Some of central Maine’s treasured bass fishing spots will get national attention this weekend when the championship round of the Summit Cup fishing tournament is telecast on CBS.

The competition was taped in the Belgrade-China area last summer, and featured well-known bass fishing experts casting their lines on Messalonskee Lake, Great Pond, Long Pond and China Lake. The first show in the competition was telecast on the Outdoor Channel on Jan. 2.

Additional Images

Professional fisherman Aaron Martens casts on China Lake during taping of a Major League Fishing event last summer. The championship round of the tournament filmed in Belgrade-China area will be aired on the CBS television network on Sunday. Staff file photo

The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce invested $10,000 in the project for assistance with logistical issues and to make sure that boats brought into the state met Maine’s stringent environmental protection regulations, according to a press release.

Chamber officials cited the experience of other states that have hosted the televised fishing tournaments. Chamber CEO Kimberly Lindlof said other states have had an increase in bass fishing after similar broadcasts.

The state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said in a prepared statement that the fishing during the tournament was quite successful, with the top competitors landing 30-40 bass on each day of the tournament. The agency said that the successful fishing in Maine waters was especially noteworthy because the competitors were not told where they would be fishing until the day’s activities began.

Formally known as the General Tire Summit Cup of Major League Fishing, the telecast will be aired as part of the CBS Sports Spectacular program on station WGME-TV on Sunday at noon.

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