Author: jcarrigan

Bass Pro Shops opens registration for the first three qualifying events for the US Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championship

$4.3M in cash and prizes and an anticipated $1M+ for conservation

What:
Registration for the first three regional qualifiers for the Bass Pro Shops US Open – Lake Okeechobee, Fla. (March 13); Lake Ray Roberts, Texas (April 17); and Lake Mead, Nev. (April 24) – opens on Wednesday, February 10, at 10 AM CST at basspro.com/usopen. Registration will be open for 24 hours only and allows amateur anglers to be entered in a drawing to compete as one of 250 two-person teams in regional qualifying events this spring. Bass Pro Shops last week announced the first-of its-kind amateur team tournament with a total guaranteed purse of $4.3 million.

With proceeds benefitting conservation and the future of fishing, the event is being created exclusively for amateurs including serious weekend tournament anglers, parents, grandparents, and youngsters, giving everyday anglers, friends, and families the chance to win big!

The top 40 finishers from each regional qualifier will be eligible to fish the National Championship this fall at Big Cedar Lodge on famed Table Rock Lake in Missouri. The National Championship will be an internationally broadcast and feature 350 two-person teams competing for the ultimate $1 million prize, the largest payout in fishing tournament history.

Note: White River Marine Group boat owners have received direct communications on the registration window from Bass Pro Shops over the last two weeks.

When:
Registration will be open for 24 hours from Wednesday, February 10 at 10 a.m. CT through Thursday, February 11 at 10 a.m. CT

Who:
The tournament is open to amateur anglers owning one of the world’s foremost boat brands – Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brands. For a full list of qualifications, visit basspro.com/usopen.

MLF BIG-5

Georgia’s Morrow Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Keowee

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date February 9, 2021
No Comments on Georgia’s Morrow Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Lake Keowee

SENECA, S.C. (Feb. 8, 2021) – Boater Troy Morrow of Eastanollee, Georgia, won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Lake Keowee presented by Googan Baits in Seneca, South Carolina. Morrow earned $7,011 for his victory at the event, which was hosted by Visit Oconee.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK	BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	Troy Morrow of Eastanollee, Ga.	5	15-2	$7,011
2^nd	Bo Price of Seneca, S.C.	5	13-14	$3,006
3^rd	Todd Goade of White Pine, Tenn.	5	13-7	$2,001
4^th	Randy Dover of Buford, Ga.	5	13-6	$1,403
5^th	Jared Pelfrey of Westminster, S.C.	5	12-12	$1,202
6^th	Chris Nelson of Social Circle, Ga.	5	12-3	$1,102
7^th	Andy Burgess of Greenville, S.C.	5	11-15	$1,502
8^th	Hunter Eubanks of Inman, S.C.	5	11-14	$852
8^th	Jody Holland of Clermont, Ga.	5	11-14	$852
10^th	Jayme Rampey of Liberty, S.C.	5	11-13	$701

RANK	STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN	BASS	WEIGHT	AWARD
1^st	James South of Gainesville, Ga.	5	11-9	$3,006
2^nd	Johnny Hancox of West Union, S.C.	4	9-6	$2,000
3^rd	Chris Coleman of Ware Shoals, S.C.	5	9-4	$1,008
4^th	Kyle Rogers of Cleveland, Ga.	5	7-13	$701
5^th	Corey Veal of Royston, Ga.	5	7-11	$576
5^th	Stewart Uldrick of Anderson, S.C.	5	7-11	$576
7^th	Shane Swann of Mars Hill, N.C.	5	7-5	$476
7^th	Kyle Davis of Liberty, S.C.	5	7-5	$476
9^th	Lee Montgomery of Duncan, S.C.	4	6-7	$401
10^th	Trey Paul of Anderson, S.C.	4	6-6	$319
10^th	Jimmy Plakas of Greenville, S.C.	3	6-6	$319
10^th	Caleb Roberson of Travelers Rest, S.C.	5	6-6	$319

Full results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD	NAME	CONTINGENCY	PAYOUT
Boater Berkley Big Bass	Shane Peck of Gainesville, Ga.	4-pound, 9-ounce bass	$995
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass	Johnny Hancox of West Union, S.C.	4-pound, 12-ounce bass	$497
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus	Andy Burgess of Greenville, S.C.	Eligible Phoenix Boat*	$500

* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS

ANGLER	BAITS	COLOR
Boater	– 3/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Swimbait Jig Head with a Zoom Boot Tail Fluke Swimbait	Not Disclosed
Strike King Co-Angler	– ½-ounce Unnamed Swimbait Jig Head with a Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait – Shaky-Head Rig	Not Disclosed

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	HOST
Savannah River Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship	Oct. 14-16	Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C.	Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board
Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American	June 3-5	Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.	Jefferson County Department of Tourism

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

MLF BIG-5

Maryland Pro Earns Sixth Career Toyota Series Victory – Breaks Record for Most All-Time // Wins Toyota Series Event on Lake Toho Presented by Googan Baits

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2021) – Maryland pro Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Maryland, brought four bass to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces – including a 9-pound, 2-ounce kicker – to win the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Toho Presented by Googan Baits . Schmitt weighed in 15 bass over three days of competition totaling 66 pounds, 10 ounces, besting second-place angler Mikey Keyso of North Port, Florida, by more than 8 pounds. For his victory, Schmitt earned the top payout of $51,500 in the first tournament of the 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Southern Division.

The victory was the sixth career Toyota Series win of Schmitt’s career and moved him to No. 1 for the most Toyota Series wins all-time. Schmitt had been in a three-way tie with Randy Haynes (5) and Koby Kreiger (5), now tied for second-most.

