As part of its multi-year partnership with Lunkerville, the show that features “Real People with Real Fish Stories”, South Bend is hosting an exciting contest at ICAST, the fishing industry’s largest convention, held this summer in Las Vegas, Nevada. The name “South Bend’s Lunkerville” reflects a rebranding of the popular series and will debut with Season 8, premiering on World Fishing Network September, 2013 and re-airing on NBC Sports January, 2014 as well as select PBS stations.
“The partnership with Lunkerville has already exceeded expectations,” says South Bend CEO, Jory Katlin. “And we’re only at the start of Year Two! The fit between our brands is seamless. Mike D’s engaging, easygoing demeanor and honest approach to fishing as a fun, accessible lifestyle is a natural match for South Bend’s American heritage brand of affordable quality tackle. The show appeals to everyone, from the first-timer to the more avid weekend angler and this contest will bring out both. It will be fun to see who will get to star in their very own episode of the show.”
South Bend’s Lunkerville “Casting Call” @ ICAST South Bend’s Lunkerville is calling all anglers attending ICAST to the “Lunkerville Lounge” in the South Bend booth #2044, where Mike D will be waiting to film your first, or fondest, fishing memory as told by you. The one with the most compelling story will win the ultimate prize of starring on their very o wn episode of the show. Interested anglers of all levels are welcome to share their stories on Wednesday, July 10 & Thursday, July 11 in either of two time blocks: 10am-12pm or 2pm-4pm. The Lunkerville Lounge is equipped as a retro talk-show sound stage, complete with couches and cameras, ready to film auditioning anglers. Promotional support for the contest includes postcards, email blasts and a full page ad located in the South Bend insert of Fishing Tackle Retailer’s ICAST special edition.
“The contest is sure to generate lots of excitement in the South Bend booth,” says Michael de Avila (aka ‘Mike D’), Lunkerville’s host and creator. “Who doesn’t want to be a TV star for a day, doing what they love most — fishing?! I’m psyched the folks at South Bend are making this tremendous effort. It reinforces that the South Bend brand is a true lifestyle choice and has been for over 100 years.”
Last year, South Bend Sporting Goods, one of America’s oldest and most-loved fishing tackle brands entered into a multi-year partnership with Lunkerville, the award-winning television series that embraces the simple fun and innocent pleasure of fishing, where the featured guest is the expert, not the host. The series has enjoyed continued broadcast exposure for over ten years, airing first on The Sportsman Channel (where Lunkerville won consecutive yearly viewer-voted awards for Favorite Fishing Show and Favorite Fishing Show Host) and moving over to World Fishing Network, the only 24/7, all-fishing channel that reaches 40 million homes across North America. Last year, the series added a new broadcast home:” NBC Sports Network, which airs to an audience of more than 80 million television households weekly, on cable and satellite systems throughout the United States. South Bend’s Lunkerville also airs on Mountain Lake PBS, servicing the entire Northeast and Adirondack area, as well as other PBS stations across the country as they become available.
About Lunkerville
When Indie film director Michael de Avila hooked his passion for story telling onto his love of fishing, he spawned an award-winning, reality television show, Lunkerville. While other fishing shows rely on expert hosts and pro-tournament competition, Lunkerville’s “Mike D” casts his line with everyday, recreational fishermen, traveling to their secret spots and sharing their special techniques. In his signature laid-back manner, he reels in the camaraderie, the banter and the fish. Shot with his filmmaker’s eye and touch, every episode is treated as a short documentary film. In 2009, Lunkerville earned a CINE Golden Eagle for documentary filmmaking; one of the most coveted awards in television. Lunkerville airs on WFN in Canada and the United States and also, on the NBC Sports Network in the U.S..and select PBS stations. For more information on Lunkerville and South Bend’s Lunkerville, please visit www.lunkerville.com.
About South Bend
South Bend Sporting Goods, a division of Big Game International, has devoted a lifetime to creating products that let families and fishing enthusiasts experience the simple joy of fishing, at prices they can afford. Since 1906, South Bend has been a leader in the industry and is best known for offering quality products at an exceptional value to make fishing easy and fun for today’s active families and anglers of all ages and skill levels. All South Bend products are designed to reflect its singular heritage: Quality tackle since 1906. Today, South Bend continues to offer a comprehensive line of fishing equipment and accessories that anglers and their families can trust and enjoy for many years. For more information about South Bend, please visit www.south-bend.com. For more information about Big Game International, please visit www.biggameintl.com.