THE LATEST NEWS
2015 Bassmaster Opens Schedule Announced; St. Clair Elite Rescheduled
The 2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens will once again visit Ross Barnett Reservoir at Ridgeland, Miss. Elite Series pro Randall Tharp won at the Central Open here in 2013 with 41 pounds, 15 ounces. Photo by James Overstreet/Bassmaster
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens tournament series will span nine months, visit nine states and possibly provide nine professional anglers a ticket to the Super Bowl of bass fishing — the Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. announced the three-division, nine-tournament Opens schedule today, noting that it kicks off with the Jan. 15-17 Southern Open No. 1 on Lake Tohopekaliga at Kissimmee, Fla., and concludes Oct. 22-24 with the final Southern Open on Lake Seminole at Bainbridge, Ga.
The company also announced that the eighth Bassmaster Elite Series tournament for 2015 — the St. Clair Elite at Detroit, Mich., has been moved from its originally announced dates of Sept. 24-27 to Aug. 27-30, 2015.
“These lakes and rivers are all outstanding, legendary waters that are steeped in bass fishing history,†said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Four of the lakes and rivers have hosted the Bassmaster Classic in years past, and seven are ranked on Bassmaster’s Best 100 Lakes list for 2014. The Bass Pro Shops Opens have become extremely popular among tournament anglers over the years, and the selection of fisheries this year should make it even more attractive.â€
B.A.S.S. Senior Tournament Manager Chris Bowes noted that tournaments in each of the three divisions typically fill rapidly, with waiting lists forming in a matter of hours.
“We expect spots in the Opens to go just as quickly this year,†said Bowes, who noted that the events reward anglers in several ways.
“Many fish the Opens in hopes of winning a berth in the Bassmaster Classic,†he said. “Some are trying to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series, and of course everybody is fishing for the payouts.†The winner of each event will get $46,400, including a bass boat and motor, plus an invitation to compete in the 2016 Classic, contingent upon the winner fishing all three events in that division.
Competitors earn performance points at each tournament, and the Top 5 in each division are invited to join the Elite Series the following year. In recent years, nearly all who received Elite bids have joined the prestigious tour.
At each of the stops, weigh-ins will be held lakeside during the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday of each tournament week. The 12 finalists who earn the right to fish on Saturday will weigh their catches in front of large crowds at nearby Bass Pro Shops stores.
Registration for B.A.S.S. Nation and Life members begins online on Nov. 4. Other details and complete registration information will be posted on Bassmaster.com.
Southern Opens
No. 1 — Lake Tohopekaliga at Kissimmee, Fla., Jan. 15-17
Lake “Toho†has hosted 18 Bassmaster events, including Classics in 1977 and 2006. The one-day catch record of 45 pounds, 2 ounces, for five bass was set there by Dean Rojas in 2001, and the heaviest bass ever weighed in during a Classic, 11-10 by Preston Clark in 2006. The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes ranked No. 21 on Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list in 2014.
No. 2 — Alabama River at Prattville, Ala., April 16-18
The first B.A.S.S. tournaments to be held on the Alabama River were Bassmaster Classics in 1981 and 1982, and they featured the first indoor weigh-ins. Kevin VanDam won two of his seven Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles in postseason competition on the river, and Edwin Evers won a Bassmaster Elite Series event there in 2013 with more than 75 pounds for four days of fishing.
No. 3 — Lake Seminole at Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24
Lake Seminole has been a popular venue for Bassmaster tournaments for 45 years. Brett Hite was the latest to win there, claiming the 2014 Elite Series season opener with just less than 100 pounds for four days. The 2010 Open on Seminole, also held in October, gave up 44-2 for the winner, Trevor Fitzgerald. The 37,500-acre lake ranks 17th among the Best 100 lakes in the nation.
Central Opens
No. 1 — Ross Barnett Reservoir at Ridgeland, Miss., March 12-14
In 1978, Bobby Murray won his second Classic title on Ross Barnett, which already was a storied tournament lake for B.A.S.S. pros by that time. More recently, Randall Tharp qualified for the 2014 Classic with a win there in 2013. Ross Barnett, 33,000 acres in size, ranks among the top 100 lakes in the country.
