Kota Kiriyama’s American Dream Tournament returns in 2011

Over 100 anglers are expected to travel to Decatur for the 2^nd annual American Dream Tournament where the winning team receives an all-expense paid guided trip to Japan or a $3,000 cash prize. Organized by professional angler, Kota Kiriyama, the tournament will take place on Wheeler Lake December 3, 2011. Ingalls Harbor located at 802 Wilson Street NW will host the takeoffs and weigh-ins.

For the past four years, Kiriyama has hosted the American Dream Tournament in Japan where the winning team receives an all-expense paid trip to the BassCat Invitational to experience American bass fishing. In 2010, the American Dream Tournament was held for the first time on Wheeler Lake attracting 42 teams from across the United States. Jason Meninger of Gainesville, Georgia, grabbed the first place prize at the inaugural tournament.

The prize for first place is $3,000 cash or an all-expense paid guided trip with Kiriyama to Japan to experience the country’s culture, history, and food and to fish on Lake Biwa. Cash prizes are also up for grabs for the biggest bass and the top ten teams.

The tournament is open to all anglers throughout the United States. Registration is a $150 team entry fee (one or two persons per boat) with $25 of the registration fee going to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help the victims of the April 27 tornado outbreak in Alabama and the people of Japan with their recovering efforts from the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that followed in March, 2011.

Kiriyama is a six-time Bassmasters Classic qualifier, champion of the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament at Lake Erie, New York, and a top international angler. For more information, visit www.kotaamericandream.com or follow Kiriyama’s blog at ninjatacklebox.com.