BENTON, Ky. (Sept. 20, 2014) - Professional Anglers Association (PAA) announced the final details of the 2014 PAA Tournament Series this week.
Three outstanding fisheries will be the scene of some of the best competition the industry has to offer when the 2014 PAA Tournament Series visits Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tennessee; Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Kentucky; and Toledo Bend Reservoir, Hemphill, Texas.
The 2014 PAA Tournament Series schedule will be as follows:
September 22 -27, 2014 - Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.
October 6 - 11, 2014 - Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
November 17 - 22, 2014 - Toledo Bend Reservoir, Hemphill, Tex.
Douglas Lake
To kick off the 2014 season, PAA will return to beautiful Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee. Hosted by the Town of Dandridge and Jefferson County Tourism, competition days will be September 25 - 27. Also known as Douglas Reservoir, the lake was created by impounding the French Broad River in the early 1940s. With over 555 miles of shoreline, Douglas Lake offers a variety of structure and is quickly becoming known as a big bass impoundment within the angling world. Douglas Lake was the host of the PAA Tournament Series opener in March 2013 and saw PAA pro Shinichi Fukae win the event with a whopping 67.73 lbs. over the three (3) day event.
Adele Sensing, Director of Tourism, Jefferson County offered, “The Town of Dandridge is excited to be hosting the best pro tournament anglers on Douglas Lake. We have a community that is excited the PAA is coming to town again and will be showing the anglers true Southern hospitality. We enjoy all the exposure that comes along with a large scale national event like this. This lets the rest of the world know we have great fishing on Douglas Lake.”
Kentucky Lake
The second venue, Kentucky Lake, is new to PAA but it is no stranger to the bass fishing world as it has long been considered one of the top lakes in the United States for bass fishing. Kentucky Lake CVB and the Moors Resort and Marina have joined forces to host event two of the 2014 PAA Tournament Series the week of October 6 - 11, 2014. Competition days will be October 9 - 11.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
To close out the season with a bang, the 2014 PAA Tournament Series will see its first return to beautiful Toledo Bend Reservoir in Hemphill, Texas since 2009. The 2014 season will close on Toledo Bend the week of November 17 - 22, 2014. Hosted by Fin and Feather Resort and Hemphill Tourism, competition days will be November 20 - 22.
Entry fees and format remain the same.
Pro division entry fees for the 2014 PAA Tournament Series events will remain at $1,500. Deposits will remain at $500 per tournament and are due upon registration. The full field of pros will compete on days one and two and we will cut to the tops pros on day three. A Champion will be crowned at the conclusion of day three based upon the total weight of five fish per day across all three days of competition.
Co-Angler division entry fees will remain at $250 per tournament and deposits will remain at $50. Co-Anglers will fish the first two days of each event. A Champion will be crowned after the day two weigh-in based upon total weight of a three fish per day limit.
Pros advancing to the final day will fish with a non-fishing Observer. Top three pros in the PAA Angler of the Year race will qualify for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.
The 2015 Toyota Texas Bass Classic will feature three PAA qualifiers to its coveted world championship event on Lake Fork, Quitman, Texas May 23-25, 2015. The three PAA qualifiers will be decided following our third and final 2014 PAA Tournament Series event on Toledo Bend. The top three anglers in the 2014 Angler of the Year point standings who have fished all three 2014 events and not previously qualified for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic will earn berths into the 2015 Toyota Texas Bass Classic.
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic, often referred to as the TTBC, is a world championship event pitting the top anglers from the B.A.S.S. Elite Series, FLW Tour and the PAA Tournament Series in head to head competition. It is a no-entry fee event with a guaranteed check.
2014 Rule Updates
The 2014 PAA Tournament Series will feature the following updates to it official rules:
- PAA polled its membership in 2013 on the use of umbrella rigs in professional level competition. Of the 147 members participating in the poll, 96 were against the use of umbrella rigs and 51 were for the use of the umbrella rigs. Thus, in 2014, PAA has updated its rules regarding umbrella rigs to state: Alabama/Umbrella Rigs are not allowed to be used in this event during practice and/or competition days. Only one (1) bait is allowed per cast. The maximum number of accessory arms on any bait is two (2). The maximum length of accessory arms on any bait is 4-1/2”. The maximum number of blades on any bait is four (4) total. Any bait in question must be approved by the PAA Tournament Director before being used in this event. All lures/baits must comply with the Fish & Game laws for the state in which they are being used during a PAA event. It is each Angler’s responsibility to know those laws.
- Like with umbrella rigs, PAA listened to our anglers at the conclusion of our 2013 series. Our anglers wanted a more simplistic point system for each event and we delivered. In 2014, points for each event will be calculated as follows. At the conclusion of the tournament 200 points will be awarded to the winner in the Pro Division. 2nd place will receive 199 points, 3rd 198, etc, etc. and continuing until all Pros who weighed fish during competition have been awarded points. Pros that fail to weigh a legal fish during competition will receive zero (0) points.
These changes along with some updates to the types of boats that can be used in PAA events (In 2014, all boats used in PAA tournaments must be propeller driven, a minimum of 17 feet in length and have a minimum 150 horse power.) highlight the changes to the PAA Tournament Series rules in 2014.
Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for all three (3) 2014 PAA Tournament Series events and registration for each event will continue as follows:
| Event | Balance Due Date/ Last Day to Enter Without $50 Late Fee | Last Day to Enter Event (With $50 Late Fee) |
| Douglas Lake | 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Anyone entering after Official Practice starts on Monday, September 29th must notify the PAA Office of their intention to compete before starting practice for the event. | 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Anyone entering after Official Practice starts on Monday, September 29th must notify the PAA Office of their intention to compete before starting practice for the event. |
| Kentucky Lake | Friday, October 3, 2014 | Sunday, October 5, 2014 (All Sat., Oct. 4th & Sun., Oct. 5th Entries Must be Submitted by Fax or E-mail) |
| Toledo Bend | Monday, November 10, 2014 | Friday, November 14, 2014 |
The PAA office will be open and receiving/returning calls over this weekend, September 20-21 to allow anglers to enter the Douglas Lake event.
PAA Tournament Series events are open format events where anyone can join PAA with the appropriate level of membership and pay their entry fee to compete.
Pros must join as or possess an active $400 Tour level membership or be a Legends level member of PAA to compete.
Co-Anglers must join as or possess a minimum of a $50 General level membership to PAA to fish as a Co-Angler. Students, age 22 or under, may fish as a Co-Angler with a $20 Affinity level membership if proof of age is supplied.