“I am so blessed,” Schmitt said. “I am blessed to have grown up fishing the Potomac River where I had no choice but to learn all the intricacies of grass fishing if I wanted to compete. Those lessons have served me well over the years.”

This week the puzzle started with a long, narrow vein of grass that ran out across a vast flat of bare sand and shell in about 6 feet of water. The thin strip of hydrilla was about ¼ of a mile long and terminated into a huge and shallower grass bed in about 3 or 4 feet of water.

“The band of grass grew up about 2 or 3 feet off the bottom and it was clumpy the whole way.” Schmitt said. “When I first found it in practice, I knew fish had to relate to it in some way.”

On the first day of the tournament, Schmitt figured out exactly how they related to it.

“I graphed the entire length of that narrow strip several times and finally found the mother lode where the strip ran into the shallow grass flat,” he said. “There was like an intersection right there.”

His suspicions were confirmed when he began using his LiveScope to scan along the clumpy grass strip and saw big dots swimming everywhere. With that, he picked up SPRO Aruku Shad 75, in a color aptly named wild shiner, tied to 15-pound test P-Line Tactical Fluorocarbon and the rest is history.

Schmitt guesses that he saw about 70 percent of the fish he caught on LiveScope before casting to them. On several occasions when he saw fish meander up close to the boat, he pitched the Aruku Shad to the fish, let sink, ripped it up and watch the fish annihilate it on his screen.

He also watched fish take a swipe at the rattle bait on the screen, but never touch it. When that happened, he would resort to a couple of back up lures, including a Missile Baits Quiver Worm (junebug) Neko-rigged on a Hayabusa Weedless Spin Muscle Wacky Hook. He also caught a few on his namesake ½-ounce swim jig called the Lil’ Schmitty (river special) trailed with a Missile Baits Shockwave (shrapnel).

“I caught a lot of big fish on that Aruku Shad this week,” Schmitt went on to say. “I put fresh Hayabusa trebles on it: a #4 on the back and #5 on the front. The very first fish I hooked this morning was that 9-pounder and she stayed pinned the whole way.”

The top 10 pros on Lake Toho finished:
            1^st:       Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Md., 14 bass, 66-10, $51,500
            2^nd:      Mikey Keyso of North Port, Fla., 15 bass, 58-8, $20,000
            3^rd:       Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 50-15, $14,250
            4^th:       Steven Hatala of Harrison Township, Mich., 15 bass, 43-4, $12,250
            5^th:       Eric Conant of Lakeland, Fla., 13 bass, 42-2, $11,250
            6^th:       Trevor Fitzgerald of Belleview, Fla., 15 bass, 42-2, $9,125
            7^th:       Eric Panzironi of Longwood, Fla., 15 bass, 38-11, $7,900
            8^th:       Jared McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 37-14, $7,900
            9^th:       Samuel Whitmire of Babson Park, Fla., 11 bass, 35-6, $5,900
            10^th:     Cole Hewett of Orange Park, Fla., 14 bass, 34-3, $4,500

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Whitmire won Thursday’s Berkley Big Bass Award after bringing a 11-pound, 11-ounce lunker to the scale. Friday’s Berkley Big Bass Award went to pro McMillan with a 9-pound, 13-ounce largemouth. Each angler won a bonus of $150.

McMillan took home and extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Jeffrey Baffa of Frankfort, Illinois, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 35 pounds, 15 ounces. Baffa took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Toho finished:
            1^st:       Jeffrey Baffa of Frankfort, Ill., nine bass, 35-15, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-hp outboard
            2^nd:      Benton Peoples of Bardstown, Ky, 11 bass, 34-2, $6,125
            3^rd:       Ricky Grant of Inverness, Fla., 11 bass, 32-3, $4,900
            4^th:       Theron Asbery of Longwood, Fla., 10 bass, 30-9, $3,950
            5^th:       Frank Kitchens Jr. of Blairsville, Ga., 12 bass, 28-11, $3,450
            6^th:       Todd Classon of Camilla, Ga., nine bass, 27-15, $2,950
            7^th:       Clinton Lacinak of Homosassa, Fla., 10 bass, 24-2, $2,450
            8^th:       James Littich of Davidson, N.C., eight bass, 20-3, $1,975
            9^th:       Troy Johnson Jr. of Carrabelle, Fla., five bass, 18-2, $1,590
            10^th:     Joe Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., six bass, 16-5, $1,350

The Toyota Series at Lake Toho was presented by Googan Baits and was hosted by Experience Kissimmee – Kissimmee Sports Commission. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments in 2021 for Southern Division anglers. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on Feb. 16-18 – the Toyota Series at Lake Guntersville presented by Googan Baits in Guntersville, Alabama. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2021 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

LET'S ALL CONGRATULATE BRYAN ON HIS WIN!

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

Late Giant Lifts Washingtons’ Smith To Victory At B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional On Havasu

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date February 5, 2021
No Comments on Late Giant Lifts Washingtons’ Smith To Victory At B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional On Havasu

February 5, 2021

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — Taylor Smith caught only five bass on the final day of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional at Lake Havasu, and it was the final bite that gave him the weight he needed to win the season-opener on the 2021 B.A.S.S. tournament schedule.

Smith hooked a 5-pound largemouth a few dozen yards from the Lake Havasu State Park weigh-in site with only 45 minutes of tournament time remaining on Friday. The catch rounded out his 15-pound, 13-ounce limit and added to his 18-2 limit on Day 1. Smith finished with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33-15.

