BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced the slate for the 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series, with nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states in the Eastern U.S. as the pathway to professional bass fishing.
After starting late in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Opens schedule will return in 2022 to a late-winter start date with the first tournament, a Southern Division event, set for Feb. 3-5 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla. From there, the Opens will wind through Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, New York and Maryland.
The winners of all nine Opens will earn a berth into the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, provided they have fished all three events in the division where their win occurred. In addition to Classic berths, the Top 3 anglers in every division and the Top 3 in the Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year overall standings will receive invitations to fish the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Starting the season in Florida has become a tradition for most of the major trails at B.A.S.S., and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes has been a favored destination of late. The organization’s most recent visit there was for a 2020 Eastern Open that was won by New.
After Kissimmee, the Southern Division will visit Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tenn., March 31-April 2, and Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., Oct. 6-8.
B.A.S.S.’s most recent visit to Cherokee was for a 2020 Eastern Open won by Kentucky pro Matt Robertson, while Hartwell is a common B.A.S.S. destination that is scheduled to host the Bassmaster Classic for the fourth time, March 4-6, 2022.
In the Central Division, events will be held on Ross Barnett Reservoir in Ridgeland, Miss., April 28-30, the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, La., Sept. 22-24, and Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas, Oct. 20-22. It’ll mark the first visit to Ross Barnett since 2018 and 35th time B.A.S.S. has held a major event on Sam Rayburn, dating back to 1968.
The trip to the Red River will be the first one for B.A.S.S. since the 2018 Central Open won by South Carolina pro Patrick Walters. Most notably, the fishery was the site of the Bassmaster Classic in 2009 and 2012.
“Shreveport-Bossier City is excited to host the 2022 Bassmaster Open on the Red River,” said Kelly Wells, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. “We look forward to providing world-class hospitality for anglers and their families here in Sportsman’s Paradise! We also want to give a special thank you to the Red River Waterway Commission for co-hosting this incredible event.”
The Northern Division slate will include visits to the James River in Richmond, Va., April 14-16, Oneida Lake in Syracuse, N.Y., July 7-9 and the Upper Chesapeake Bay in Cecil County, Md., Sept. 8-10. The latter tournament will mark B.A.S.S.’s first visit to the Chesapeake since a 2015 Elite Series event won by Alabama pro Aaron Martens.
As in the past, the full field will compete the first two days before the boater side is cut to 10 anglers on Championship Saturday. The co-angler champion will be crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in.
Entry fees will remain the same for the 2022 Opens circuit. Pro anglers will pay $1,800 per event with an $800 deposit due up front, while co-anglers will pay $475 per event with a $200 deposit. Online registration for both pro and co-anglers will begin Nov. 9 for B.A.S.S Nation and Life members and B.A.S.S. members Nov. 11.
In 2022, FOX Sports will continue to broadcast live coverage from Championship Saturday of each of the division final tournaments on FS1 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
2022 Bassmaster Opens Schedule
Southern
Feb. 3-5, Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee, Fla.
March 31-April 2, Cherokee Lake, Jefferson County, Tenn.
Oct. 6-8, Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Central
April 28-30, Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland, Miss.
Sept. 22-24, Red River, Shreveport-Bossier, La.
Oct. 20-22, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, Texas
Northern
April 14-16, James River, Richmond, Va.
July 7-9, Oneida Lake, Syracuse, N.Y.
Sept. 8-10, Upper Chesapeake Bay, Cecil County, Md.