No. 2 — Ft. Gibson Lake at Wagoner, Okla., Sept. 10-12
Oklahoma pro Jason Christie won his second Open of the 2012 season on Ft. Gibson. He qualified for the Classic and the Elite Series that same year through the Northern Opens. If Tommy Biffle is in the field, he’s one to watch; Biffle won an Elite event there in 2010 and has fished the lake for 40 years. The 19,900-acre Ft. Gibson is No. 65 on the Best 100 Lakes list.
No. 3 — Table Rock Lake at Branson, Mo., Oct. 1-3
Table Rock featured two recent Opens in 2011 and 2012, won by Elite Series anglers Kevin Short and Casey Scanlon. Table Rock Lake cover 43,000 acres and is No. 68 on Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes of 2014.
Northern Opens
No. 1 — James River at Richmond,Va., July 9-11
The Bassmaster Classic was held on the James out of Richmond three years in a row (1988-90), and they were among the most memorable in history. Hank Parker claimed the title in 1989, after Jim Bitter let the winning fish slip from his fingers, and Rick Clunn won his fourth Classic on the James in 1990. In 2013, Alabama’s Randy Howell won an Open on the James to qualify for the 2014 Classic on Lake Guntersville — which he won.
No. 2 — Oneida Lake at Syracuse, N.Y., Aug. 6-8
Boyd Duckett won the 2012 Elite Series finale on Oneida with 62-6, edging Randy Howell by just 6 ounces. Another Elite pro, Ish Monroe, won a Northern Open on Oneida in 2011. Bassmaster Magazine ranked Oneida 41st among the nation’s top bass fisheries. It spans more than 50,000 acres.
No. 3 — Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio, Sept. 24-26
Michael Iaconelli earned his 2014 Classic berth with a win there in 2013. Before that, Nate Wellman won in 2011. Always a popular stop for both Elite and Opens anglers, Erie ranks No. 56 on the Best 100 Lakes list.
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor:Â Bass Pro Shops
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor:Â Allstate
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Official Sponsors:Â Toyota, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors:Â Boat U.S., Booyah, Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Plano, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series presented by Carhartt, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.
Navionics Advanced Map Options – Water Level Adjust
Navionics Pro Josh Douglas shows off how he utilizes the Navionics Boating App to adjust the water level by using his iPad and the Advanced Mapping Options. All while on the water fishing!
Power-Poles, not just for Shallow Water!
Hey everyone! It’s been some time since my last blog post due to all my recent travels. Now that the colder weather has started moving in, I’ll have some time to sit down and write.
First of all I wanted to talk about an awesome product that I’ve really put to use here recently. With the fall weather starting to move in and wind becomes more common for us here in Tennessee, boat positioning becomes a real issue sometimes. Fall can be the best time to fish offshore structure such as brush piles and rock piles. At the same time, it can be the best time to fish dirt shallow or fish massive shallow water flats. If you fish in the fall very often, you know the wind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It seems whether you are fishing one of those shallow water flats, or one of those deeper brush piles that you have to present your lure in one specific area. Wind can cause major issues when trying to keep yourself positioned in one small 10 foot area. There is hope however for us fall fishermen. The invention of the Power-Pole shallow water anchor has changed the way we fish. You rarely see a boat without one these days. It gives you complete control of your vessel and gives you a serious advantage when fishing on very windy days. Now its easy to understand how the Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor can be utilized in shallow water, after all that’s what it was invented for but you might be asking yourself how they will help in deeper water.
I always have people coming up to me saying “Those poles won’t do you much good on this lake” or “If you want to win this tournament you better not be shallow enough to use those poles” well I’m here to tell you, I do use my Power-Poles on deeper lakes, I’ve used them as deep as 35ft. How am I using a Shallow Water Anchor that deep? Power-Pole makes an attachment that simply installs on your Power-Poles called Drift Paddles. The Drift Paddles are exactly what they sound like they are, they are paddles that slow down your drift.
