Now that the Bassmaster Classic is in the history books, it’s time to have a look forward and see where the Elite Series pros will be plying their trade.
While the Elite Series does not offer the full line up of the tournaments put on by B.A.S.S., it is the series of tournaments where the best of the best will put their skills on display. If you want to have an opportunity to see your favorite pros duke it out on some fantastic bodies of water, stop by one of the tournaments below.
Lake Seminole
The first stop after the Classic is Lake Seminole.
From March 13-16, the pros will make the stop in South Georgia.
As a transplanted Georgian myself, I know a thing or two about this lake. The time of year could be ripe for some solid bags of big bass. If a warming trend hits, the fish will start moving shallow and provide plenty of exciting action.
This one could be fun!
St. John’s River
The next stop on the Elite roadshow is the St. John’s river, in Florida.
From March 20-23, boats will descend in pursuit of big bass. It should be noted that there is one Elite Series angler who should probably be considered the favorite here—Terry Scroggins. He’s called Palatka Florida home for over 3 decades, and knows the water better than most.
Look for big action as bedding fish will be on everyone’s mind, and bags could get almost cartoonish at the weigh ins.
Table Rock
Stop number 3 will be at Table Rock from April 3-6.
Table Rock is a legendary fishery that holds smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass. In 1999 though, a virus swept through and depleted largemouth numbers.
Bioligists are reporting a strong recovery however, and the higher lake levels in recent years have aided that resurgence.
Fishing heavy cover is a standby here, and clever and resourceful pros will do the best.
Toledo Bend
May 1-4 will have the pros doing battle at Toledo Bend.
This reservoir is the largest lake in the South, and the fifth largest in the States. To put it bluntly, it’s a big mother!
Time management will be very important as the plethora of choices of fishing spots and strategies can be overwhelming. It’s like going to a buffet without a plan—you end up eating a little bit of everything, feeling bloated, but somehow unsatisfied all at once.
The winner here will be the angler who plans his work and works his plan.
Lake Dardanelle
The pros will cruise into Arkansas from May 15-18.
Lake Dardanelle has undergone a renaissance of sorts. Smart fishery management has led to a rebirth and resurgence in the largemouth population.
Mid May in Arkansas is a roll of the dice as far as weather is concerned. Rain would most likely be an unwelcome party guest as it would muddy the water and create some hefty currents.
Warm weather leading up to the tourney could put the bass firmly into summer feeding patterns. All in all, this is a tough event to call this far out.
Chickamauga Lake
From June 11-15, Chickamauga lake will host BASSfest, a celebration of all things fishing, and a big time tournament all in one.
This tournament has an exciting monkey wrench thrown into the mix—the top 20 anglers from the 3 BASS open tours will compete alongside the pros. While certainly an exciting prospect, you have to feel the anxiety that these anglers will be feeling.
Imagine working your tail off to make the grade, and the reward is competing against KVD, Edwin Evers, Ott Defoe, and the rest of the Elite pros. Exciting? You bet. A little nerve wracking? Without a doubt.
This is going to be a fun event.
Delaware River
After some time off, the pros will make their way to the Delaware river from August 7-10.
It’s an interesting choice for a tournament, for sure. Highly industrialized, the feeling seems to be that it will be massively stingy, at least for bass. This is one of those tournaments which will see a few other species likely make their way into the boat (catfish anyone?).
There is something important to note here—Mike Iaconelli has predicted a win.
When he didn’t make the cut at The Classic, the last thing he said was, “There’s an Elite tournament on the Delaware river this year, and look out, ‘cuz I’m gonna win that mother!”
Ike has fished the Delaware for over 30 years, so he has to be the favorite going in.
Cayuga Lake
As the season winds down, the pros will descend on Cayuga lake from August 21-24.
A narrow lake, Cayuga holds both largemouth and smallmouth bass, and they have massively deep areas to patrol.
The average depth at Cayuga is 179 feet, with a maximum depth clocking in at a whopping 433 feet. We could see some interesting techniques employed to coax the fish from these murky depths.
Beyond the ocean-like deep water, Cayuga also has a shoreline blessed with submerged grass and sharp points. Look for a surprise winner here, as BASS has only held one other event on this water.
Parts Unknown
The Elite season will hit the crescendo on an as-yet-unnamed body of water.
The Angler of the Year Championship will from September 18-21, and as usual, we won’t know where for a while.
Your guess is as good as mine here, but I would like to see a big bass fishery hold the event.
Who doesn’t like the prospect of 100 pound bags? The Big O gets my vote (if I had a vote).
So, there it is. What event has you most excited?