The Dubois County Visitors Center will co-sponsor the 2008 Cabela’s Crappie USA National Classic October 8-11 at Patoka Lake. The Classic is Crappie USA’s largest national event and this is the third time that the Visitors Center has hosted it.

“We are extremely pleased to once again have the opportunity to host the Cabela’s Crappie USA National Classic”, said Kristen Ruhe, executive director of the Dubois County Visitors Center. “This event is quite an accomplishment for our staff, our county and everyone involved in securing this tournament. Our small-town atmosphere, genuine Hoosier hospitality, and outstanding facilities at Patoka Lake helped us win the bid. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the anglers, families and national sponsors to Dubois County and southern Indiana.”

The Cabela’s Crappie USA National Classic is a 4-day event that will bring approximately 400 anglers, families and national sponsors from throughout the United States to Dubois County and southern Indiana. The tournament will be held at Patoka Lake with weigh-in scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Hoosier Hills Marina. Teams are coming from as far as New Jersey, Florida, Oklahoma, New York and Pennsylvania. The event is free and open to the public. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Days Inn, Jasper, is the host hotel for this event.

The event will have a positive economic impact on Dubois County and the surrounding area with direct visitor spending anticipated to be approximately $200,000.

For visitor information, including lodging, please go to www.visitduboiscounty.com or contact the Dubois County Visitors Center at info@visitduboiscounty.com or (800) 968-4578.

For more information on Crappie USA, visit www.crappieusa.com.

The Dubois County Tourism Commission was established in 1992 by a Dubois County ordinance with the purpose of promoting the growth and development of the convention, visitor, and tourism industry in the county and is the one community organization empowered to do so. It is funded solely through a five percent innkeepers tax collected on overnight stays at Dubois County lodging facilities. The Commission established the operation of the Visitors Center in January 2006. Commission members meet regularly at 3:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Visitors Center located at 2704 Newton Street in Jasper. These meetings are open to the public. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.