The 2009 Bassmaster Opens, comprised of three qualifying series in a Southern, Central and revamped Northern division, each with three events, will visit diverse and productive fisheries for a total of nine events in Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, BASS announced today. However, yet again, BASS has ignored the Western states, leaving thousands of anglers to search for other tournament circuits.
BASS has adjusted its qualifying berths with the addition of the Northern Open division, which will visit Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, New York's Lake Champlain and Ohio's Lake Erie. As in past years, the Open format will provide direct qualifying avenues into the Elite Series and the Classic.
In 2009, the top two pro competitors from each of three divisions will advance to the Classic and the top seven pro anglers to the Elite Series. The points system for the Opens that will determine Elite Series and Classic qualifiers will mirror the Angler of the Year standings used in the Elite Series.
A number of eastern US anglers have qualified for the Elite Series via the Opens and achieved success at the highest level.
As in 2008, the Opens will feature an all-cash payout for pros. The payout will be based on 175 boaters and will adjust to the actual field size. Pros will compete for more than $190,000 in cash, with the winner receiving $45,000. Co-anglers will continue to compete at the Open level for more than $70,000 in cash and merchandise, including the top prize of a boat/motor package valued at $32,000.
Full fields will fish the first two days of competition, and the top 30 will advance to the third and final day. The best cumulative three-day total will win the event.
The Southern Open circuit launches Jan. 29-31 on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes out of Tavares, Fla., which will serve as the host city. The Harris Chain was the site of an Elite victory for McClelland in 2008 and has hosted more than 10 BASS events. McClelland won the season-opening Elite event with a four-day total of 59 pounds, 2 ounces.
For the second Southern Open, April 30-May 2, anglers head to Wheeler Lake and Decatur, Ala., site of the seventh Elite event in 2008. Jeremy Starks of Charleston, W.Va., edged out four-time Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam with a four-day total of 78 pounds, 10 ounces. The Decatur Morgan County Convention and Visitor's Bureau will serve as the host and Wheeler will also serve as the tournament waters April 2-5 for the Dixie Duel, the third Elite event in 2009.
Southern Open anglers will close the circuit Oct. 22-24 on Santee Cooper Reservoir out of Manning, S.C., an event hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce. Elite Series angler Preston Clark of Palatka, Fla., set a BASS record in 2006 on Santee Cooper - which has since been broken twice - for the four-day heaviest catch when he won a Elite Series event there.
The Northern Opens will kick off April 16-18 on the Chesapeake Bay hosted by Cecil County, Md., marking the first BASS event there since the 1991 Classic, when Ken Cook scored a victory.
From Maryland, anglers travel north to the city of Plattsburgh, N.Y., which will host an Aug. 20-22 competition on smallmouth paradise Lake Champlain. The fishery is also slated to host a Elite Series event in 2009, the Aug. 6-9 Empire Chase. The final event in the Northern division is Sept. 24-26 on Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio. Erie has hosted eight BASS events and is set for its third Elite Series event in 2010.
For the Central Opens, anglers will start in Louisiana, the host state of the 2009 Classic. The first Central division event, March 5-7 out of Many, La. and hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, will be on tournament favorite Toledo Bend Reservoir. Toledo has hosted more than 10 BASS events, and the Central Open will be the first BASS tournament after the 2009 Classic, set for Feb. 20-22 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City.
From Louisiana, anglers will move over one state to Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Jasper, Texas, which will serve as the host destination on Sept. 3-5. Rayburn is another tournament hot spot, and it last hosted a BASS event in 2006. To finalize the division and the entire Open circuit, anglers will head back to Louisiana to Morgan City and the Atchafalaya Basin on Nov. 5-7. Atchafalaya has hosted three BASS events, including one Open in 2003. The Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau will host the event.
2009 Bassmaster Southern Open Division
Jan. 29-31 Harris Chain of Lakes Tavares, Fla.
April 30-May 2 Wheeler Lake Decatur, Ala.
Oct. 22-24 Santee Cooper Reservoir Manning, S.C.
2009 Bassmaster Northern Open Division
April 16-18 Chesapeake Bay Cecil County, Md.
Aug. 20-22 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sept. 24-26 Lake Erie Sandusky, Ohio
2009 Bassmaster Central Open Division
March 5-7 Toledo Bend Many, La.
Sept. 3-5 Sam Rayburn Reservoir Jasper, Texas
Nov. 5-7 Atchafalaya Basin Morgan City, La.