus Bucks Program in 2008.

However, full-time professional anglers are not eligible to fish the No Entry Fee Bonus Bucks Team Tournament, McGuckin said. Other currently registered Bonus Bucks participants are eligible for the tournament.

Another bonus of the now annual tournament for Bonus Bucks anglers is the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the top professional anglers who drive Toyota Trucks. Expected at the Saturday registration and dinner are Kevin VanDam, Terry Scroggins, Gerald Swindle, David Walker and Randy Howell.

McGuckin said Wheeler was chosen this year because Toyota wants to take the tournament to as many different geographic areas as possible to give more angles an opportunity to fish in it.

“We realize the guys fishing with us are working men who don’t have a lot of free time. So we plan to take the tournament to different parts of the country to give more anglers the chance to sample it.”

Fishing is expected to be good on Wheeler for the tournament, he added.

“I can’t say right now how fishing is on Wheeler or what it will be like for the tournament, but it is on the Tennessee River which has a legendary reputation in bass fishing circles,” McGuckin said. “Wheeler has a lot of fish. It’s not a heavyweight lake, but there should be a lot of bass caught.”

He noted that VanDam believes a lipless crankbait will play a major role.

Second Annual Toyota No Entry Fee Bonus Bucks Team Tournament

Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013

Lake Wheeler

Decatur, Ala.

www.ToyotaFishing.com

Details: Kendell, 918-742-6424