B.A.S.S. announced its three-division, nine-tournament Bassmaster Opens schedule today. The schedule spans nine months and none of the events conflict with any FLW Tour stops.
The first Southern Open will be Jan. 15-17 at Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla., and the final Open will be the Southern Open at Lake Seminole on Oct. 22-24 in Bainbridge, Ga.
Also, B.A.S.S. has decided to move the eight Elite Series event – Lake St. Clair – up a month. Originally scheduled for Sept. 24-27, it is now set for Aug. 27-30, the week immediately following the Forrest Wood Cup, and during the same week FLW has a Northern Rayovac slated for Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio.
“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.”
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.
Registration for B.A.S.S. Nation and Life members begins online on Nov. 4. Other details and complete registration information will be published soon.
2015 Bassmaster Opens Schedule
Southern Division
> Jan. 15-17: Lake Toho (Kissimmee, Fla.)
> April 16-18: Alabama River (Prattville, Ala.)
> Oct. 22-24: Lake Seminole (Bainbridge, Ga.)
Central Division
> March 12-14: Ross Barnett Reservoir (Ridgeland, Miss.)
> Sept. 10-12: Ft. Gibson Lake (Wagoner, Okla.)
> Oct. 1-3: Table Rock Lake (Branson, Mo.)
Northern Division
> July 9-11: James River (Richmond, Va.)
> Aug. 6-8: Oneida Lake (Syracuse, NY)
> Sept. 24-26: Lake Erie (Sandusky, Ohio)
