2021 Elite Series Schedule Announced

[Glenn]

https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/bass-2021-elite-schedule-12320.html

 

Great news if you live near a place where they've held events many, many times before.  But if you're hoping for something new, or something even remotely west, well, you're outta luck again!

[MN Fisher]

I know they did a few Top-100 Tournaments on 'Tonka years ago...and did well. Maybe one day they'll come back up here.

[GReb]

I’m about tired of watching people fish Guntersville, st Lawrence, Champlain, St. John’s, Chick, etc. 

[Logan S]

It'd be nice to see some variety, but I'm just glad they aren't coming to any of my home waters this year .  

[OCdockskipper]

Considering what they went through to get all of the 2020 Elite series events rescheduled, I think they had less time to explore options for new waters for 2021.  Add in the uncertainty of how long Covid is going to be messing things up, they chose to rely on a host cities that had been through the process for a majority of events.  

 

The news for 2021 will not be the locations as much as the anglers.  Christy & Hackney are returning, New & Atkins will most likely qualify this weekend and Scott martin can make the cut with a good day tomorrow.  Since they aren't cutting any anglers, the field will bump up from 88 to 100, a number they seemed to prefer years back.

 

If the year goes off without much of a hitch, I wouldn't be surprised to see 2022 be a year with 5 or 6 new or rarely visited bodies of water in the lineup

[Hawkeye21]

I would like to see some different lakes in different states but I also understand how tough scheduling can be.  The cities have to be willing to work with BASS in order to hold an event, they just can't go wherever they want.

[gim]

Really nothing in the Midwest, anywhere.  Shameful

19 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I know they did a few Top-100 Tournaments on 'Tonka years ago...and did well. Maybe one day they'll come back up here.

 

Are you referring to an Elite event or an Open event?  I don't ever recall an Elite event being held on Lake Minnetonka since I've been living here.  They had highly successful events on Mille Lacs in 2015 and 2016 so I have to imagine that is on their radar again at some point.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Are you referring to an Elite event or an Open event?  I don't ever recall an Elite event being held on Lake Minnetonka since I've been living here.  They had highly successful events on Mille Lacs in 2015 and 2016 so I have to imagine that is on their radar again at some point.

In the 90s they had a 'Top 100' tour - separate from the Elites. Did 'Tonka and IIRC, set three new tour records - including most number of 5-fish limits.

[gim]

Ah, ok.  That's before my time.  Regardless, there's enough other tournaments, high school competitions, and other events on Tonka anyways.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Ah, ok.  That's before my time. 

I've been in the same house since 1986 - I remember these things cause of the ruckus they cause.

 

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Regardless, there's enough other tournaments, high school competitions, and other events on Tonka anyways.

Ya - and it causes ruckuses all the bloody time...I'd rather it be for a nationwide event like the Elites than any tom-dick-harry who wants to clog up the lake with inconsiderate fishers.

[Glenn]

Ya, I can see that.  Kinda glad they ignore the West for this reason.

 

[gim]

It really is a well organized event to witness in person though. Until 2015, I had never been to a professional bass event weigh in. Even just hanging out before the weigh ins at the parking lot looking at lures, boats, apparel, and other equipment was interesting too.

 

That being said, Glenn does have a point. Mille Lacs was relatively unknown until about 5 years ago and the two AOY events there put it on the national map. Now everyone knows about it and it has become significantly harder to catch smalllmouth out there seemingly every time I try.

[Sphynx]

On 12/4/2020 at 12:14 PM, Glenn said:

Ya, I can see that.  Kinda glad they ignore the West for this reason.

 

The one big benefit I can see for holding any large, well funded events out here is that it might convince some of the larger tackle retailers to carry a higher percentage of bass related tackle as opposed to the usual trout/salmon/steelhead stuff that dominates the areas out here, whether or not that is a likely enough effect to offset the negative effects of those sorts of events I will let others judge for themselves