THE BASS COLLEGE

B.A.S.S. LLC announced the 2012 schedule today for a three-division Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open circuit that will hit nine bass fisheries in nine different states.

Timing on the fisheries was a top consideration in creation of the schedule — Lake Norman and Table Rock in April, and the James River in July, for example.

So was geography:

south to Florida, west into Texas, and north to Michigan.

A fresh challenge was added with a Cayuga Lake tournament; that one is in August, perfect timing for upstate New York.

“We wanted to come up with a schedule that included a wide range of fishery types, on dates that made sense for that fishery, and with a geographical spread that made participation easier for more tournament anglers,” said Jerry McKinnis, one of three principals who purchased B.A.S.S. in late 2010. “I think we’ve come pretty close to all those goals.”

The season will kick off with a Southern Open in central Florida, Jan. 19-21 on the Harris Chain of Lakes out of Tavares. Host to more than a dozen Bassmaster events since 1986, “the Chain” was the site of the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series opener in March. Shaw Grigsby smoked the field with a sight-fishing bonanza of 75 pounds, 4 ounces over four days.

The sprawling, canal-linked lakes have produced for Open pros, too. In a 2009 Open, Day 1 leader John Kremer posted 29-13, and eventual victor Bryan Hudgins on Day 2 sacked a bag that was 1 ounce shy of 31 pounds.

Texas’ Lewisville Lake is No. 2 on the 2012 Open schedule.

Lewisville was a “sleeper” stop in 2011, but pro Mark Tucker woke it up after a cold front with a catch of 45 pounds, 15 ounces over three days.

The Feb. 9-11, 2012, tournament out of Lewisville, Texas, will be the first of three in the Central division. Lake Norman out of Charlotte, N.C., will keep Southern Open anglers going April 5-7. In the 2011 Open on Norman, a 25-year-old unknown from Ohio, Fletcher Shryock, put his name up on the bass board by posting 49-9 over three days in late March.

The early April dates for the 2012 event could result in similar weights. Table Rock — a name that’s become bedrock in B.A.S.S. tournament history — will be the 2012 Central Open’s second stop on April 26-28. Like Norman and Lewisville, Table Rock is an encore from the 2011 schedule, but a 2011 Open champ from The Rock is still to come.

Torrential rains in April forced a rescheduling of the 2011 Central event to Oct. 20-22. But come the 2012 Open dates in late April, there’s every chance that Table Rock will show its springtime potential for a big shallow bite and lots of limits. The tidal James River out of Richmond, Va., will be the site of the June 14-16 Northern Open, the division’s first of 2012. The James ran gold in the 2011 Open for Kelly Pratt of Williamsburg, Va., when he won with 42-6 taken on a shallow finesse bite. But B.A.S.S. and the James go back much further. After a 1983 James River Invitational won by the legendary Hank Parker, B.A.S.S. followed with three Bassmaster Classic river events in a row, 1988-1990. Rivers run through the 2012 schedule.

Next up after the James will be Northern Open No. 2 on the Detroit River out of Detroit, Mich., July 19-21. The last time an Open was there, Todd Schmitz pulled off a come-from-way-way-behind win with 61 pounds. He keyed on the river’s deeper, cooler channel, a reliable midsummer tactic. But anglers can run to Lake St. Clair to find the cooler temps, just like the fish do.

After Detroit, Northern Open anglers can shift their attention to Cayuga Lake and Seneca Falls, N.Y., for the Aug. 16-18 Northern season finale. Cayuga is a cool, deep fishery — max depth is more than 400 feet — but the northern-end shoals area is a known haunt of largemouth bass.

Cayuga also has smallmouth bass. Finger-slim, the fishery stretches 28 miles and up to 3 1/2 miles wide. Not huge, but big enough. The Central Open finale takes place Sept. 6-8 on Fort Gibson Lake out of Wagoner, Okla. In 2010, Fort Gibson Lake was the site of a relocated Bassmaster Elite Series tournament. In the Elite Series tournament, pro Tommy Biffle of Wagoner capitalized on a home-lake advantage to haul in 73-11 over four mid-June days.

With three days of competition, Open anglers aren’t likely to hit that mark, but a September time frame could help boost weights. Memorable for big spotted bass and several record spots, Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake will be the last 2012 Open destination.

Smith will long be etched in pro Andy Montgomery’s memory. His win with 34 pounds, 9 ounces at the 2010 Open on Smith helped him qualify for the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series. Hitting docks over deeper, stained water was a key to his success with spotted (and largemouth) bass in an unusually high-water situation for Smith. How the Oct. 4-6, 2012, event out of Jasper, Ala., goes for anglers should again be tied to water levels and clarity.

Registration dates and details about the 2012 Bassmaster Open season will be announced soon.

For more information about the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens, visit www.bassmaster.com/open.

2012 Schedule of Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Events,

By Division

 Northern June 14-16

James River Richmond, Va.

July 19-21 Detroit River Detroit, Mich.

Aug. 16-18 Cayuga Lake Seneca Falls, N.Y.

