Eight Skeeter/Yamaha anglers will be vying for the first place $500,000 purse during the Bassmaster Classic, scheduled for February 22-24 on Lake Hartwell outside of Greenville, South Carolina, and these anglers will have plenty of support as Skeeter comes on-board as the Official Boat Sponsor of BASS.

“We anticipate this being one of the most competitive Bassmaster Classics in history,” says Daren Cole, Marketing Manager for Skeeter Products, Inc., celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year. “This is an exciting time for our company, and our Team Skeeter anglers. This will be a true test of each angler’s abilities, and we’re pulling for our entire team, a group comprised of veterans and rookies, and hope to see one of them hoisting the championship trophy at the end of the tournament,” says Cole.

Veteran Alton Jones will be fishing in his 11th Classic. Jones, a shallow water specialist from Waco, Texas, has earned more than $1.2 million in his 18 years of professional fishing career, and hopes to far surpass this figure with a victory at the Classic. Jones, who has more than 30 top ten finishes, had a strong showing throughout the entire 2007 Elite Series, scoring him a Classic invitation.

Another Texan, and recent addition to the $1 million club, Mineola native, Kelly Jordon, will be fishing in his 6th Bassmaster Classic. Jordon had an amazing four top-five finishes in the Elite Series in 2007, including a 2nd place finish on the Potomac River in August. 

Fellow Texas, and Jasper native, Todd Faircloth, also makes his 6th Classic appearance. Faircloth finished in the top-20 in eight Elite Series and Majors tournaments. Faircloth’s versatility has made him one of the most consistent competitors on the tournament trail, and the angler hopes to add to his $600,000 in career winnings, including two tournament victories.

Skeeter Pro Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, California, burst onto the bass fishing scene last year, and won BassFan’s Rookie of the Year honors, and finished 4th in the Angler of the Year standings. Lintner, making his 2nd Class appearance, has eight top-10 finishes in only two years of professional competition. Lintner started the 2007 with an amazing five straight top-20 finishes.

New to Team Skeeter, angler’s Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, and Clark Reehm of Russellville, Arkansas, will both be fishing in their first Bassmaster Classic. Reehm fished the Bassmaster Central Opens, emerging as a leading professional, and finishing in 2nd place overall. Lane earned his Classic invitation by finishing 3rd overall in the Bassmaster Southern Opens.

Cliff Pace, of Petal, Mississippi, will be fishing in his 2nd Bassmaster Classic, and hopes his shallow water powerfishing techniques work on Lake Hartwell. Pace, fishing the Elite Series events, landed in the top 50 in 10 out of 11 events, including a top-five finish on Lake Champlain in July.

Finally, Chris Loftus of Bloomfield, New York, earned his invitation through the BASS Federation Nation. Loftus earned a 3rd place finish in November’s BASS Federation Nation Championship on Lake Tohopekaliga In

Kissimmee, Florida. 

On the Women’s Bassmaster Tour side, Skeeter’s Juanita Robinson was one of only 12 anglers to receive an invitation to the WBT Classic. This is her second consecutive WBT Classic. Robinson, from Highlands, Texas, won the WBT event on Lake Amistad in 2007, breaking two records in the process – heaviest daily weight of 26 lbs., and total overall weight of 56 lbs. 8 ozs.

According to BASS rules, Lake Hartwell will become off-limits to Bassmaster Classic participants Dec. 15. Anglers will get another crack at the fishery during the official practice period, set for Feb. 12-14, and a final look Feb. 20.

The competition will feature daily launches at 7:15 a.m. ET Friday through Sunday at Portman Marina. Daily weigh-ins will take place at Greenville's Bi-Lo Center at 3:30 p.m. ET. The 2008 Classic will be hosted by

Greenville Convention & Visitor's Bureau. 

Skeeter will showcase its 2008 line-up of high-performance bass boats during the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented at the Carolina First Center. Skeeter, located in the Sponsors Area, will have several activities for the whole family including autograph sessions with former Bassmaster Classic champions Jay Yelas and Mark Davis.

Skeeter Products, Inc. makes fishing and boating fun and rewarding with owner’s tournaments, tournament incentives, and a top-notch dealer network. Skeeter, celebrating its 60th Anniversary, manufactures innovative and high-performing bass, walleye, fish & ski and saltwater boats. Skeeter is the recipient of six consecutive CSI customer satisfaction awards, and its boats are NMMA certified to meet strict U.S. Coast Guard and American Boat & Yacht Council standards. To order a catalog call (800) SKEETER, or visit www.skeeterboats.com.