Fish Hook Festival Kicking off with Bassmaster Elite Series

Explore La Crosse announces the first inaugural Fish Hook Festival Friday September 9, 2016, in collaboration with the Bassmaster’s Elite Series fishing tournament September 8-11, 2016.  

The Bassmaster’s Elite Series features 107 of the world’s best anglers competing on the Mississippi River, ranked 52nd in Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes.  The top angler after the 4-day competition will walk away with the prize payout of $100,000.  National exposure of La Crosse and the Mississippi River will be highlighted from the hour long episode of the event on ESPN as well as the live streaming of the fishing and the weigh ins.

Spectators will be able to enjoy the daily launch, weigh ins, and  participate in a free, informational, fun-filled expo at the grounds Veterans Freedom Park.  The expo will feature interactive B.A.S.S. sponsor displays and demos, kids’ activities, food and beverage vendors, paddling demos from Island Outdoors, and archery and axe toss from Kicking Bear.

Closing out Friday night at the La Crosse Loggers Baseball Field will be nationally recognized bands Pert Near Sandstone, Them Coulee Boys and Dead Man Winter featuring Dave Simonett from Trampled by Turtles.

Concert tickets are $10 and are free for children 10 & under, tickets are now onsale at http://www.explorelacrosse.com/fishhook/.

In collaboration with Steppin’ Out in Pink on Saturday, September 10, the entire Bassmaster event will have a prominent pink theme to show support for breast cancer research and awareness.  Also, $5 dollars of each ticket to the Fish Hook Festival concert will be donated to Steppin’ Out in Pink.

Thursday, September 8

Friday, September 9

Saturday, September 10

Sunday, September 11

Dead Man Winter: Dave Simonett sings, plays guitar and writes songs for the acoustic band Trampled by Turtles. Dead Man Winter is his electric rock & roll band featuring a cast of talented musicians that happen to be dear friends.

Pert Near Sandstone: Midwestern free­wheelin’ olde tyme indie ­string ­music with previous appearances at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Prairie Home Companion, Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, Music City Roots and the International Bluegrass Music Conference.

Them Coulee Boys: With a sound that can be aggressive and tender in the same song, and sometimes in the same sentence, Them Coulee Boys have garnered high praise from listeners and critics alike. Recent single  "Hammer" is regularly played during the weekly radio show Simply Folk on Wisconsin Public Radio.

More information can be found at: http://www.explorelacrosse.com/fishhook