Bassmaster Will Not Reschedule Upper Chesapeake Bay

BASS PRESS RELEASE

For the second time in the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series season, B.A.S.S. was forced to postpone an Elite event because of massive flooding and unsafe boating conditions. And for the first time in Elite Series history, one of those events has been canceled altogether, the organization announced today.

The Huk Bassmaster Elite at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by Mossy Oak Fishing will not be rescheduled, said Bruce Akin, CEO.

“By the time conditions on the upper Chesapeake Bay improved enough for competition, our great hosts at Harford County, Md., were unable to accommodate our event,” he said. “We could have switched the event to another fishery, but in consideration of Elite anglers who had important obligations during the times we had available, we elected to end the season with eight qualifying events, instead of the nine we had planned.

2018 Costa FLW Northern Division Lake Erie: One and Done-Day 2 & 3 Cancelled!

Neil Farrow Wins!

By Colin Moore

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Wicked winds halts tournament.
(Photo: FLW)

A stubborn weather front packing westerly winds lingered overnight in the eastern basin of Lake Erie near Buffalo and forced the cancellation of the final day of the Costa FLW Series Northern Division tournament presented by Polaris. Ron Lappin, Costa FLW Series tournament director, made the call at about 4 a.m. after boating out to the mouth of the protected harbor where the tournament was headquartered.

In effect, it was a one-day tournament, as Lappin called off the second day of the event Friday because of dangerous boating conditions on Erie’s open waters.

“As soon as I got out to the opening, I saw 5-footers washing up,” said Lappin. “The front that was supposed to go through yesterday evening [Friday] apparently didn’t. The weather report showed gusts to about 22 mph coming in until about 10 a.m., then letting up some, then picking up again in the afternoon. So even if we had waited an hour or two, it wouldn’t have made much difference.

“There’s no sense in taking chances. This is the type of waterway that can get really dangerous in a hurry,” Lappin said. “Going out in even marginal conditions is asking for trouble, so for the best interests of everyone involved we ended the tournament with the standings as they are.”

Ontario pro Neil Farrow was declared the winner on the strength of his 24-pound, 4-ounce limit of smallmouths in the event’s opening round Thursday. Ben Wright of Peru, N.Y., was runner-up with 24-3, Charles Sim of Nepean, Ont., was third with 23-3, JT Kenney of Palm Bay, Fla., was fourth with 23-2 and J. Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., was fifth with 22-15.

In Thursday’s opening round, 44 pros had limits that each weighed 20 pounds or more, while nine co-anglers accounted for 20-pounds-plus sacks. Sakae Ushio of nearby Tonawanda, N.Y., won the co-angler division with 23-7.

Lappin said that the top 43 places each on the boater and co-angler sides would receive checks. The payout begins at 9 at the weigh-in trailer at Safe Harbor. The next Costa FLW Series Northern Division matchup is set for Sept. 6-8 out of Clayton, N.Y. That event will decide the final divisional standings.

2018 Costa FLW Series on Lake Okeechobee Cancelled due to Tragedy.

Tournament cancelled after Day 1 due to missing anglers. 
By Luigi De Rose

Nik Kayler, wearing the blue jacket, and Bill Kisiah pictured here
before the start of Day 1.  (Photo: FLW)

On Thursday January 4th, the anglers of the Costa FLW Series were ready to kick off the 2018 season on Lake Okeechobee. Anglers were met with frigid temperatures and howling winds. As the scales closed on the first day, the weights were historically low but there was also a missing boat. Pro angler Bill Kisiah of Slidell, LA and Co-angler Nik Kayler of Apopka, Florida failed to check in and were considered missing some where on Lake Okeechobee.

FLW staff and friends of the anglers notified the authorities to start an official search. By 11:15pm, FLW posted an up-date stating that boater Bill Kisiah was found alive. His boat had washed up along the shoreline near He was initially transported to local hospital but later moved to Belle Glade, Florida. Bill was initially treated for exposure and hypothermia but by Friday morning local reports stated he was listed in serious condition.  

FLW quickly cancelled the remaining tournament days to focus on the search and for respect of the missing anglers and their families.

The search for Nik Kayler continued all weekend. Operations were being conducted under the guidance of the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.

After exhausted searches by air and boat, Nik Kayler was yet to be found. 