The 35-year-old Valleyford, Wash., resident won $5,000 for topping the boater division. It was part of a $27,200 total purse split between the best of the 177 competitors this week on the 19,200-acre impoundment straddling the Arizona/California border.

Smith is no stranger to success in B.A.S.S. Nation events. He finished second in the Nation Championship at South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell in 2019, which qualified him for the 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk held on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville.

Smith’s win at Lake Havasu qualified him for the 2021 Nation Championship, which will be held later this year at a location to be determined.

“I’m jacked,” he said. “It was such a fun time down here. I didn’t have very high expectations. My pre-fishing was terrible. So, I’m elated. To have another chance to fish for a berth in the Classic is unbelievable.”

Smith was in second place after Day 1 on Wednesday, trailing only California’s Matty Wong, who led with 18-8. That’s how standings remained Friday, as Thursday’s competition was canceled due to strong winds in the region. B.A.S.S. officials determined the full field would fish again on Friday, and Mother Nature cooperated with postcard-perfect weather — winds at a much tamer 10 mph, bluebird skies and temperatures in the low 70s.

Still, Smith struggled to find bites Friday. His luck changed with the 5-pounder he caught on a green pumpkin football-head jig outfitted with a blue trailer.

“I yelled so loud when I caught that fish, I’m surprised you didn’t hear me up here (at weigh-in),” Smith said of his big catch. “But other than that, it really was a grind out there today.

“A lot of people had fish follow a jerkbait or a spinnerbait (on Wednesday), but I think that just slowly went away. I couldn’t get any kind of reaction bite today.”

Smith believed Thursday’s turbulent conditions made the fishing tougher Friday.

“The wind yesterday changed things for me, so I feel lucky to catch what I did,” he said. “I didn’t think I had (as much weight as I did).”

Steve Lund, who was in fourth on Day 1, climbed to second overall with a two-day total of 32-2. The Glendale, Ariz., resident caught a 16-1 limit on Friday, which was the heaviest bag of the day. Wong finished third with 28-5.

Jake Morrison of Scottsdale, Ariz., caught six bass weighing 12-11 and won $2,500 for finishing first in the co-angler division. Tom Nokes of Riverton, Utah, led the Day 1 co-angler standings and finished second overall with 12-8. Hunter Loveless of American Fork, Utah, was third with 12-0.

The squad from Washington State handily won the team championship portion. Washington anglers caught 76 bass over two days for a total weight of 188-13, and the squad collected $5,600 with the win. Idaho finished second (62 bass, 140-1) and won $3,350, while Arizona (56 bass, 135-15) placed third and won $2,200.

Other states in team scoring included California, fourth, 132-6; Utah, fifth, 131-10; Oregon, sixth, 129-3; Montana, seventh, 128-3; Wyoming, eighth, 127-5; and Nevada, ninth, 126-1.

Jay Evans of Missoula, Mont., won the $500 Big Bass Award with a 6-pounder he caught Wednesday. Scooter Griffin of Hayden, Idaho, caught a 4-12 bass Friday to win the $250 top prize for big bass among co-anglers.

JJ Gibbs IV, who lives in Lake Havasu City, won the Garmin Tournament Rewards prize of $500. He finished fourth in the boater division with a two-day total of 26-3.

The leading angler and co-angler for each state team at the Western Regional qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Team Championship. Four other regionals will be held in 2021, including April 21-23 at Milford Lake in Junction City, Kan.; April 28-30 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C.; June 23-25 at Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa.; and Sept. 1-3 on the upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis.

COMMENT BELOW AND CONGRATULATE TAYLOR ON HIS WIN BELOW!
LET'S SHOW SOME SUPPORT!!!

BASS PRO SHOPS - US OPEN

To Kickstart its 50th Anniversary Celebration, Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris Announce the Grandest Fishing Tournament in History

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Bass Pro Shops today announced a new era in the sport of fishing with the introduction of the Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships. Noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris had a dream to create “the ultimate owner’s appreciation event” while benefitting conservation. The first-of-its-kind tournament invites owners of Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brand boats to compete in two-person teams. With proceeds benefitting conservation and the future of fishing, the event is being created exclusively for amateurs including serious weekend tournament anglers, parents, grandparents, and youngsters, giving everyday anglers, friends, and families the chance to win big!

• The prize totals are staggering: Competitors will be rewarded with a total guaranteed purse value of $4.3 million. The national championship team wins a $1 million cash prize – the largest cash payout of any single freshwater fishing tournament in history. Conservation wins too, with a minimum of $1 million going to improve fish habitat.
• Build your own team with a fishing buddy or family member: Registration is open exclusively for amateur anglers, creating a thrilling opportunity for families and friends from all walks of life to compete together on the water. To help grow the sport, regional and international qualifier events will feature division payouts for youth, family teams, all-female teams, veterans, and more. Additional prizes will be offered for the biggest bass and other categories that add to the collective excitement. Johnny is awarding one lucky junior angler (ages 11 – 18) a $250,000 scholarship toward a conservation-related area of study. Events will offer fun for the whole family with activities and entertainment. Rewarding customer loyalty and supporting conservation: As a thank you to loyal customers, the event is open to owners of the world’s foremost boat brands
– Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brands. For over 50 years, these celebrated brands have come to represent the #1 best-selling boats in North America. Along the way, they made first-time boat ownership more affordable for thousands of families.

Join the conversation at the US OPEN FACEBOOK GROUP!

Left to right: Legendary anglers Roland Martin, Tom
Mann, Bill Dance, Johnny Morris and Ricky Green

Fishing icons Ray Scott and Fishing icons Ray Scott and Johnny Morris weigh in a lunker during the early days of tournament fishing.

