Elk Grove Resident Chosen for Bass Fishing Reality Show

An Elk Grove resident has landed a spot on a national bass fishing reality show, which will air in October.

Ken Mah, who works on a U.S. Marshals fugitive team, will have the chance to win a free entry into a qualifying round of a World Series of Bass tournament–which normally requires a $10,000 entry fee.

"Where it is now is, I wanna spend all my time fishing and chasing this dream I have of being the best and beating the best guys, and this one opportunity that you guys have provided–it's like my golden ticket," Mah said in an audition video for the show, fighting back tears. "It gives me that opportunity and it's something that I wanna chase."

Mah, 34, said he's a first-generation U.S. citizen, as his parents immigrated from China. He compared his competitive fishing aspirations to his parents' struggle to make a better life in the United States.

He was one of eight semi pro/amateur competitors chosen to appear on "World Series of Bass, The Dream," a reality show that will pit anglers against each other in "skill-based fishing competitions." 

Four professional bass fishermen will also appear on the show, competing against each other in a separate category. One professional and one semi-pro/amateur will be chosen as the victors in December, at the end of the 13-week program.

Those two bass fishermen will go on to enter in the World Series of Bass tournament, which has a top prize of $600,000.

"The Dream" airs Oct. 8 on the NBC Sports Network, and will be shown weekly through December.

The full list of semi-pro/amateur competitors are:

Travis Moran of Carmel; Brandon Dickenson of Flower Mound, Texas; Allison Shaw of Fairview, Texas; Tyler Moberly of Berea, Ky.; James Biggs of Richland Hills, Texas; Matt Pangrac of Norman, Okla.; Ken Mah of Elk Grove; Ryan Salzman of Owens Cross Roads, Ala.

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