January 10, 2008

Discover Why History Loves Company:  National Television Show Featuring Prince William County, Virginia Debuts This Weekend

Tune in and set your television recorders for a great catch!  Prince William County, Virginia is about to make its debut on the VERSUS television network, available in more than 70 million homes.  An episode of Bass Edge featuring Leesylvania State Park and other attractions in the premier destination – located just 30 miles from the nation’s capital – is scheduled to air on VERSUS on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. EST, and on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. EST (check www.versus.com for channels on cable and satellite systems). The Prince William County episode also is scheduled to air 12 times in 2008 on Wild TV Hunting and Fishing Network in Canada, beginning in February.

Describing it as the “perfect area for recreational and competitive anglers,” Bass Edge host Aaron Martin, co-host Kurt Dove, and their crew filmed on the Potomac River off Leesylvania State Park the first week of July 2007. Martin applauded Leesylvania’s “first-class facilities and friendly staff.” He said the state park “places anglers close to prime fishing locations without having to burn a lot of gas.” Calling the fishing conditions “excellent,” Martin said the crew “ended up boating about a dozen fish with the top five weighing about 16 pounds. We utilized a variety of techniques such as a topwater frog, Texas rig soft-plastic and a shallow diving crankbait focusing on the grass lines and creek channels.”

“The sheer diversity of the area offers a fishing style for every angler. The Potomac is easy to navigate. The tidal fluctuations make for a great challenge in locating biting bass,” said Martin.

Dove, a Bassmaster Elite Series Pro, insisted there is “no reason to go anywhere else.” “It is amazing when you think about how many bass must live in the Potomac,” said Dove. “The fishing is awesome. No matter the conditions it always seems as though you can catch lots of quality bass.” Dove, who grew up for several years in Prince William County, worked with Bass Edge on another episode in 2006, and invited the show to Leesylvania in 2007. He described Leesylvania State Park as a “one of a kind” facility, with large boat ramps and a store on-site stocked with necessities. The crew was welcomed to Leesylvania State Park by Marketing and Public Relations Specialist Cynthia Juarez of Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation. The hosts, producers and photographers found an appealing mix of beautiful scenery, bright skies, low humidity, cool temperatures and calm water that week.

The Bass Edge crew also worked with the Prince William County/Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau to highlight the destination’s other attractions in the episode, including the site of the first, major battles of the Civil War -- Manassas National Battlefield Park. The crew also filmed the Opera House Gourmet, the Rail Depot and Harris Pavilion in Historic Old Town Manassas, and restaurants and shops in the waterfront town of Historic Occoquan.

On the Fourth of July, Dove and Martin were welcomed to the Potomac Nationals minor league baseball game at Pfitzner Stadium by Senior Vice President Bobby Holland and Assistant General Manager Marketing and Media Anthony Oppermann.  The Bass Edge crew set up a boat and greeted baseball fans, many of whom also had an interest in bass fishing and in the show. “It is obvious that the people of Prince William County love the Potomac River and bass fishing, and find this area a great place to live and make this area a great place to visit,” said Dove.

Dove and Martin also were interviewed in the stadium’s media booth about their visit to Prince William County. The pro anglers, along with their families, then enjoyed the stadium’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display.
 
Bass Edge, which just began its second season, takes viewers over the terrain and under the water to highlight important instructional elements. The state-of-the-art series teaches the fundamentals of bass fishing, backed by the latest 2-D and 3-D animation techniques. After the Prince William County episode airs, the destination will be profiled on www.bassedge.com. 
 
Known as the “Outdoors Capital of the Capital Region,” Prince William County also features boating, hunting, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, camping and birding. The marinas and waters of Prince William County challenge all interests and skill levels, whether hosting tournaments or a weekend getaway. For a free, new, 2008 visitors guide, calendar of events, championship golf guide and pocket map, please call 1-800-432-1792 or (703) 396-7130. To learn more about history, the new National Museum of the Marine Corps, shopping, entertainment, year-round festivals, family fun and travel packages in Prince William County, or to make your hotel reservation right now, log on to www.visitpwc.com.