Anglers who fail to qualify for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic will have one last shot at it next year.
B.A.S.S. announced today it will host the Bassmaster Classic Wild Card, a 3-day tournament scheduled for Dec. 5-7, 2013 at a yet-to-be-announced fishery. The event will give 175 anglers the chance to compete for one last berth in the following year’s Classic.
The event format will follow that of a Bassmaster Open, with the full field fishing the first 2 days and the Top 12 advancing to the final day. The winner will clinch a berth in the Classic while the rest of the Top 30 finishers will receive a cash prize of no less than $2,000.
The entry fee will be $2,000 and priority entry will be given to Elite Series pros who didn’t make the Classic cut via Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings or an Elite event win. Additional slots will be filled by Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens pros who entered and paid for all three events in the respective circuits, until the 175-angler field is full.
B.A.S.S. Senior Tournament Director Trip Weldon is looking forward to the shootout, which he anticipates being a heavyweight slugfest.
“I will say this: The Wild Card will be held on a phenomenal fishery,” he said. “It’s going to be entirely possible to make up a lot of ground and come back from a long way down the standings. Since there are no points involved and there’s a lot at stake, this event is kind of like the Classic itself – you let it all hang out and go for the glory.”
