B.A.S.S. released its long-awaited 2012 Elite Series schedule today. Like this year, it's an eight-event circuit that gets under way with two Florida events in March. It's a bit more spread out – both geographically and on the calendar – with just two sets of back-to-back events, and it includes a "mystery" stop in late June.
Here's a look at the slate:
BASSMASTER CLASSIC
Dates: Feb. 23-26
Venue: Red River
Host: Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
ELITE #1
Dates: March 15-18
Venue: St. Johns River
Host: Palatka, Fla.
ELITE #2
Dates: March 22-25
Venue: Lake Okeechobee
Host: Okeechobee, Fla.
ELITE #3
Dates: April 19-22
Venue: Bull Shoals Lake
Host: Arkansas
ELITE #4
Dates: May 3-6
Venue: Douglas Lake
Host: Dandridge, Tenn.
ELITE #5
Dates: June 7-10
Venue: Toledo Bend Reservoir
Host: Many, La.
ELITE #6
Dates: June 21-24
Venue: Mississippi River
Host: La Crosse, Wis.
ELITE #7
Dates: June 28-July 1
Venue: Mystery
Host: Mystery
ELITE #8
Dates: Aug. 23-26
Venue: Oneida Lake
Host: Syracuse, N.Y.
Notable is the Mississippi River event out of La Crosse, Wis. in June. Wisconsin this year got rid of its prohibition against culling in bass tournaments, opening the door for the state to host high-level events. The mystery event (the location of which will remain secret until just before the official practice period) is the following week, so it's certain that it'll also take place in the Upper Midwest.
The series wraps up with a third northern stop at Lake Oneida in late August, where the Angler of the Year (AOY) will be crowned and 2013 Classic berths will be determined.
The April tournament at Bull Shoals in Arkansas will mark the first time that B.A.S.S.'s top trail has visited that venue since 1991.
Two events directly overlap with FLW Tour Majors, which will again prevent anglers from fishing full schedules on both major circuits. Those dates are June 7-10 (Toledo Bend Elite Series and Kentucky Lake FLW) and June 28-July 1 (Elite Series mystery event and Champlain FLW). Also, the Aug. 23-26 Elite finale at Oneida coincides with the Detroit River FLW Tour Open, which is a non-points event.
