Winner to Star on “South Bend Lunkerville”

Northbrook, IL – July 2016  –  South Bend®, one of America’s oldest and best-loved fishing tackle brands, is bringing the popular Lunkerville Lounge and ‘Casting Call’ contest back to the fishing industry’s largest trade show, ICAST 2016.  Attendees angling for a chance to star on the award-winning, internationally syndicated TV show, “South Bend’s Lunkerville” (“SBL”) can audition by sharing their favorite fishing memory with SBL’s host, Mike D — on camera!  The Lunkerville Lounge will be set up like a retro talk show, complete with chairs, cameras and studio lights.  The angler with the most compelling story wins the grand prize of starring in their very own episode!

HOW IT WORKS Anglers are invited to stop by the Lunkerville Lounge in the South Bend Booth #1747 — a camera crew will film their first, fondest or freakiest fishing tale, as they tell it to SBL host, Mike D.

• CASTING CALL HOURS: Wednesday, July 13 + Thursday, July 14th from 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm.
• Every auditionee will receive a signed, Mike D signature Mossy Oak
• The grand prize winner will be announced on Thursday at 5pm in the South Bend Booth #1747.

FREE STUFF!  Along with postcards, bumper stickers, and Mike D signature Mossy Oak hats (while supplies last), everyone who passes by can snack on their favorite candies from the ‘60s and ‘70s!

SOCIAL MEDIA MADNESS SBL is hooking onto its Facebook fan base with real time posts throughout each day so they can experience ICAST virtually. Those attending ICAST can come by for a photo with Mike D and may see themselves on the South Bend’s Lunkerville Facebook page — currently the most popular fishing television show page on Facebook in engagement and reach!

“With the show now in our 13th year of broadcast, South Bend’s Lunkerville continues to gain momentum,” says Michael de Avila, aka ‘Mike D’, SBL’s host and creator.  “Our social media presence is off the charts.  Our Facebook likes have grown to over half-a-million since this time last year, that’s an increase of over 400%! And we regularly have the highest reach and engagement of any fishing show page on Facebook.”

ADDED ATTRACTIONS Catch fishing VIPs as they sit down for a chat with Mike D — legends Jimmy Houston and Bill Dance are frequent guests and last year had visits from Roland Martin, Wade Boggs and Rick Clunn.

“Our partnership with “South Bend’s Lunkerville” just keeps getting better,” says Scott Griffith, Vice President of Marketing for Big Game International, the parent company of South Bend. “We love seeing fishing legends and VIPs stop by the Lunkerville Lounge to chat with Mike D — proof that a humble show, which embraces the simple joy of fishing can touch everyone, from novice to expert.  By featuring everyday folks who love to fish, Mike D and his guests show how easy, accessible and affordable fishing really is.  And that’s what South Bend is all about.”

About “South Bend’s Lunkerville”

When Indie film director Michael de Avila hooked his passion for story telling onto his love of fishing, he spawned an award-winning reality television show, “Lunkerville”.  While other fishing shows rely on fast-paced competition and expert hosts, ‘Mike D’ casts his line at every day, recreational anglers, traveling to their secret spots, sharing their special techniques and making them the expert stars of the day.  Shot with a filmmaker’s eye and touch, every episode is treated as a short documentary film.  In 2009, the series received a CINE Golden Eagle for documentary filmmaking; one of the most coveted awards in television.  In 2012, “Lunkerville” signed a multiyear agreement with its first title sponsor, the heritage fishing brand South Bend®, a leader in affordable fishing tackle that shares Mike D’s commitment to promoting fishing as fun, accessible and important.  The series, now in its 13th year of broadcast, first aired on The Sportsman Channel, where it won three consecutive years of viewer-voted awards for Favorite Fishing Show, and Favorite Fishing Show Host. Today, “South Bend’s Lunkerville” reaches over 150+ million households, broadcast in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean on World Fishing Network; nationwide on the NBC Sports Network; regionally on Comcast SportsNet and Time Warner Sports Network; and on select PBS stations. “South Bend’s Lunkerville” is a production of Rockville Pictures Inc.  For more information, please visit www.lunkerville.com.

About South Bend

South Bend, a Big Game International brand, has devoted more than a hundred years to creating products that let families and fishing enthusiasts experience the joy of fishing, at prices they can afford. Since 1906, South Bend has been a leader in the industry and is best known for offering quality products at an exceptional value to make fishing easy and fun for today’s active families and anglers of all ages and skill levels. All South Bend products are designed to reflect the singular heritage summed by the brand’s slogan: Quality Tackle Since 1906. Today, South Bend continues to offer a comprehensive line of fishing equipment and accessories that anglers and their families can trust and enjoy for many years.  In 2012, South Bend entered into a multiyear partnership with “Lunkerville”, the award-winning television series that embodies the simple fun of fishing; a show where the featured guest is the expert — not the host. Since then, the South Bend brand and “South Bend’s Lunkerville” have shared a mission to get more people involved in fishing by demonstrating how easy, fun and affordable fishing really is.  For more information about South Bend, please visit www.south-bend.com. For more information about Big Game International, visit www.biggameintl.com.