Before Elite Series pros and Classic qualifiers ever begin their preparation for an event, there are plenty of important details they must know. Included are things such as; which waters are off limits, and the minimum size of a keeper bass. The information below is the official information given to the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series pros as well as the 2021 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers.
ELITE # 1: St Johns River, Palatka, FL
RAMP/PARK: Palatka City Docks
PRACTICE DAYS: February 7-9, 2021 – Sun, Mon & Tues
OFF DAY: February 10, 2021 Pre Season rules, photographs, headshots, wrap and jersey inspections, etc.
COMPETITION DAYS: February 11-14, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: January 11, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: St. Johns River and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to St. Johns River. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants. *There are some Lake George canals that have been deeded to the property owners. If the canal is posted as “no fishing/trespassing” then it is Off Limits. Most of them are on the west shore of Lake George and also St John’s Ship Building just north of the Barge Canal is Off Limits. *Buffalo Bluff Railroad Bridge is an idle speed zone due to safety, and there is still construction on the Dunn’s Creek Bridge it is an idle speed zone.
Northern Boundary: Fuller Warren Bridge (I-95), Jacksonville, FL. Southern Boundary: Hwy 44, DeLand, FL.
CREEL: 5 bass – 12-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Florida – http://myfwc.com/license/
ELITE # 2: Tennessee River, Knoxville, TN
RAMP: Governor Ned McWherter Riverside Landing
PRACTICE DAYS: February 22-24, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: February 25-28, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: January 25, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: All waters connected to Ft. Loudon and Tellico. No Locking. No boats allowed north of I-40 Bridge on The Holston River. No boats allowed east or past the Highway 168 Bridge on the French Broad River. Boats are able to navigate close to or all the way to Chilhowee Dam.
CREEL: 5 bass per day in combination Largemouth and Spotted Bass 14-inch minimum Smallmouth Bass 18-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Tennessee https://www.tn.gov/twra/license-sales/fishing-licenses.html
ELITE # 3: Pickwick, Florence, AL
RAMP/PARK: McFarland Park
PRACTICE DAYS: March 15-17, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: March 18-21, 2021
OFF-LIMITS START: February 18, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Pickwick Lake and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Pickwick Lake. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants. No Locking
CREEL: 5 bass – All bass 15-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Alabama An Alabama fishing license is required. There is a reciprocal agreement between AL, MS & TN for most of Pickwick Lake, but there are small portions in MS & TN that do not fall under the reciprocity agreement. It is the anglers responsibility to know if you are in an area that requires that respective states fishing licenses.
https://www.outdooralabama.com/licenses/freshwater-fishing-licenses
ELITE # 4: Sabine River, Orange, TX
RAMP/PARK: City of Orange Boat Ramp
PRACTICE DAYS: April 5-7, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: April 8-11, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: March 8, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Sabine River and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to the Sabine River inside the boundaries listed below. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants. Texas Counties – Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty (South of U.S. Hwy 90), Newton, & Orange including any pubic waters on border with adjacent counties. Both TX & LA River Shoreline of the Sabine River to Toledo Bend Dam including any channel cut through. No Fishing in any LA backwaters beyond the Sabine River Basin.
CREEL: 5 fish – 12-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Texas https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/fishing-licensesstamps-tags-packages
ELITE # 5: Lake Fork, Quitman, TX
PARK: Sabine River Authority
PRACTICE DAYS: April 19-21, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: April 22-25, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: March 22, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake Fork and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Fork. Only that water open to ALL public fishing is considered tournament waters. Any water closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants.
CREEL: 5 fish – 14-inch minimum / Lake Fork is a catch, weigh, immediate release event. Other details as the event gets closer.
FISHING LICENSE: Texas https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/fishing-licenses-stamps-tags-packages
ELITE # 6: Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, AL
RAMP: Gadsden City Boat Docks
PRACTICE DAYS: May 3-5, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: May 6-9, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: April 5, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Neely Henry Lake and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Neely Henry Lake. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants. CREEL: 5 bass – All bass 12-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Alabama https://www.outdooralabama.com/licenses/freshwater-fishing-licenses
ELITE # 7: Lake Guntersville – Scottsboro, AL
RAMP: Goose Pond
PRACTICE DAYS: May 17-19, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: May 20-23, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: April 19, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Alabama Waters of Lake Guntersville and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Guntersville. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants. No boats may enter Tennessee waters or lock down to Wheeler. CREEL: 5 bass – All bass 15-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Alabama https://www.outdooralabama.com/licenses/freshwater-fishing-licenses
BASSMASTER CLASSIC: Lake Ray Roberts, Fort Worth/Pilot Point, TX
RAMP/PARK: Isle du Bois
OFFICIAL PRE PRACTICE DAYS: June 4-6, 2021
OFFICIAL PRACTICE DAY: June 9, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: June 11-14
OFF-LIMITS START: January 1, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake Ray Roberts and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Ray Roberts. Only that water open to ALL public fishing is considered tournament waters. Any water closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants.
CREEL: 5 bass – 14-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Texas – https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/fishing-licensesstamps-tags-packages
ELITE # 8: Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT
RAMP: TBD
PRACTICE DAYS: July 5-7, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: July 8-11, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: June 7, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake Champlain and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Champlain. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants. No Locking. Canadian Waters are Off Limits. You are allowed to safely skirt through Canadian waters (without reporting to Canadian officials) to access Goose Bay on the very northeast end of Lake Champlain.
CREEL: 5 bass – 12-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: New York or Vermont license is required. Some areas require fishing license specific to that states waters. Only the lake is reciprocal.
Vermont license
Online: https://www.vtfwdsales.com/online/cid_entry.php
New York licenses
Online: http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html
By Phone: 1- 86-NY-DECALS (1-800-933-2257)
ELITE # 9: St. Lawrence River, Waddington, NY
RAMP/PARK: Whittaker Park
PRACTICE DAYS: July 12-14, 2021
COMPETITION DAYS: July 15-18, 2021
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: June 14, 2021
TOURNAMENT WATERS: St. Lawrence River and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to the St. Lawrence River inside the boundaries listed below. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants.
Eastern Boundary – Moses Saunders Power Dam. No Locking.
You cannot lock through the Eisenhower Lock at Massena, NY.
Lake Ontario off limits.
West Boundary at the Mouth of Lake Ontario:
Northwest Boundary (Ontario): Concrete Pad in water. 44°12’52.20” N – 76°31’24.84” W straight line to – Boat Dock (Wolfe Island). 44°10’54.59” N – 76°28’49.52 W. You can fish the concrete pad and boat dock.
Southwest Boundary (Tibbets Point, NY) Tibbett Point Assoc Boat Ramp. 44°06’28.86” N – 76°21”59.26 W straight line to Small Rock Jetty (Wolfe Island). 44°07’19.41 N – 76°23’36.38” W. You can fish Boat Ramp and Rock Jetty.
CREEL: 5 fish – 12 inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: New York
Online: http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html
By Phone: 1-866-933-2257
If fishing in Canadian Waters you must purchase a Canadian Fishing License and Outdoors Card. These can be purchased online at
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165336.html