More on the 2021 Elite and Classic fisheries

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