Anglers to compete for the ultimate prize with the biggest audience in
fishing history airing live internationally on NBC
Following a series of regional qualifying tournaments starting this spring, 350 two-person teams will compete in an internationally broadcast championship finale this fall at Big Cedar Lodge on famed Table Rock Lake. The competition will also include international teams from around the world including Japan, Spain, Germany, Romania, Mexico and Holland.
Celebrating Bass Pro Shops’ Origins
On the eve of our 50th Anniversary, the championship brings Bass Pro Shops back to its birthplace in the beautiful Ozark mountains of Missouri. Prior to founding the beloved outdoor brand in the back of his father’s liquor store in 1972, avid young angler Johnny Morris grew up float fishing on Ozarks rivers and later, Table Rock Lake, before spending five years competing on the professional bass circuit, which continues to have a profound impact on his life.
“Fishing in the first national BASS tournament on Table Rock Lake in 1970 rewarded me with friends for life and served as my inspiration to start Bass Pro Shops. Fishing on the BASS Tournament Circuit also helped keep us abreast of the latest emerging trends in fishing and enabled me to stay closely connected to our customers. And without our loyal customers and industry-leading independent boat dealers, we simply wouldn’t be here today. This tournament is our way of giving thanks and rewarding our customers with the chance to land the catch of a lifetime. Beyond offering the ultimate prize in fishing, we’re excited to celebrate our heritage, raise funds for conservation, and have some big fun with people who love fishing as much as we do,” said Johnny Morris.
Morris underscored, “We are also very grateful to our network of independent boat dealers. Their passion and support for helping get so many anglers and families out on the water has made this dream possible.”
Entry and Qualifying Process
In an effort to provide the widest opportunities for participation, there are three ways anglers can qualify for a chance to compete in the national championship event:

Finish in the top 40 at one of eight regional qualifier events hosted around the country: Accommodating a grand total of 4,700 anglers, each regional qualifying event will be open to 250 two-person teams. Regional qualifiers will take place at some of the best bass fishing locations in the country while offering up plenty of fun:
• Lake Okeechobee, Fla. – March 13, 2021
• Lake Ray Roberts (Dallas), Texas – April 17, 2021
• Lake Mead, Nev. – April 24, 2021
• Chesapeake Bay, Md. – July 17, 2021
• Lake St. Clair (Detroit), Mich. – Aug. 21, 2021
• Old Hickory Lake (Nashville), Tenn. – Sept. 11, 2021
• Grand Lake ‘O the Cherokees (Tulsa), Okla –Oct. 16, 2021
• Last Chance Qualifier: Bull Shoals Lake, Ark. –Nov. 17, 2021
• Culminating in the Grand Championship finale for those who qualify: Table Rock Lake, Mo. –Nov. 19, 2021
Win one of several existing fishing competitions across the United States and around the world organized by authorized independent dealers of Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brand boats, with details available at basspro.com/usopen.
We’re also proud to make eligible the winning teams from the three major national collegiate championships: As a continued investment in the future of the sport, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops will honor the collegiate fishing champions of the three top college trail events with an invitation to the championship with special prizes and recognition for this division.

In addition to a festive environment with activities for the whole family, each qualifier event will feature celebrity weighmasters and guests such as country music star Chris Janson and fishing legends like Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin, Kevin VanDam, Ott DeFoe, Timmy Horton and more. Additional weighmasters and celebrity guests will be announced prior to each qualifier.

Entry fees are $450 per person, $250 for youth ages 12 – 17, and free for kids under 12. Entry includes a US Open Gift Bag for each team member with exclusive goods valued at $150. Most importantly, entry fees will go to conservation and the future of fishing (see details below).
Due to anticipated high demand, boat owners can only register for one qualifying event, with all entrants placed in an independently verified drawing to determine the 250 teams eligible for each event. Individuals who do not receive a slot in the regional qualifiers can register for the “last chance” qualifier on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas, with registration opening later this year.

Epic 3-Day Championship Finale at Big Cedar Lodge on Missouri’s Legendary Table Rock Lake
The National Championship will take place in November, on one of America’s most legendary bass fishing lakes, Table Rock Lake in Missouri’s beautiful Ozark Mountains. Internationally televised on NBC in what is anticipated to be the largest audience in the history of the sport, the epic 3-day championship and star-studded festivities will be hosted by Bass Pro Shops’ Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort.
The National Championship will consist of a 5-fish limit each day, with overall weight recorded determining the champion at the conclusion of the three-day competition. Awaiting the champion is the $1 million cash prize. The angler who catches the biggest bass receives a 21’ fiberglass RANGER, NITRO or TRITON bass boat, a TOYOTA Tundra truck and other incredible prizes.
The event will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, November 21, followed by a feature special airing on NBC later this year.
Note: There is no additional entry fee to participate in the final championship event for those who qualify in regional events.

