South Bend, one of America’s favorite fishing-‐tackle brands since 1906, will premiere the 12th season of its internationally syndicated television show, South Bend’s Lunkerville, on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 3:30pm (EST) on NBC Sports Network.
In the season premiere episode, host Mike D hits the water with war veteran Ollie Hughes from Heroes On the Water (HOW), a non‐profit organization dedicated to helping military veterans relax, rehabilitate, and reintegrate through kayak fishing. Viewers will ride along as Hughes shares his passion for fishing, kayaking, and the Heroes on the Water organization, which brought the two together to transform his life when he returned home from the war in Afghanistan and faced a challenging recovery process from injuries sustained in the battlefield.
The South Bend brand is particularly excited to be partnering with Hughes and Heroes on the Water for the premiere episode as they directly align with the brand’s core message: that fishing is an experience unlike any other, in that it combines exciting sport with a tranquil natural setting, and provides the backdrop for lifelong memories with friends and family. It’s just this kind of experience that has proven to be so useful as part of a treatment regime that helps veterans and their families reconnect and transition to healthier lives.
“Fishing is an amazing experience for anyone,” said Scott Griffith, Vice President of Marketing for South Bend. “It combines a beautiful outdoor experience with an exciting sporting activity, and this combination has proven to be pretty magical. Think about how many people have created cherished memories through the simple act of fishing. That’s what we strive to support every day at South Bend. And this same combination of a really positive physical and emotional experience is why kayak fishing works so well for veterans. HOW has proven this, they’ve been able to achieve a 78% decrease in overall stress levels in their veterans, as well as very significant reduction in other combat-‐related symptoms like avoidance behavior and hyper-vigilance. It’s truly amazing what HOW has done for our warriors and their families, and this really comes through on the “South Bend’s Lunkerville” episode as Ollie tells his story and goes fishing with Mike D.”
The season 12 premiere episode of “South Bend’s Lunkerville” will also broadcast on World Fishing Network on Monday, January 11 at 9pm (EST). Check local listings for additional show times, as well as information on the ever‐expanding list of broadcast partners and regional affiliate stations including Comcast Sports networks, Time Warner Sports channels and PBS stations.
