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2003 CITGO BASSMASTER Tour Schedule Expands
to 10 Events
CITGO BASSMASTER Open Schedule Announced
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -March 27, 2002 - B.A.S.S., the world's
largest fishing organization, today announced its 2002-2003 schedule,
which includes an expansion of the premier tournament series
in fishing, the CITGO BASSMASTER Tour, to 10 events.
"We believe this schedule clearly demonstrates our continuing
dedication to enhancing the top professional fishing series in
the world," said B.A.S.S. General Manager Dean Kessel. "Combining
the new schedule with format changes and an increased payout
will increase the opportunities for exposure not only for the
CITGO BASSMASTER Tour, but for the athletes themselves."
The new schedule has the CITGO BASSMASTER Tour completing
all 10 of its events between January and May, with the season
opener taking place Jan. 6-12 on the Harris Chain of Lakes in
Central Florida and the finale taking place in Montgomery, Ala.,
May 19-25. It will be the first time Alabama's capital city has
hosted a B.A.S.S. event since the 1982 BASS Masters Classic.
Holding all of the events during the spring months will allow
the creation of specialty events during the later months of the
year. The new timeframe will also allow for events to be televised
nearer to the dates they take place.
"Increasing the number of events to 10 is definitely
a positive step," said Jay Yelas, B.A.S.S. pro. "It
brings us in line a little better with other pro sports which
have extended seasons. Also, having all the events take place
in the spring will be better because that is fishing season.
Our fans will benefit as well, with the events being televised
in a closer proximity to when they take place, allowing the fans
to follow the sport more closely."
Another enhancement to the schedule has two of the premier
events taking place on the West Coast, making the series truly
national. CITGO BASSMASTER Tour stops will be staged on two of
the Western United States' top fisheries, the San Joaquin River
Delta, near Stockton, Calif., March 31- April 6 and Clear Lake
in Clearlake, Calif., April 7 - 13.
"Conducting two events on the West Coast will allow fishermen
to use all of their knowledge and skills," said Trip Weldon,
B.A.S.S. Tournament Director. "With the new schedule, fans
are going to see anglers tested on some of the best fisheries
in America."
The schedule also includes trips to several locations B.A.S.S.
has previously visited, including: the Harris Chain of Lakes
and Lake Okeechobee in Florida, Lake Seminole in Georgia, Toledo
Bend Reservoir in Louisiana, Lake Eufaula and the Alabama River
in Alabama, Santee Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina, and Lake
Hamilton in Arkansas.
Also announced was a restructuring of the popular CITGO BASSMASTER
Open trails into three new geographic regions and a more compact
schedule. Formerly made up of the Eastern, Central and Western
trails, the events will now take place in Northern, Southern
and Central regions. Each circuit will consist of a three event
schedule instead of the four events held under the previous structure
and will take place between the months of August and November.
"The new regions and shorter schedule will make life
easier for the anglers attempting to compete in the CITGO BASSMASTER
Open events," added Weldon. "The three-event schedule
in a more regionalized structure should help the anglers as they
compete on the premier qualifying trail in fishing and as they
attempt to qualify for the CITGO BASSMASTER Tour."
The CITGO BASSMASTER Northern Open Trail will see anglers
visit several historic waterways on Maryland's Potomac River
and New York's St. Lawrence and Hudson rivers. The Potomac has
been a popular B.A.S.S. destination, hosting events in each of
the last 12 seasons. The St. Lawrence and the Hudson Rivers were
both slated to hold
CITGO BASSMASTER events during the 2001-2002 season, but were
canceled in the wake of Sept. 11.
The CITGO BASSMASTER Southern Open Trail will also see familiar
fisheries by visiting Alabama's Lake Martin and Lake Pickwick/Wilson.
Additionally, the Southern circuit will visit South Carolina's
Lake Murray, which most recently hosted a Tour stop in 2000.
Louisiana's Red River and Texas' Sam Rayburn Reservoir will
both host events on the CITGO BASSMASTER Central Open Trail.
With Arkansas' Lake Ouachita playing host to its first CITGO
BASSMASTER event since 1981.
Anglers on the CITGO BASSMASTER Tournament Trail will be attempting
to qualify for the 2003 CITGO BASS Masters Classic, which will
take place during the summer.
By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its
B.A.S.S. Federation, B.A.S.S. is the world's largest fishing
organization. The CITGO BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is the oldest
and most prestigious pro bass fishing tournament circuit. It
continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism,
and sportsmanship after more than three decades. B.A.S.S. is
a wholly owned subsidiary of ESPN.
For additional information contact B.A.S.S. Communications
at (334) 272-9530.
2003 CITGO BASSMASTER Tour Schedule
*Jan. 6-12 Harris Chain of Lakes - Leesburg, Fla.
Jan. 13-19 Lake Okeechobee - Okeechobee, Fla.
Feb. 3-9 Lake Seminole - Bainbridge, Ga.
*Feb. 10-16 Toledo Bend Reservoir - Many, La.
March 3-9 Lake Eufaula - Eufaula, Ala.
March 17-23 Santee Cooper Reservoir - Manning, S.C.
March 31- April 6 San Joaquin River Delta - Stockton, Calif.
*April 7-13 Clear Lake - Clearlake, Calif.
April 28-May 4 Lake Hamilton - Hot Springs, Ark.
*May 19-25 Alabama River - Montgomery, Ala.
*CITGO BASSMASTER Showdown events
2002 CITGO BASSMASTER Open Schedule
Northern
Aug. 5-10 Potomac River-Charles County, Md.
Sept. 9-14 St. Lawrence River-Clayton, N.Y.
Sept. 30- Oct. 5 Hudson River-Catskill, N.Y.
Southern
Sept. 16-21 Lake Murray-Columbia, S.C.
Oct. 21-26 Lake Pickwick/Wilson-Florence, Ala.
Nov. 11-16 Lake Martin-Alexander City, Ala.
Central
Aug. 19-24 Red River-Shreveport, La.
Sept. 23-28 Lake Ouachita-Hot Springs, Ark.
Oct. 27- Nov. 2 Lake Sam Rayburn-Jasper, Texas
B.A.S.S News | Central
Div. | Northern Div. | Southern Div. |
B.A.S.S. National Federation
| Western | Central
| Eastern | Northern
Tournament Results | Tournament Schedules
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