Crews working overtime to finish Bassmaster equipment

Construction crews are working overtime and almost seven days a week on every inch of 25 acres at Grand Lake.

Crews must finish their project in less than a month because it's the main launch site for February's Bassmaster Classic.

Contractor Chad Bruening, the winner of the highly competitive project worth $5 million, is keeping his workers on track out at Wolf Creek in Grove.

Bruening says he has to, as the Classic kicks off Feb. 22.

He says the winter weather is proving to be the most difficult part of the challenge.

"Some of those materials are just not available so we've had to step back and work with the engineers and architects," said Bruening.

They're building a pavilion with restrooms and tournaments offices, a weigh-in station, a 325-foot dock with special anchors from Sweden, and four new boat ramps.

Grove's Mayor Marty Follis says the $5 million comes from a partnership with The Grand Lake River Dam Authority, Department Of Wildlife and Oklahoma Department Of Transportation.

He estimates up to 7,000 people are coming out with the best Bassmaster turn out ever.

Follis says the city will see more sales tax revenue and he's capitalizing on the publicity knowing more fisherman and more tournaments are coming. "You can't even touch the cost of this advertising," said Follis.

The fisherman arrive here at Wolf Creek at 3 a.m., launch from the boat ramps at 5 a.m., get out of the water at 3 p.m. to head to Tulsa for the ultimate weigh-in.