Anglers to Help Raise Over $1 Million for Conservation and the Future of Fishing
The tournaments will benefit local fish habitat with proceeds supporting The National Fish Habitat Initiative. One-third of all entry fees will directly support the project. Bass Pro Shops will match each donation as will Toyota, a longstanding conservation partner, enabling an amount equal to 100 percent of all entry fees – over $1 million – to benefit conservation.
The National Fish Habitat Initiative is a major conservation effort that can trace its roots back to Table Rock Lake. To improve the fisheries habitat that assures high-quality fishing in our lakes, in 2007 Johnny Morris convened the Army Corps of Engineers, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Arkansas Fish and Game Commission to establish a research-based approach to improving habitat in Army Corps of Engineers-managed reservoirs.
Piloted on Table Rock Lake, the resulting effort established a national model for freshwater reservoir habitat efforts that continues to positively impact fish populations. Since 2007, the initiative has supported over 1,000 projects in all 50 states, restoring tens-of-thousands of acres of habitat including freshwater impoundments and over 2,000 miles of rivers.
In keeping with a longstanding commitment to conservation, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops is partnering with local conservation agencies to help ensure all fish are released responsibly following a fish-friendly weigh-in.
Don’t miss your chance to support the future of fishing and compete
for the ultimate prize with the biggest audience in fishing history
airing live on NBC. For complete rules, registration details and
updates, visit basspro.com/usopen.

Join the conversation at the US OPEN FACEBOOK GROUP!

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Florida’s Panzironi Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Harris Chain

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date January 12, 2021
No Comments on Florida’s Panzironi Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Harris Chain

LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2021) – Eric Panzironi of Longwood, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 24 pounds, 12 ounces to win the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine at Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. Panzironi earned $6,000 for his victory.

“I stayed on Harris all day, which was a short run for me but it worked out nicely,” said Panzironi. “I caught all my fish on a black-colored Zoom Magnum Trick Worm in 10 to 12 feet of mostly dirty water.

“The real key to the victory was the Garmin LiveScope. I caught every single one of my fish directly beneath my boat and I could see them all. I dropped down to them and they’d eat it – it was amazing.”

Panzaroni said he was excited to walk away with a win at the first tournament of the year for the Gator division.

“It’s awesome – I love it,” he said. “To start off 2021 with a win at my first event – I definitely have no regrets.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:

1^st: Eric Panzironi of Longwood, Fla., five bass, 24-12, $6,000

2^nd: Peter Thliveros of Saint Augustine, Fla., five bass, 22-7, $3,000

3^rd: Joshua Parry of Saint Johns, Fla., five bass, 20-11, $3,000

4^th: Jonathan Semento of Okahumpka, Fla., five bass, 19-8, $1,900 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)

5^th: Tyler Sheppard of Jacksonville, Fla., five bass, 19-7, $1,200

6^th: Grady Johnson of Saint Cloud, Fla., five bass, 18-7, $1,100

7^th: Bill Troyer of Sarasota, Fla., five bass, 17-11, $1,000

8^th: Robert Crosnoe of Inverness, Fla., five bass, 17-10, $900

9^th: Grady Maynard of Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 17-4, $800

10^th: McCoy (Simon) Borja of Fruitland Park, Fla., five bass, 16-9, $700

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Parry also caught the largest bass in the Boater Division, a 10-pound, 2-ounce largemouth, which was good for the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $1,000.

Semento took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Contingency Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Mike Garrett of Pensacola, Florida, won the Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:

1^st: Mike Garrett of Pensacola, Fla., five bass, 22-3, $3,000

2^nd: Shaun Ireland of Lake Worth, Fla., five bass, 17-4, $1,500

3^rd: Aymon Wilcox of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., five bass, 17-3, $1,000

4^th: Justin Brown of Frostproof, Fla., five bass, 16-6, $900

5^th: Bradley Phillips of Alachua, Fla., five bass, 15-11, $600

6^th: Justin Bun of Lake Alfred, Fla., five bass, 15-0, $550

7^th: Joshua Dunn of Mulberry, Fla., five bass, 14-7, $500

8^th: Jason Cooper of Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $450

9^th: Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo., five bass, 13-12, $400

10^th: Jake Stines of Plant City, Fla., five bass, 12-8, $350

Luke Cocke of Valdosta, Georgia caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.

The 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Visit Lake County, FL.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Gator Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 21-23 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, hosted by the Putnam County Tourist Development Council. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury s outboard.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The National Angler

THIS COMPANY IS GOING TO TURN THE KAYAK WORLD UPSIDE-DOWN / Newport Vessels Launches NK-180S Kayak Motor

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date January 8, 2021
3 Comments on THIS COMPANY IS GOING TO TURN THE KAYAK WORLD UPSIDE-DOWN / Newport Vessels Launches NK-180S Kayak Motor

THIS COMPANY IS GOING TO TURN THE KAYAK WORLD UPSIDE-DOWN / Newport Vessels Launches NK-180S Kayak Motor

[SAN FRANCISCO, FEB, 2021] — Traveling farther and covering more water in one day just got easier for kayak anglers. Introducing the NK-180S electric motor by Newport Vessels. This new kayak motor launched today after two years of development with engineers and passionate anglers.

The innovative prop design delivers smooth, powerful acceleration with a 24-volt brushless motor and top speeds at more than 5 knots on most kayaks. The motor increases kayak anglers’ effective range and bolts to a 4-bolt Power-Pole style stern mount.

The lightweight NK-180S features integrated steering with a variable speed throttle controller. Steering cables can be set up to turn the motor like a rudder using the kayak’s OEM mounted foot-pedal systems. Or, a pin can lock the motor in a fix-position for use on many styles of fishing kayaks, paddleboards, and inflatables.

“Our goal is to make getting out on the water more accessible for everyone,” Josh Loseke, brand manager for Newport Vessels, said. “Upgrading your fishing kayak shouldn’t come at the cost of a house payment, so we worked for more than two years to develop an affordable motor unlike comparable products already on the market, while also delivering industry-leading performance. Our latest kayak motor gives anglers the ability to travel farther and the mobility needed to catch more fish in a day.”