BASSMASTER OPEN FROM FLORIDA LIVE WEIGH INS< click to watch

LIVE 2012 Bass Pro Shops Southern Open #1 Harris Chain of Lakes - Tavares, FL, Jan 19 - 21, 2012

That was a HECK of a sack today. Don't think that one will be top in this event. If you have time you should give it a watch .

Yep it was cool. 

sisezz73 at January 19, 2012 at 10:27 PM

That was a HECK of a sack today. Don't think that one will be top in this event. If you have time you should give it a watch .

Someone is going to get a big sack!!  It is the place to get it too!

Chris Lane wins Harris Chain Open, first berth in 2013Classic

By Ken Duke JAN 21, 2012

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., made it look easy on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes in the kickoff event of the 2012 Bass Pro Shops Southern Open series.

Lane was the only angler to weigh in 20 or more pounds of bass each day on the way to his third B.A.S.S. win, totaling 72 pounds, 11 ounces over the three-day tournament. Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., finished second with 58-1. All of Lane’s Bassmaster victories have come in Southern Opens. His first two, in 2006 and 2010, came on Lake Okeechobee.

“I got tell you, I had an emotional ride over here,” Lane said. “My dad had a little episode about 3 weeks ago. I’m just glad he’s here to see it.” Citing the need to slow down and fish his areas thoroughly, Lane used a variety of baits to claim the title and a provisional berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, Feb. 22-24. If Lane fishes the remaining two events in the Southern Open season, he’ll cement the spot in bass fishing’s greatest championship.

“I caught fish on several soft plastics, including 7-inch Gambler Sweebo worms, Gambler Cane Toads and the Gambler Big Easy, but I found my bass with a chartreuse Lucky Strike RC2 crankbait,” Lane said. “I used it as a search bait.

When I found bass with it, I’d pick up the soft plastics and really work the area over.” Despite having a five-pound lead going into the final round, Lane had a scare on Saturday morning. After catching a couple of small keepers, his co-angler caught bass totaling more than 10 pounds on two consecutive casts. “I was rattled,” Lane admitted, “but I knew what I had to do

. I was making mistakes, and I needed to slow down.” And he did. Lane’s next bass was his best of the day, a lunker that inhaled a Sweebo worm. When the day was over, his best five weighed 28-5, good enough for the Lucky Strike heavyweight of the tournament.

Day Three’s big bass belonged Keith Carson of Debary, Fla., and weighed 9-13. Avery McCormick of Mobile, Ala., had the lead on the co-angler side the first two days despite not catching a limit (3 bass for co-anglers). Missing his limit caught up with him in the final round. Needing only 1-3 to tie, he weighed just one 14-ounce fish to fall five ounces short of victory.

wish they were coming to flats or potomic

No doubt Tom. Don't understand why they are going to the James back to back..

probally who gives them the most money! 

comfirmation is in.  BASSMASTER central open.April 26,27 and 28..Hear we go team! Hair cut on the way,so i look more like the man.

LOL That will be cool then they will think I won until they read your name. lol Good luck. I think youll meet some members at the event and/or in it. I hope somebody gets us some pictures and/or video of this?? 

Last time on stage, travel solo so no pictures,kind of a bummer,but cool to be up there.This time with nine fish.

I will see who we can get to be there this time and take pics or video. 

Sure would like to take Wicked and pizz with me.Guess resume after hair cut.

anybody who lives near the OPEN that Curt here is in, please make a post or send a message. I would like to get some photos or video really of the weigh in with Curt at least. This is on Table Rock. Is Craig Coffman in this or just the BFL or the other events? 

Hello Guys

I will be at Table Rock for the FLW Everstart as non boater in first week of March.

I dont have anybody who will take pics or video for me.

Hope will be on live weigh in on FLW.com

I will try to ask.

I am excited because Everstart is new to me because you can fish competitively for two days and if you qualify and then you have opptunity to fish the third day as non boater.

FLW BFL is a good start but need more time to fish, so that is why I jump to Everstart to grow as I learn from the boater tatics and skills.

If you want to learn as a basic about fishing, I would suggest you go to BFL nearby your local area. I am sure you will be fire up after the BFL tournament day is over and still want to go more. If you have any question about the FLW-BFL and I will glady to answer your question.

Have a good day on the water, tighten your lines.

Your Bass Angler

Craig Coffman

Any one else fishing the BASSMASTER open at Table rock? Sold my Lund today so i think i will be able to make it back home.

Can anyone enter an open? And if I would want to participate in an open,  would I have to call and sign up, or is it walk up and register?

You cant walk in and register at any professional level event anywhere.  You are lucky to get in in time doing it all ahead of time with all the stuff in order. You can enter if you have $1,500.00 for the entry fee, and can be there for 4 days to fish and afford the practice, travel etc then you can enter. This is all listed here in the tournament section and at the Bassmaster site. When you have 5,000 or more and at least 2 months to practice , then go to their site and contact me as well, and we will get serious.