ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia's ambitious proposal to promote fishing
in the state has landed a $2.5 million bass-fishing tournament, to
be held at Lake Lanier in 2010.

Governor Perdue says his ``Go Fish'' proposal helped reel in the
2010 Forrest Wood Cup. The initiative calls for ramps, promotions
and a new fishing hatchery to turn Georgia into a national fishing
destination.

The four-day tournament will be staged at a ``mega-ramp'' being
built at Lake Lanier, and organizers say it's likely to attract
tens of thousands of spectators. Perdue said it will have an
estimated $30 million economic impact and bolster Georgia's allure
to anglers.

Perdue announced the ``Go Fish'' program in January 2007 and
made it a focus of his legislative agenda. The governor argued that
luring lucrative bass tournaments to Georgia would translate into
tourism dollars for the state.

Some $5 million in state dollars were approved in the 2007
budget for the ramps, with local communities providing matching
funds. The governor has also thrown his support behind a $22
million warm-water hatchery and visitor center to be built in
middle Georgia.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)