CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In celebration of the history, heritage and future of professional bass fishing, ESPN Outdoors and BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing today, announced plans for The Greatest Angler Debate — an exciting, yearlong program that will ultimately reveal the fan-elected greatest angler of all time in ceremonies at the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer.

"The Greatest Angler Debate is one of the largest initiatives in the history of BASS," said Dean Kessel, vice president and general manager, BASS, who presided over the announcement in Charlotte, N.C., during festivities surrounding the 2004 Classic. "This historic program is designed to grow interest for and awareness of the sport of bass fishing while answering the eternal question: 'Who's number one?'"

The debate will include an ambitious mix of multimedia platforms, including online fan voting, telecasts that profile and debate the top-10 anglers, promotions across ESPN Outdoors and BASS properties and the grand finale at the 2005 Classic in Pittsburgh.

The announcement began with the BASS-selected list of 35 of the greatest anglers ever, based on competitive fishing performance, with criteria including:

Classic championships
Classic qualifications
CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles
BASS tournament victories
Jacobs Cup titles (Forrest L. Wood Tour season championship)
Jacobs Cup qualifications
Forrest L. Wood Tour Angler of the Year titles
Forrest L. Wood tournament victories

Over the next year, The Greatest Angler Debate is certain to generate much discussion and excitement among the millions of bass fans across the country

- In January 2005, BASS will announce the Top 10 anglers, as chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of outdoor writers and journalists who cover the sport.

- In February and March 2005, fans will cast their votes for the Top 10 anglers. To drive the debate and voting, a tremendous amount of promotional resources across ESPN Outdoors and BASS will be devoted to the program. Fans will vote at www.bassmaster.com and other platforms to be announced next year.

- From April through July, The Greatest Angler Debate programming will air on the ESPN Outdoors Block each weekend, including biographical shows on the Top 10 anglers, as well as debate programs featuring fans, media and pro anglers. Fans will be able to access stats and stories in Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times, Bassmaster.com and the weekly ESPN Outdoors radio show.

- In June and July 2005, the debate will heat up as fans decide between the top two anglers during a second round of voting at www.bassmaster.com and other platforms to be announced next year.

- On July 31, 2005, the final day of the 35th CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer, the Greatest Angler will be announced at the final weigh-in in a ceremony that celebrates all 35 "greats," one for each BASS anniversary.