The NK-180S features the latest brushless DC motor technology and is optimized to deliver high efficiency in a compact package. The propulsive power of the NK-180S is roughly equivalent to a 1.8hp petrol outboard motor, but with silent and emission-free power delivery. The motor package can be easily installed on most fishing kayaks and set up to accommodate rudder steering or a fixed position for use with a paddle. It is also significantly lighter than a conventional trolling motor, making it the perfect upgrade for your fishing kayak. It offers a quiet and affordable solution to upgrade your kayaking fishing experience forever. Take it to the next level with a new NK-180S, available at www.NewportVessels.com. Power up, enjoy the adventure and make your time on the water the best it can be.

BATTERY OPTIONS FOR THE NK-180S

At Newport Vessels, we realize that not everyone can pay the price of a used economy car to outfit their fishing kayak. That is why the NK-180S kayak motor was designed to bring a high quality brushless motor to the kayak fishing world at an affordable price. The NK-180 is capable of delivering excellent performance with several different battery options, intended to fit any budget.

First it can use an inexpensive 24V lead acid deep cycle battery system, a lithium 24V deep cycle battery, or a higher voltage 25.9V Lithium battery which will be available from Newport Vessels around summer 2021.

Cost: $799

SPECS:

Static Input Power – 600W/25A

Battery Type – Deep cycle marine battery – 24V

Optional Battery Type – 25.9V lithium battery

Steering – Cable steering or fixed

Propeller Speed – 1800 RPM

Max Overall Efficiency – 48%

Stow/Deploy Method – Cable lift

Trim Angles – 0*, 9*, 18*, 27*

Propeller Diameter – 5.9 Inches

Control Method – Digital controller

Mount Attachment – Four-bolt mount

ABOUT NEWPORT VESSELS

Founded in 2008, Newport Vessels is a California-based direct-to-consumer provider of high-quality inflatable boats and marine products at the most affordable prices. Newport Vessels sells inflatable boats, trolling motors, and boat accessories. Newport Vessels has developed a continuous process improvement policy to guarantee production of world-class products and customer experiences.

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR NEW NK 180-S KAYAK TROLLING MOTOR

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

Texas’ Mundy Smashes at 2021 Season Kickoff of Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Sam Rayburn: Weighs in Fourth-Largest Five-Fish Limit in MLF History

BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 4, 2021) – Derek Mundy of Broaddus, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing a staggering 40 pounds, 10 ounces to win the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine season opener at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas. Mundy earned $7,000 for his victory.

Mundy said he found his fish in practice but didn’t realize just how good his spot was going to be.

“You can’t look on the graph and see 40 pounds, but I knew I could have a good bag if they bit,” Mundy said. “It’s not guaranteed you’re going to roll up to your first spot and catch 30, much less 40.

“I caught the first four on a big crankbait and they busted up a bit,” Mundy said. “Then I pulled out a jig and caught the last one. I caught those five, all on the first stop, in about 20 minutes.”

Fishing a Strike King 8XD and a ¾-ounce V&M The Flatline Pacemaker Football Jig, Mundy said he did all of his damage in about 17 feet of water, in the mid-lake region.

After catching five giants, including a 11-pound, 10-ounce largemouth, Mundy said he felt he could relax.

“I took it easy and went to some Plan B stuff to try to get my co-angler on fish, but it never worked out – the wind got up pretty bad in the afternoon,” he admitted.

Weighing his fish as soon as he was allowed, Mundy said he was content to wait for the weigh-in to conclude before collecting his check.

“It’s the biggest bag I’ve ever caught,” said Mundy, who makes his living working on oil pipelines. “It felt good. I didn’t realize they were that big until I was checking on them to make sure they were doing alright in the livewell, but even then, I didn’t realize I had 40 pounds.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament as follows:
1^st: Derek Mundy of Broaddus, Texas, five bass, 40-10, $7,0002^nd: Cameron Mattison of Bossier City, La., five bass, 28-6, $3,000
3^rd: Tommy Loving of Cypress, Texas, five bass, 22-14, $2,000
4^th: Wyatt Frankens of Corrigan, Texas, five bass, 17-11, $1,400
5^th: Jimmy Hickman of Shreveport, La., five bass, 17-8, $1,200
6^th: Cannon Bird of Marshall, Texas, five bass, 16–6, $1,100
7^th: Chris McCall of Woodville, Texas, five bass, 15-15, $1,000
8^th: Richard Ballard of Sulphur, La., five bass, 15-12, $1,400
9^th: Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas, five bass, 15-0, $800
10^th: Bobby Vice of Orange, Texas, five bass, 14-11, $665
10^th: Travis Franks of Lake Charles, La., five bass, 14–11, $665
Mundy’s 11-pound, 10-ounce largemouth was also good for the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $1,000.

Ballard took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF BIG5 Contingency Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Michael Petras of Biloxi, Mississippi, won the Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds even.

The top 10 co-anglers finished as follows:
1^st: Michael Petras of Biloxi, Miss., five bass, 16-0, $3,000
2^nd: Shane Stoddard of Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 15-4, $2,000
3^rd: Michael Horne of Dodson, La., five bass, 14-10, $1,000
4^th: Carson Dillinger of Bloomburg, Texas, five bass, 12-70
5^th: Tracy Hawkins of Corsicana, Texas, three bass, 11-15, $600
6^th: Julio Garza of Houston, Texas, five bass, 11-5, $550
7^th: Steve Lee of Benton, Ark., five bass, 11-2, $500
8^th: Daniel Bryant of LaFayette, La., five bass, 10-10, $450
9^th: Ryker Holmes of Arlington, Texas, five bass, 10-7, $400
10^th: John Webb of Fort Smith, Ark., four bass, 10-4, $332
10^th: Greg Boik of College Station, Texas, five bass, 10-4, $332
Stoddard caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 9 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $500.

