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.”
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.
Southern Opens
No. 1 — Lake Tohopekaliga at Kissimmee, Fla., Jan. 15-17
No. 2 — Alabama River at Prattville, Ala., April 16-18
No. 3 — Lake Seminole at Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24
Central Opens
No. 1 — Ross Barnett Reservoir at Ridgeland, Miss., March 12-14
No. 2 — Ft. Gibson Lake at Wagoner, Okla., Sept. 10-12
No. 3 — Table Rock Lake at Branson, Mo., Oct. 1-3
Northern Opens
No. 1 — James River at Richmond,Va., July 9-11
No. 2 — Oneida Lake at Syracuse, N.Y., Aug. 6-8
No. 3 — Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio, Sept. 24-26