West Coast Bass Folds, Sells to WON

You left-coasters probably know this already but here are some details for the rest of us, mostly from this article:

> The West Coast Bass Pro/Am tournament circuit announces it will pack up their scales in 2011.

> Banking on a non-industry partner led Larry Viviano and his West Coast Bass circuit down a path that didn’t pan out in the current economic downturn.  With the sudden collapse of Viviano’s partnership and the limited access to sponsorship unrelated to bass fishing, the dream of the NASCAR-type hype has been put on hold.

> Viviano’s suggestion to a rival circuit was well taken and has resulted in the WON Bass Pro/AAA circuit acquiring some of the West Coast Bass assets and taking on the well-known tournament director as an associate director for their season opener at Lake Shasta.

> “At this point, I am not sure of the West Coast Bass future.” He continued to say, “If the time and economy were on the circuit’s side, I would think about a comeback but in the mean time I am supporting WON Bass. I hope to bring my experience and angler base to WON Bass. WON Bass has the right payout, schedule and sponsors and this is the place I would like to support.”

A few details on WON’s 2011 Pro/AAA Circuit are here.