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BASS Announces Schedule for
2008 Bassmaster Opens
Two Divisions Provide Direct Avenues to
Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series
September 11, 2007 - BASS announced today
that the 2008 Bassmaster Opens, a qualifying series featuring
a Southern and Central division, each with three events, will
visit fisheries in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Alabama and Texas.
The Open circuit provides direct qualifying avenues
into the Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic,
the Super Bowl of bass fishing. Each division features a points
system similar to that of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler
of the Year standings. The top three in the Open standings from
each division will qualify for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, while
the top 10 pros qualify for the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series.
"We have received great feedback from BASS
anglers regarding the Bassmaster Opens," said Tom Ricks,
vice president and general manager of BASS. "There is a
legitimate opportunity to climb the ranks and progress to the
top level of competition."
Those who qualified for the Elites in 2007 from
a lower-level qualifying circuit include Derek Remitz of Madison,
Ala., and Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C. Both have scored Elite
Series victories in 2007.
Additionally, Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala.,
has enjoyed success in the top levels of competition. Duckett
kicked off his 2007 season with a victory in the 2007 Bassmaster
Classic and recently notched his second BASS victory at the Bassmaster
Legends presented by Ramada Worldwide on Arkansas' Lake Dardanelle.
He attributes much of his success to the experience
he gained from the Bassmaster Tours, a format similar to the
Opens.
"The Opens are an extremely competitive circuit,"
Duckett said. "They help prepare and teach an angler how
to travel, practice and compete in big-league events. It's a
big help to guys looking to qualify for the Elites."
The Southern Open circuit launches Jan. 24-26 on
Florida's Lake Okeechobee, site of more than 20 previous BASS
tournaments. Bassmaster Elite Series angler Chris Lane of Winter
Haven, Fla., won a Bassmaster Southern Tour event in January
2006 on Okeechobee.
For the second Bassmaster Open, May 8-10, in Manning,
S.C., anglers head to Santee Cooper, a fishery that BASS has
visited more than a dozen times. In March 2006, Elite Series
angler Preston Clark of Palatka, Fla., set a BASS record
which has since been broken for four-day heaviest catch
when he won a Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper.
Southern Division Open anglers will close the circuit
Oct. 16-18 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Ala. In 2007,
two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo,
Mich., scored a Bassmaster Elite Series victory on the famed
fishery.
The Central Division kicks off April 24-26 on the
Red River in Shreveport, La., the second consecutive visit to
the area for the Open circuit.
Anglers travel north Sept. 25-27 to Kentucky Lake
in Paris, Tenn. Kentucky Lake also will be the site of a 2008
Bassmaster Elite Series event and has hosted more than 10 BASS
events.
The final event of the Central Division is Oct.
30-Nov. 1 on Lake Texoma in Denison, Texas. Texoma, another repeat
stop for the Central Opens, was won in March 2007 by Texan Brian
Clark.
Pro angler entry fees are $1,000 per event and
co-anglers pay $300 per event. Anglers can fish both Open divisions.
There is a five-fish limit for all anglers, with payouts based
on a 175 pro and co-anglers.
New in 2008, Open pros will compete for an all-cash
payout of more than $190,000. The champion on the pro side of
each event will receive $45,000 and the top 50 pros will receive
checks.
Co-anglers will vie for a top prize of a Triton/Mercury
boat package valued at $32,000. The total payout to the top 50
co-anglers is more than $70,000.
Full fields will participate in the first two days
of competition. The top 30 anglers will move on to fish the final
day.
Expanded payouts, rules and registration information
can be found at http://www.Bassmaster.com.
Registration for BASS members begins at noon ET
Monday, Nov. 12, but early registration is available for Federation
Nation, BASS Insider and Lifetime members as well as certain
pre-qualified anglers. Interested participants can sign up at
http://www.Bassmaster.com or call 1-877-BASS-USA.
"The Opens provide a fantastic format for
anglers looking to experience the top levels of BASS competition,"
said Skeet Reese, who leads the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler
of the Year standings. "This is a great venue to build a
resume and to gain some much-needed experience."
2008 Bassmaster Southern Open Division
Jan. 24-26 Lake Okeechobee Okeechobee, Fla.
May 8-10 Santee Cooper Reservoir Manning, S.C.
Oct. 16-18 Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala.
2008 Bassmaster Central Open Division
April 24-26 Red River Shreveport, La.
Sept. 25-27 Kentucky Lake Paris, Tenn.
Oct. 30 Nov. 1 Lake Texoma Denison, Texas
Bassmaster Open Sponsors: Toyota, Purolator, Triton
Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance
Electronics and MotorGuide.
Local sponsors of the Bassmaster Opens include
the City of Okeechobee County Tourism, Shreveport Regional Sports
Authority, Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, Henry County
Alliance, Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Marshall County
Convention & Visitors Bureau and Denison Chamber of Commerce.
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