Winter Slow Down

 

The winter slow down is upon us. IBASSIN.com will not be actively posting 
for the next week or two. Don't worry, if something interesting, news worthy or industry changing emerges we'll be right on it. 

BASS Announces 2021 Bassmaster Opens Events

On Thursday, B.A.S.S. officials revealed the schedule for the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens trail with a later start date than usual and a change in format from the past three seasons.

Instead of two divisions with four tournaments, this year’s Opens circuit will include three divisions — Southern, Central and Northern — with three events in each.

All nine tournament winners will earn an automatic berth to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk if they fish all events in their division. Additionally, the top three finishers from each division’s points standings will receive an invitation to fish the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series, as will the top three from the overall standings accumulated in all three divisions.

“We’ve only been done a couple of weeks, but I’m already so excited about the 2021 schedule we’ve put together,” said Bassmaster Opens Tournament Director Chris Bowes. “This last season, with all of its stops and starts, was the hardest of my life. But I’m so proud we were able to get it all in. And every event was critical in a season that saw our Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year race decided by just one point.

2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens schedule

Southern Opens
March 4-6, Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
Apr. 15-17, Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.
Sept. 23-25, Lake Norman, Charlotte, N.C.

Central Opens
Apr. 1-3, Lewis Smith Lake, Jasper, Ala.
Apr. 29-May 1, Pickwick Lake, Counce, Tenn.
Oct. 21-23, Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.

Northern Opens
May 13-15, James River, Richmond, Va.
July 29-31, Oneida Lake, Syracuse, N.Y.
Sept. 9-11, St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands, Clayton, N.Y.

Pre-spawn Bassin' Coming to Southern Ontario

Smalllmouth protection key to regulation changes. 

By Luigi De Rose 

Not every rule applies to all situations. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have taken anglers and environmental needs under consideration to modify the 2021 FMZ 20 bass fishing regulations. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass will now have an open season from January 1 to May 10. This pre-spawn or trophy bass season will not allow anglers to keep or kill any bass. 

Largemouth bass will reopen on third Saturday of June which is consistently with this regions bass seasons. Smallmouth will open weeks later on the first Saturday of July. Postponing the smallmouth season ensure greater protection during the spawn. 

For more information click here. 

Wiggins secures final Classic spot with Team Champ Win

By Andrew Canulette

BASS PRESS RELEASE

There were times Saturday when Jordan Wiggins wondered if he had enough magic remaining to write the fairy-tale ending for a special week on the Harris Chain of Lakes.

He had to work for it, but the 29-year old Cullman, Ala., resident proved in the end that dreams really do come true in central Florida.

Wiggins won the Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off on Saturday with a two-day total of 10 bass that weighed 31 pounds, 9 ounces. His limit of 9-0 on Day 2 was significantly less than the tournament-best 22-9 he caught a day earlier, but it was enough for him to punch his ticket into the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. 

The Classic is scheduled for March 19-21 on Lake Ray Roberts near Fort Worth, Texas. Wiggins is the 54th and final angler to qualify for the next edition of the biggest bass tournament in the world.

“I’ve been shaking all day just thinking about making it to the Classic,” he said shortly after receiving a congratulatory hug from his wife, Whitney. “I’ve dreamed of this ever since I’ve been going fishing and I’ve been fishing a long time. This is awesome; just unreal.” 

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule

After the shortest offseason break in the trail’s 16-year history, B.A.S.S. officials announced Thursday that the Bassmaster Elite Series will open its 2021 tournament slate Feb. 11-14 on the St. Johns River in Florida.

The season-opener will begin just over three months after the final event of a 2020 schedule that was reworked due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a much later finish than usual.

“We’re as excited about this schedule as any that we’ve ever put together for the Elite Series,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “It features a good mix of venues that have become fixtures for B.A.S.S. and a few we’ve been to before but haven’t visited in a while.”

2021 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule

Feb. 11-14, AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla.
Feb. 25-28, Tennessee River, Knoxville, Tenn.
March 19-21, Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, Lake Ray Roberts, Fort Worth, Texas
April 8-11, Sabine River, Orange, Texas
April 22-25, Lake Fork, Emory, Texas
May 6-9, Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, Ala.
May 20-23, Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, Ala.
June 10-13, Pickwick Lake, Florence, Ala.
July 8-11, Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vt.
July 15-18, St. Lawrence River, Waddington, N.Y.
Aug. 19-22, Make-up date

Keith Carson Wins 2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open on Lay Lake with 47-01lbs!

Elite invitation given on last Open of the year

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Borrowing Elite Pro John Cox's boat 
provided enough luck for big win!
(Photo BASS)

Keith Carson had never seen Lay Lake before this week, but leveraging two familiar features allowed the Florida pro to win the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open with a three-day total of 47 pounds, 1 ounce. 

Carson placed second on Day 1 with 16-10 and then moved into the lead after catching the event’s heaviest bag — 18-10 — in the second round. On Saturday, he added 11-13 and won the top prize of $38,783 and a berth in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk scheduled for March 19-21 on Lake Ray Roberts.

Carson claimed his first Bassmaster win by fishing similarly to the way he fishes on his home waters.

“I was fishing grasslines near steeper banks up the river in front of the (Gaston) steam plant and about 2 miles north of the power plant,” Carson said. “I grew up fishing the St. Johns River and I’m very familiar with current.”

Working with the current created by Alabama Power Company’s release schedule from the Logan Martin Dam, Carson was able to keep himself in front of active fish most of the day. Discharge releases from the steam plant also helped his cause.

Carson pointed out that the inherently disjointed fall transition, complicated by a cold front that brought significant weather changes — partly cloudy, to rainy, to clear and bright — made consistency tough.

“I knew that whoever would grind the hardest would win,” he said. “There wasn’t any pattern, but there was one bait that I caught all my fish on. I used a Berkley Frittside 5 crankbait in the ghost morning dawn color.

REDCREST 2021 Anglers: Here Are Your 40 Qualifiers

Through an unpredictable 2020 tournament season, one goal remained crystal clear for the 80 anglers fishing the MLF Bass Pro Tour: earn a spot in the Top 40 in Angler of the Year standings and secure a spot in REDCREST 2021. Here are the 40 anglers who qualified to battle it out for a $300,000 first-place payday and bass-fishing glory.

Link here to see you qualified

Greg Hackney and Jason Christie Moving to Elites - John Cox to MLF

 

Qualifying through the BASS Opens, Hackney and Christie has decided to return to the Elites. John Cox shifts over to MLF along to many former FLW joining the Bass Pro Tour. 

For more info click here

Walk the Dog Like a Topwater Pro

Walking the Dog is a technique you must know. This topwater technique is key for walking, poppers and pencil pop lures. Learning to do it correct take some practice but once you know the basics you'll be walking the dog like a pro.

Check this video out to see how to use the reel and rod to keep that lure swinging back and forth.

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