I will give you a few examples of how Power-Poles help me out in the windy season of fall. I love fishing offshore this time of the year, but wind always seems to be an issue. With the Drift Paddles attached to my Power-Poles, I can slow my boat down 50%, holding on my spot better without draining my trolling motor batteries. I also love getting on huge shallow water flats and fan casting a lipless crank bait or a buzzbait, I especially love doing this when the wind is absolutely howling! The biggest thing with this technique is to be able to cover water effectively, not just sitting in one spot for very long and not moving way to fast to correctly fan cast. You have to have a happy medium with fall fishing in the wind. Power-Pole has made my fall fishing techniques so precise that I very rarely pass up a fish on a 300 yard shallow water flat. Even if the water is 3 feet or shallower, I can partially lower my drift paddles into the water slowing my drift without completely stopping my boat. I can put the wind at my back and with the simple touch of a button, control my speed and direction. There are times that I don’t even drop my trolling motor because of the Drift Paddles. Oh, and I almost forgot, you can still use the Power-Poles as anchors when your Drift Paddles are attached. If you are fishing in a tournament and you are fishing a big windy flat and you catch your 6th fish and need to cull, simply deploy your anchors all they way, cull your fish, retie your bait, lift your Power-Poles just a little, and continue your drift right where you left off, not missing a single square foot of that flat.
This is a product that has helped me possibly more than any accessory that I have on my boat, with the Drift Paddles attached, you are one lethal predator on the water. The fish won’t even hear you coming! If you are struggling with keeping your boat positioned, it is well worth the investment. Check out www.Power-Pole.com to get yourself hooked up, and also click this link to watch my video demonstration with the Drift Paddles here – https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=710079519064785
Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back for more!
Find out more about Skylar on his web site and keep up with him on his Facebook page.
Bassmaster Elite Series Sets New Attendance Record In 2014
The 2014 Bassmaster Elite Series brought a record number of visitors to its eight regular-season events and the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship. Photo by Gary Tramontina/Bassmaster
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — From the muddied waters of Georgia’s Lake Seminole, to the heart of the fifth most populous city in the U.S., to the windy shores of Lake Michigan, the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Series has made bass fishing history and left some impressions in its wake.
With a record-setting total of 128,600 people in attendance throughout the eight regular-season events and the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship, the Elite Series has reached new heights in attracting fans to the sport of bass fishing.
“This year was so successful because we have been able to establish and strengthen our relationships with each venues’ host organizations,†said Eric Lopez, director of events at B.A.S.S. “In addition to what B.A.S.S. brings, we look to the host cities to provide traditional event entertainment such as concerts and fireworks — anything that you would normally see at a weekend festival. It’s clearly working and enticing more individuals and families to come out for two and three days to see all the fishing action.â€
At all Elite events visitors are invited to enjoy an outdoors expo, where the newest boats, motors, fishing tackle, lures and other sporting goods are on display. Fishing fans and their families are invited to discover everything bass fishing, and all Bassmaster events are free and open to the public.
This year B.A.S.S. introduced its premier professional fishing league to a new market at the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pa. This event marked the first time B.A.S.S. had held an Elite Series tournament in a truly metropolitan area, exposing a variety of different people to bass fishing.
“Philadelphia, by far, was our most successful tournament with attendance because we weren’t sure what to expect going into it,†Lopez said. “Everyone we worked with, from the city to the venue, was great. We knew it would be a good event, but we didn’t know it would end up being our third highest attended event in Elite Series history.â€
B.A.S.S. has set the bar high for the 2015 Elite Series tournament trail and is looking forward to continuing the attendance trend.
“I’m as nervous as I am excited,†Lopez said. “When you have a year like this, you celebrate for five minutes, and then you start thinking, ‘Oh, no! How do we top this?’â€
With the ever-present goal of continuous improvement, the Bassmaster Elites will head West in 2015. The third Elite of the year will be staged out of Sacramento, Calif., were the most competitive anglers in the sport will battle it out on the Sacramento River April 30-May 3. Following the California event, the Elite anglers will converge on Lake Havasu City, Ariz., May 7-10, for a chance to prove their skills on Lake Havasu.
“I’m most excited about B.A.S.S. continuing to expose the sport to new markets,†Lopez said. “And, looking at our 2015 schedule, we’re really going to be afforded that opportunity. We don’t travel out West that often, so when we do, it’s a big deal for our anglers and our fans. We definitely anticipate next year’s schedule is going to be very popular.â€
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.
PAA Board Calls Off 2014 PAA Tournament Series
BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 6, 2014) — The PAA Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2014 PAA Tournament Series. After postponing the 2014 PAA opener originally slated for September 25-27 on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee, the Board has also cancelled its remaining 2 PAA events on October 9-11, 2014 at Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, KY and November 20-22, 2014 on Toledo Bend Reservoir, Hemphill, TX. The PAA Tournament Series will not take place this year.
