Cookeville, Tennessee Featured on Kayak Bassin’ TV / World Fishing Network

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau continues to market the area as an outdoor visitor destination, focusing on the plentiful natural attractions of the Upper Cumberland region. When approached by Chad Hoover, host of Kayak Bassin’ TV, the visitors’ bureau found the partnership with the popular World Fishing Network show and YouTube sensation to be a natural fit.

Two full episodes featuring Cookeville-Putnam County began airing in July and will continue throughout the month of August (check local listings). Additional mini episodes will appear continuously on Hoover’s YouTube channel and will be cross-marketed across all social media channels.

While the world-famous kayak angler fishes across the U.S. for the majority of filming, the Cookeville-Putnam County area is where he ventures in his personal, down time.

“Cookeville-Putnam County is the place I fish in Tennessee more than anywhere else, and the reason for that is it’s flat-loaded with wild game, beautiful scenery, and unbelievable fishing,” said Hoover. “There are so many places to fish, the hardest part is deciding where to fish.”

A leader in the worldwide kayak fishing movement, Hoover retired to middle Tennessee, seeking an outdoor destination to call home. The former U.S. Navy officer was in search of outdoor amenities, characterized by lakes, rivers, creeks, waterfalls, and incomparable scenic beauty.

Hoover is also on a health and fitness journey. Recently losing 50 pounds, his perspective on enjoying a healthy lifestyle via kayaking builds not only on the outdoor brand, but the overall fitcation marketing efforts of the visitors’ bureau as well.

In addition to the vast audience of World Fishing Network, Kayak Bassin’ TV hits another demographic via social media. With nearly 60,000 YouTube subscribers, more than 31,000 Facebook followers, and more than 41,000 Instagram followers, the reach for attracting potential visitors to Putnam County is immense.

“We have already seen measurable elevated interest from the outdoor traveler through increased visitor information requests as well as gains in social media engagement primarily on the Visit Cookeville-Putnam County Facebook and @CookevilleTN Instagram channels,” said Zach Ledbetter, vice president of visitor development for the visitors’ bureau.

“This partnership was an incredible opportunity to take advantage of our natural attractions and continue to build our brand as both an outdoor and fitness destination,” added Ledbetter.

Putnam County is surrounded by three nearby Army Corps of Engineer lakes, Cordell Hull, Center Hill and Dale Hollow, as well as the many rivers, creeks and waterfalls that feed these prime fishing attractions.

The partnership with Kayak Bassin’ TV makes the third major network relationship the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau has coordinated. Other television partnerships have included Major League Fishing and Fishing University on the World Fishing Network, Sportsman, and Outdoor Channels.

The Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau, a program of the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, serves as the designated destination marketing organization (DMO) for Putnam County and is funded by a portion of the Putnam County lodging tax, a tax paid by visitors’ and collected by local lodging partners such as hotels, bed & breakfasts, etc.

Ranking at 17th of Tennessee’s 95 counties, the visitors’ bureau is tasked with inspiring travel and overnight stays in Putnam County. Primary marketing pillars in drive and fly markets include outdoors; fitness/sports; motorcycling; arts/culture; and culinary/crafts.

Most recent U.S. Travel Association statistics note visitor spending in Putnam County generated $2.56 million in local tax revenue, providing a tax relief for local residents with a savings of $342.86 per household.

To learn more about the work of the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau, go to VisitCookevilleTN.com or request additional information at info@VisitCookevilleTN.com.

To learn more about Kayak Bassin’ TV, go to kayakbassinshow.com.

To preview the episodes, go to bit.ly/kbckvltsr1 and bit.ly/kbckvltsr2