The 36th annual St. Jude Bass Classic is proud to announce that Sportman’s Warehouse has joined Ranger Boats, Strike King Lures, Mercury Outboards and Pennzoil as  a major sponsor of the 2008 tournament.

The St. Jude Bass Classic, the nation’s oldest and largest charity fishing event, will be held on Sardis reservoir on May 28. the tournament is a pick-your-partner format with all proceeds being donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Total  contributions to the hospital from the tournament now exceed $2,117,000.

All area anglers should be reminded that the St. Jude Bass Classic’s early entry deadline is midnight March 31. The entry fee prior to this date is $250 per two person team. Beginning April 1, the entry fee is $275 per boat.

The 2007 tournament raised $60,000 for the hospital. In spite of record gas prices ad record low water, 558 anglers from 11 states participated in last year’s event. Anglers from Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas were present.

The grand prize in 2008 is a fully rigged 198 Ranger boat powered by a 200 Mercury Optimax outdoor riding on a deluxe Ranger Trail trailer. This grand prize will be awarded to one lucky participant who is present at the random drawing held at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.

All participants will receive lure packs from Strike King and each boat will receive a gallon of Pennzoil synthetic blend outboard oil compliments of Pennzoil and Windward Petroleum.

Cash and prizes will be awarded to the top 10 percent of the field. Prizes will be furnished by Sportsman’s warehouse, Strike King lures, Pure fishing and a host of additional sponsors.

The winning team will receive two War Eagle aluminum boats and trailers with 15 horsepower Mercury outboards and cash. The tournament is limited to 300 boats. Additional sponsors include Memphis boat Center, War Eagle Boats and Performance Marine.

For more information or to enter this event, call Dennis Morlok at (662)781-9201.

Entry forms may be downloaded from www.stjude.org.