The 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Jasper County Development District.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Cowboy Division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 21-23 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Ouachita in Mount Ida, Arkansas hosted by Visit Hot Springs. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury s outboard.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held June 3-5 at Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee and hosted by the Jefferson County Department of Tourism. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Major League Fishing - Bass Pro Tour/Cup Events

BREAKING NEWS – Major League Fishing Announces REDCREST 2021 Shift to this Texas Lake

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date December 22, 2020
No Comments on BREAKING NEWS – Major League Fishing Announces REDCREST 2021 Shift to this Texas Lake

MLF Moves Championship Tournament to Proven Big-Fish Factory, REDCREST 2022 to Remain in Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. (Dec. 22, 2020) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that REDCREST 2021, the MLF Bass Pro Tour Championship, has been shifted to Lake Palestine in Flint, Texas. Originally scheduled to be held Feb. 23-27, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the dates have also shifted slightly to Feb. 21-25. REDCREST 2021 will showcase the top 40 Bass Pro Tour anglers from the 2020 season competing for the prestigious REDCREST title and the top prize of $300,000.

The decision to move the event was made after numerous Bass Pro Tour anglers suggested a new fishery location for the championship tournament after MLF announced the cancellation of the Outdoor Sports Expo in Tulsa in late November. With no Expo taking place, MLF officials agreed to shift the event to Lake Palestine, an 18-mile long Texas reservoir known for its tremendous bass-fishing and the numerous 10-plus-pound largemouth that live throughout the lake. The fishery is known for annually producing multiple bass that are recognized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s popular Toyota ShareLunker program.

CHECK OUT ALL THE NEWEST GEAR FROM ICAST

“Grand Lake is an awesome fishery, but when we found out that MLF was open to the consideration of shifting REDCREST 2021, it was something that most of us were really excited about,” said Ott DeFoe, who won the Bass Pro Tour Stage Three event on Texas’ Lake Fork last season and will be making his second REDCREST appearance. “When we found out that we were moving to Lake Palestine, it was even better. Texas certainly has a special place in my heart. REDCREST 2021 is going to be a tremendous way to kick off the season and a really fun tournament for the fans to follow. We’re going to see some absolute giants caught in this one – we’re hitting it just right – and we will likely see quite a few records broken there.”

In addition to the opportunity to feature the Championship event on an exciting fishery, the shift also made sense logistically, according to MLF Senior Director of Events & Partnerships Michael Mulone.

“It makes sense, from a business standpoint, to shift to Lake Palestine and save Tulsa and Grand Lake for REDCREST 2022,” Mulone said. “Grand Lake is a championship fishery, but when we postponed the Expo in Tulsa we realized that we could do a better job of highlighting Grand Lake with the Expo component. The fact that this will be our inaugural Expo, in the home of Major League Fishing, we want to ensure we are doing everything possible to not dilute the event in any way. We truly want to blow it out of the water next year and fully expect it to be the biggest show in town. We are grateful to our partners with the City of Grove, the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and VisitTulsa that gave their blessings to shift the REDCREST 2021 tournament. We expect Lake Palestine and REDCREST 2021 to produce one of the most exciting tournaments in our company’s history.”

MLF announced in November that Tulsa and Grand Lake of the Cherokees will host REDCREST 2022, with the River Spirit Expo Square set to host the inaugural REDCREST 2022 Outdoor Sports Expo on March 25-27, 2022. Those dates remain unchanged.

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Tags Lake Palistine, Major League Fishing, REDCREST

BASSMASTER Elite Series/Opens

BREAKING NEWS!!! – B.A.S.S. Announces Long-Awaited 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date December 3, 2020
No Comments on BREAKING NEWS!!! – B.A.S.S. Announces Long-Awaited 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule

December 3, 2020

B.A.S.S. Announces Long-Awaited 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After the shortest offseason break in the trail’s 16-year history, B.A.S.S. officials announced Thursday that the Bassmaster Elite Series will open its 2021 tournament slate Feb. 11-14 on the St. Johns River in Florida.

The season-opener will begin just over three months after the final event of a 2020 schedule that was reworked due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a much later finish than usual.

“We’re as excited about this schedule as any that we’ve ever put together for the Elite Series,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “It features a good mix of venues that have become fixtures for B.A.S.S. and a few we’ve been to before but haven’t visited in a while.”

The St. Johns River falls into the category of a fixture, with B.A.S.S. having visited the picturesque fishery 22 times for major events since 1973, including three times during the past five seasons.

Connecticut pro Paul Mueller won a weather-shortened event in 2020 with a three-day total of 47-6, and events in 2016 and 2019 were won by Missouri legend Rick Clunn. Each of Clunn’s victories allowed him to break his own record for the oldest angler to claim an Elite Series trophy.

Whether the St. Johns weights are eye-popping usually depends on the finicky Florida weather and which stage of the spawn the bass are in. Regardless, big largemouth will be the target.

From Florida, the season will shift north Feb. 25-28 to Knoxville, Tenn., which has played host to two fantastic major B.A.S.S. events the past four seasons, including the record-breaking 2019 Bassmaster Classic. Like that Classic, the 2021 event will take place on the Tennessee River where largemouth and smallmouth will both likely come into play.

“Knoxville was thrilled to host the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2017,” said Chad Culver, senior director of the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission. “It was the first time B.A.S.S. had been here since 1981. That event led to Knoxville hosting the 2019 Bassmaster Classic – the largest in event history.

