BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A big week for the B.A.S.S. Nation got even better today as B.A.S.S. announced an expanded Nation schedule for 2020. After holding three regionals this year, B.A.S.S. Nation will hold five next season, with events in the Southeast, Western, Central, Northeast and Northern regions of the country. Each event will provide opportunities for everyday anglers to qualify for the 2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, which is scheduled for Nov. 11-13 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala.
The schedule will kick off with the Southeast Regional on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee on Jan. 29-31. That legendary fishery, which has hosted 22 major B.A.S.S. events, should be in prime form as its giant largemouth population heads to the shallows to spawn.
From Florida, the schedule will shift to the Western Regional at Lake Mead in Henderson, Nev., on April 29-May 1. Lake Mead was the site of the first Bassmaster Classic back in 1971.
The schedule will then work its way back East with the Central Regional at Toledo Bend Reservoir in Many, La., on May 28-30. Toledo Bend has hosted 18 major B.A.S.S. events and was ranked No. 1 on Bassmaster Magazine’s annual list of 100 Best Bass Lakes for back-to-back years in 2015-16.
The schedule will swing to the upper regions of the United States with the Northeast Regional at Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa., on June 24-26. Then, the final regular-season event will be held at picturesque Lake Vermillion in Tower, Minn., on Aug. 26-28.
The 2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake will be made up of qualifiers from all five regions, as well as international qualifiers from 11 foreign countries. The Top 3 anglers from the overall standings — both boater and nonboater divisions — will earn a berth to the 2021 Bassmaster Classic.
The winner of the 2020 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will also receive paid entry fees into the 2021 Bassmaster Opens Series division of the angler’s choice and use of a tournament-ready Nitro or Triton boat.