About the PAA Tournament Series
Starting with a single event on Choke Canyon, TX in 2008, the PAA Tournament Series has been operated for 5 years from 2009 through 2013 as a 3- or 4-event series culminating in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic world championship each season. The PAA was responsible for helping to establish the Toyota Texas Bass Classic and over the last eight years, this conservation-focused catch and release charity event has generated over $2 million in donations for the benefit of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s youth fishing programs.
PAA President Matt Reed and Casey Scanlon (3rd in the 2013 PAA Series at Table Rock, MO, 6th at Grand Lake) – both Bassmaster Elite pros.
PAA President Matt Reed
PAA President Matt Reed of Texas has a 14 year long career fishing Bassmaster Elites and Opens since 2000. Reed has served one other 3-year term on the PAA Board. He has qualified for three Bassmaster Classics and six Toyota Texas Bass Classics with three top-ten Toyota Texas Bass Classic finishes and 16 Bassmaster top-tens.
Reed said, “Every year, the PAA must work hard to avoid schedule conflicts with the other professional tours including the Bassmaster Elites, FLW Tour, Bassmaster Opens, and Rayovac FLW Series as well as Major League Fishing, ICAST and other industry and sponsor events that PAA pros cannot miss throughout the year. Unfortunately, we were not able to work out 2014 PAA Tournament Series dates until late in the fall. In the final analysis, the PAA Board decided that the math just didn’t work out this year for the benefit of our gracious host municipalities, valued sponsors, busy pro anglers and loyal fans.â€
PAA Vice President Brian Snowden
PAA Vice President Brian Snowden
PAA Vice President Brian Snowden Brian Snowden of Missouri has been a Bassmaster Elite pro for 15 years. He has served on the PAA Board for 5 years, having served as Treasurer and now Vice President. He won the first PAA Tournament Series event he fished on Lake Toho, FL in 2009 and Snowden won the 2010 Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake Conroe, TX. He is a five-time Bassmaster Classic contender and six-time Toyota Texas Bass Classic qualifier. Snowden finished 34th in the 2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings thereby qualifying for his sixth Bassmaster Classic in 2015.
Snowden said, “The PAA Board has always aimed to give the pros another opportunity to fish a tournament circuit which has a great payback potential and a path to qualify for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic – while keeping it (whenever possible) within driving distance and the limited dates we have in between other touring pro events and commitments. Doing that has always been difficult and in the end, just wasn’t realistic this year.â€
Todd Auten (right) received the third place trophy from former PAA President Dave Mansue at the 2011 PAA Tournament Series Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, AL event.
PAA Board Member Todd Auten
A newly-elected PAA Board member for 2014, Todd Auten of South Carolina has been a Bassmaster and FLW touring pro for 16 years. Auten won the PAA Tournament Series event on Neely Henry, AL in 2009 and is the 2011 PAA Angler of the Year. He is a three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, a four-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier and a four-time Toyota Texas Bass Classic qualifier.
“There are more tournament options for pros now than ever before between Bassmaster, FLW majors, regional Opens and Rayovac events. All the dates between January and September are just about taken and some pros are trying to do them all, practically going non-stop,†said Auten who exemplifies his remark. In 2014, Auten fished and finished 12th in the Bassmaster Northern Opens, and he got an invite to (go back to) the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series via his third place finish on the Southern Opens. He fished and finished eighth on the Rayovac Southeastern Division which qualified him for the Rayovac national championship on Wheeler Lake, AL at the end of this month which would lead him to the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup.
Auten emphasized, “The PAA Tournament Series is designed to give pros like me great press. I get more publicity on television (the FishPAA TV show), on websites and on social sites from the PAA than from other tours I fish. For pros like me, fishing derbies to win prize money is good, but in addition I need to promote my sponsors and in that regard, the publicity I get from the PAA Tournament Series has been good for me and great for my sponsors.â€
“The PAA membership has to look toward 2015 now, regroup and rethink our approach for next season. I know pros like me would like to see the PAA Tournament Series take off again, better than ever in 2015,†concluded Auten.
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About the PAA
The Professional Anglers Association is a non-profit organization that gives professional anglers a unified voice in order to aid in the growth of the sport of professional bass fishing. The PAA also aims to administer educational programs to the average angler, to increase enjoyment of the sport, and to embrace sound conservation practices to further the future of the sport. Web: www.FishPAA.com