“Needless to say, we could not be more excited to welcome B.A.S.S. back to the waters of Knoxville and East Tennessee.”

Elite Series action will pause for the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, which is set for March 19-21 on Lake Ray Roberts near Fort Worth, Texas. Then the schedule will resume April 8-11 on another Texas fishery, the Sabine River in Orange.

Trips to the Sabine often see anglers targeting narrow canals where largemouth are the prize. While the winning weights are sometimes small, the weigh-in crowds are some of the largest B.A.S.S. sees anywhere. The 2013 Elite on the Sabine drew 33,000 spectators — the second-largest crowd in Elite Series history.

B.A.S.S. has visited the Sabine four times for major tournaments, including the 2018 Elite Series event that was won by Louisiana pro Greg Hackney.

CHECK OUT ALL THE NEWEST GEAR FROM ICAST

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Bassmaster and are looking forward to another great event that promotes both the great sport of bass fishing as well as the great area of Orange County, Texas,” said Orange County Judge John Gothia.

Elite Series pros Brandon Cobb, Garrett Paquette and Patrick Walters each earned a Century Belt — 100 pounds in a four-day event — on Lake Fork in 2019 and 2020 respectively, and more anglers hope to join their ranks when the Elite field heads back to the fishery April 22-25.

After their stops in Texas, the Elites will embark on a midseason Alabama swing, visiting Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden May 6-9, Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro May 20-23 and Pickwick Lake in Florence June 10-13. Though all in one state, each fishery will offer vastly different scenarios.

The trip to Lake Guntersville will mark the 26th time B.A.S.S. has visited the famed fishery, making it the second most popular destination in B.A.S.S. history behind only Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas. The “Big G” has earned its place in sportfishing history, ranking No. 2 on Bassmaster Magazine’s list of Best Bass Lakes of the Decade. Guntersville hosted two B.A.S.S. events in 2020 alone, including the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, which was won by North Carolina pro Hank Cherry.

“We are excited and honored to host the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series in Scottsboro. We recognize and appreciate the tremendous impact fishing has on our economy, tourism and quality of life, particularly a tournament of the stature and exposure of a Bassmaster Elite,” said Scottsboro Mayor Jim McCamy.

Pickwick is a 43,100-acre Tennessee River impoundment where a mixture of largemouth and smallmouth are often brought to the scales, while Neely Henry is an 11,200-acre Coosa River lake full of healthy spotted bass.

B.A.S.S. visited Pickwick six times for major events in the past — and just this year, the lake was the site of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in November. Neely Henry has hosted B.A.S.S. only three times for major events, including the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open that was held on the lake in October.

As warm weather takes hold across the country, the Elites will make what has become an annual swing to the north with a visit to Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vt., July 8-11, and a stop in the scenic Village of Waddington, N.Y., for a season-ending tournament on the St. Lawrence River July 15-18.

B.A.S.S. has held 13 major events on Champlain, including four of the last five seasons. Idaho veteran Brandon Palaniuk won the 2020 Elite on Champlain with just over 80 pounds.

The trip to the St. Lawrence will mark the 21st time B.A.S.S. has visited the Upstate New York smallmouth paradise, which took the top spot in 2019 on Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes list.

St. Lawrence tournaments always feature big bass — Canadian pro Chris Johnston won the 2020 Elite event there with a four-day total of 97-8 — and big crowds. A 2013 visit to Waddington drew an Elite Series-record 36,200 fans.

“We here in St. Lawrence County and the Village and Town of Waddington are very excited to be part of the B.A.S.S. family,” said Janet Otto Cassada, president of North County Events. “Our area looks forward to holding our next Elite event in July 2021. Our hopes are that we have COVID behind us and can show everyone that Waddington and St. Lawrence County is where the world comes to fish.”

“There are some venues that have become regular stops for B.A.S.S. the past few years, and it’s obvious why,” Akin said. “They are known by everyone as some of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. But it’s also nice to revisit our past a little bit with trips to lakes like Pickwick and Neely Henry.

“It should all make for a fantastic season.”

For the first time in history, all nine Bassmaster Elite Series events as well as the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms. Visit Bassmaster.com for more details.

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule

Feb. 11-14, AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla.
Feb. 25-28, Tennessee River, Knoxville, Tenn.
March 19-21, Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, Lake Ray Roberts, Fort Worth, Texas
April 8-11, Sabine River, Orange, Texas
April 22-25, Lake Fork, Emory, Texas
May 6-9, Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, Ala.
May 20-23, Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, Ala.
June 10-13, Pickwick Lake, Florence, Ala.
July 8-11, Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vt.
July 15-18, St. Lawrence River, Waddington, N.Y.
Aug. 19-22, Make-up date

$4.3M in cash and prizes and an anticipated $1M+ for conservation

LET'S ALL CONGRATULATE BRYAN ON HIS WIN!

COMMENT BELOW AND CONGRATULATE TAYLOR ON HIS WIN BELOW!LET'S SHOW SOME SUPPORT!!!

THIS COMPANY IS GOING TO TURN THE KAYAK WORLD UPSIDE-DOWN / Newport Vessels Launches NK-180S Kayak Motor

BATTERY OPTIONS FOR THE NK-180S

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR NEW NK 180-S KAYAK TROLLING MOTOR

CHECK OUT ALL THE NEWEST GEAR FROM ICAST

CHECK OUT ALL THE NEWEST GEAR FROM ICAST

COMMENT BELOW AND CONGRATULATE TAYLOR ON HIS WIN BELOW!
LET'S SHOW SOME SUPPORT!!!