What ever happened to HBC-3?

February 20, 2009
HBC-3 was originally scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2008 at Lake Amistad, Texas. It was to be the first HBC event to be held outside of California and it was going to feature an increased one fish, big fish, winner-takes-all record prize of $50,000. HBC-3 had a full 50-angler field and everything was ready to go.

Unfortunately, at this same moment in time, our nation was rocked by its worst financial crisis since the great depression. Many companies and individuals lost everything. And to make matters even worse, gasoline prices had soared to well over $4.00 a gallon, with no end in sight.

Although the financial crisis affected every American in one way or another, it literally ruined many companies and individuals. It even affected some of our country's professional sports, as major sponsors of the PGA, NASCAR, and MLB (to name a few) were forced to cut back or even withdraw entirely from their sponsorships. One such company, A.I.G., who had been a long-time multi-million dollar sponsor of the PGA, avoided bankruptcy only because of a government bailout.

Professional bass fishing was not exempt from the affects of the financial crisis, as several major sponsors and investors of FLW Outdoors, B.A.S.S., and even Heavyweight Bass Classic, LLC were forced to cutback on their investments, as well.

Foreseeing that things would undoubtedly get worse before they got better, and realizing that proceeding with HBC-3 could very well put the HBC out of business, the board of directors of Heavyweight Bass Classic, LLC unanimously voted to postpone HBC-3 to a later time. Although this was a very difficult decision for them to make, it was without a doubt the right decision under the circumstances and conditions at the time.

However, just as it was then, it is still the HBC's intention to hold HBC-3 at Lake Amistad, Texas, once the financial crisis subsides and recovery begins. It is for this reason that the HBC event being held at Lake Don Pedro on Friday, March 13, 2009 is being called HBC-4 and not HBC-3. There WILL be an HBC-3 and it WILL be held at Lake Amistad, Texas.