2017 BASS Elite Lake Champlain Day 1 Cancelled Due to Weather!

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Everyone out! (Photo: BASS)

The first day of the much-anticipated Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels has been canceled because of rough-water conditions.
B.A.S.S. Tourname.t Director Trip Weldon made the call shortly after returning from a test drive to the edge of Cumberland Bay on Lake Champlain, where the first-round takeoff was to have taken place.
A sustained south wind drove waves as high as 4 feet, he estimated.
In a statement to anglers and others, he said, “Day 1 is canceled due to rough seas running north and south. I took a ride out into the lake, and we made a decision it is not safe to go today.”
While weather forecasts called for moderate winds today, gusts were driving waves dangerously high. Elite angler Hank Cherry lobbied Weldon to cancel fishing for the day. Others who are staying in lakeside accommodations, as Cherry is, supported the decision.
Weldon noted that Elite Series rules call for the full field of 109 anglers to compete on Friday and Saturday, and the final round will include the Top 51 competitors on Sunday.
The Elite at Lake Champlain is the eighth of nine regular-season tournaments in the Elite Series. At stake is $100,000 for the winner and valuable Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.
Takeoff Friday, weather permitting, will be at the Plattsburgh City Marina at 6:15 a.m. ET.

Top Bass Live Release Tournament Cancelled!

TOP BASS Stopped!

By Joel Isenberg

Due to deteriorating health reasons, Ted, the owner and operator of Top BASS has cancelled the 2016 season. Ted had run this "blue collar" tournament series since 1993 with great success. In the past few years, while other events have had very poor attendance, TOP BASS had been growing. 

Little details are know at press time. The press release is below. All 93 pre-paid teams will be reimbursed their payments. 

Top Bass Press Release

June 12, 2016.

TOP BASS Fishing Series

It is with great sadness that I have to make the hardest business decision of my life. Due to health reasons I will be unable to operate the TOP BASS Fishing Series for the 2016 season.

At this time the TOP BASS Fishing Series is not permanently being shut down. After I return to good health I look forward to bringing the TOP BASS Fishing Series back as one of the most popular tournament series in Ontario.

To those who have sent in your deposits, all payments will be returned within 3 weeks.

Also, I would like to thank the 93 teams which have pre-registered for the 2016 season and I would also like to thank “ALL” of the anglers that have supported the TOP BASS Fishing Series since its first event in 1993.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the TOP BASS Fishing Series staff that has made this series possible for so many years.

Once again, I would like to thank each and every one of you that has supported the TOP BASS Fishing Series over the past 23 years.

Teodoro (Ted) Gallone                                                                                                                                                     TOP BASS Fishing Series

2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship Cancelled for Third Day will Restart Today

Three days of delays pushes AOY Championship to a final day blow out!

bass press release

ESCANABA, Mich. — Bassmaster Elite Series tournament officials postponed competition in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship for an unprecedented third consecutive day today because of unsafe boating conditions.

Wind whipped waters give BASS and anglers
little options.
(Photo: BASS)

The third day of competition was postponed Sunday because of steady north winds gusting to 20 miles per hour which resulted in small craft advisories for the Escanaba area of Lake Michigan.

“Winds through the north were up to 25 mph and higher,” said Trip Weldon, B.A.S.S. tournament director. “It's especially rough here at the takeoff location.” 

The Top 50 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers are competing this week on Big Bay de Noc and Little Bay de Noc in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the coveted title of Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year and a purse of $900,000.

King and Burns become the 2012 Berkley B1 winners

A weather shorten tournament netted Norman King and PJ Burns champion rings plus a fully rigged Charger Bass Boat. Their creel of five smallmouth for 23.51LBs took the prize from a wildly windy and wet tournament.

2012 Berkley B1 Day 2 CANCELLED!

Tournament official at the B1 cancelled Day 2 due to extreme weather conditions. Award presentation will start at noon.

http://www.berkleyb1.com/index.html

FLW Tour on Table Rock Lake CANCELLED

FLW OUTDOORS PRESS RELEASE
27.Apr.2011
MINNEAPOLIS — FLW Outdoors announced Wednesday that the upcoming Walmart FLW Tour event on Table Rock Lake has been canceled due to historic flooding in southwestern Missouri. The tournament was originally slated for May 5-8. In regards to rescheduling the event, FLW Outdoors officials are exploring various options. Further details will be announced as they become available.

The water level at the Table Rock Dam is currently sitting at 935.4 feet, having surpassed the previous record high of 933 feet. Within the past four days, the lake has risen nearly 20 feet. Full pool is 915 feet.

“Our foremost concern is the safety of the anglers,” said Kathy Fennel, president of FLW Outdoors Operations Division. “The high water levels and floating debris make boat operation hazardous. The decision to cancel was reached after multiple discussions with state and local officials, and we felt it was imperative to notify anglers before they began traveling to Branson.”