Fishery facts for 2020 Elites

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Learn all the pertinent facts and local rules for the 2020 Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series fisheries.
Learn all the pertinent facts and local rules for the 2020 Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series fisheries.
<B>ELITE #1: </B> St. Johns River, Palatka, FL<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> February 2-4, 2020<br> <B>OFF DAY:</B> February 5, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> Feb 6-9, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> January 6, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> 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. Rodman is off limits. Northern Boundary: Fuller Warren Bridge (I-95), Jacksonville, FL. Southern Boundary: Hwy 44, DeLand, FL. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 bass – 12-inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> Florida
ELITE #1: St. Johns River, Palatka, FLPRACTICE DAYS: February 2-4, 2020OFF DAY: February 5, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: Feb 6-9, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: January 6, 2020TOURNAMENT 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. Rodman is off limits.
Northern Boundary: Fuller Warren Bridge (I-95), Jacksonville, FL. Southern Boundary: Hwy 44, DeLand, FL. CREEL: 5 bass – 12-inch minimumFISHING LICENSE: Florida
<B>ELITE #2:</B> Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, TN<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> February 11-13, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> February 14-17, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> January 13, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> Lake Chickamauga and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Chickamauga. 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.<br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 bass per day in combination, only one may be a smallmouth bass. <br> Largemouth and Spotted Bass 15-inch minimum<br> Smallmouth, 1 per day, 18-inch minimum <br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> Tennessee
ELITE #2: Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, TNPRACTICE DAYS: February 11-13, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: February 14-17, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: January 13, 2020TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake Chickamauga and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Chickamauga. 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 per day in combination, only one may be a smallmouth bass.
Largemouth and Spotted Bass 15-inch minimum
Smallmouth, 1 per day, 18-inch minimum FISHING LICENSE: Tennessee
<B>CLASSIC:</B> Lake Guntersville – Birmingham/Guntersville, AL<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> February 28, 29, and March 1, 2020 <br> <B>OFFICIAL PRACTICE DAY:</B> March 4, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> March 6, 7 and 8, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> January 1, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 bass – All bass 15-inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> Alabama
CLASSIC: Lake Guntersville – Birmingham/Guntersville, ALPRACTICE DAYS: February 28, 29, and March 1, 2020 OFFICIAL PRACTICE DAY: March 4, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: March 6, 7 and 8, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: January 1, 2020TOURNAMENT 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 minimumFISHING LICENSE: Alabama
<B>ELITE #3:</B> Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, AL<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> March 29-31, 2020<br> <B>OFF DAY:</B> April 1, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> April 2-5, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> March 2, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> Lake Eufaula and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Eufaula. 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 bass Largemouth and Spotted bass only. – All bass 14-inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> Alabama or Georgia
ELITE #3: Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, ALPRACTICE DAYS: March 29-31, 2020OFF DAY: April 1, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: April 2-5, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: March 2, 2020TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake Eufaula and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Eufaula. 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 Largemouth and Spotted bass only. – All bass 14-inch minimumFISHING LICENSE: Alabama or Georgia
<B>ELITE #4:</B> Santee Cooper, Manning, SC<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> April 13-15, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> April 16-19, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> March 16, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> Santee Cooper and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Santee Cooper. 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 bass – All bass 14-inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> South Carolina
ELITE #4: Santee Cooper, Manning, SCPRACTICE DAYS: April 13-15, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: April 16-19, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: March 16, 2020TOURNAMENT WATERS: Santee Cooper and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Santee Cooper. 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 14-inch minimumFISHING LICENSE: South Carolina
<B>ELITE #5:</B> Sabine River, Orange, TX<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> May 26-28, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> May 29-June 1, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> April 27, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> 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. <br> Texas Counties – Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty (South of U.S. Hwy 90), Newton, and Orange including any public waters on border with adjacent counties. Both TX and 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 fish – 12-inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> Texas
ELITE #5: Sabine River, Orange, TXPRACTICE DAYS: May 26-28, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: May 29-June 1, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: April 27, 2020TOURNAMENT 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, and Orange including any public waters on border with adjacent counties. Both TX and 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 minimumFISHING LICENSE: Texas
<B>ELITE #6:</B> Lake Fork – TBTF – Toyota BASSMASTER Texas Fest, Emory, TX<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> June 2-4, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> June 5, 6, 8 and 9 2020 <br> <B>FAN DAY: June 7, 2020</B><br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> May 4, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 fish – 14-inch minimum / TBTF is a catch, weigh, immediate release event. <br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> Texas
ELITE #6: Lake Fork – TBTF – Toyota BASSMASTER Texas Fest, Emory, TXPRACTICE DAYS: June 2-4, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: June 5, 6, 8 and 9 2020 FAN DAY: June 7, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: May 4, 2020TOURNAMENT 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 / TBTF is a catch, weigh, immediate release event. FISHING LICENSE: Texas
<B>ELITE #7:</B> St. Lawrence River, Waddington, NY <br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> July 19-21, 2020<br> <B>OFF DAY:</B> July 22, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> July 23-26, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> June 22, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> The 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.<br> East Boundary: MOSES SAUNDERS POWER DAM. NO LOCKING. You cannot lock through the Eisenhower Lock at Massena, NY. Lake Ontario off limits. <br> West Boundary: Mouth of Lake Ontario <br> 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. <br> 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 fish - 12 inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> New York. If fishing in Canadian waters you must purchase a Canadian Fishing License and Outdoors Card.
ELITE #7: St. Lawrence River, Waddington, NY PRACTICE DAYS: July 19-21, 2020OFF DAY: July 22, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: July 23-26, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: June 22, 2020TOURNAMENT WATERS: The 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.
East Boundary: MOSES SAUNDERS POWER DAM. NO LOCKING. You cannot lock through the Eisenhower Lock at Massena, NY. Lake Ontario off limits.
West Boundary: 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 minimumFISHING LICENSE: New York. If fishing in Canadian waters you must purchase a Canadian Fishing License and Outdoors Card.
<B>ELITE #8:</B> Lake Champlain, Plattsburg, NY<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> July 27-29, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> July 30 – August 2, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> June 29, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 bass – 12-inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> New York or Vermont license is required. Some areas require fishing license specific to that states waters. Only the lake is reciprocal.
ELITE #8: Lake Champlain, Plattsburg, NYPRACTICE DAYS: July 27-29, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: July 30 – August 2, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: June 29, 2020TOURNAMENT 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 minimumFISHING LICENSE: New York or Vermont license is required. Some areas require fishing license specific to that states waters. Only the lake is reciprocal.
<B>ELITE #9:</B> Lake St. Clair, Macomb County, MI<br> <B>PRACTICE DAYS:</B> August 16-18, 2020<br> <B>OFF DAY:</B> August 19, 2020<br> <B>COMPETITION DAYS:</B> August 20-23, 2020<br> <B>OFF-LIMITS STARTS:</B> July 20, 2020<br> <B>TOURNAMENT WATERS:</B> Lake St. Clair and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake St. Clair. Anglers will not be allowed to travel south of the Ambassador Bridge Highway 3 in the Detroit River or north of the I-94 bridges in the St. Clair and Black rivers. Only 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. <br> <B>CREEL:</B> 5 fish – All bass 14-inch minimum<br> <B>FISHING LICENSE:</B> Michigan License. If fishing Ontario waters you must purchase an Ontario Fishing License. If fishing Walpole Island you must purchase a Walpole fishing License.
ELITE #9: Lake St. Clair, Macomb County, MIPRACTICE DAYS: August 16-18, 2020OFF DAY: August 19, 2020COMPETITION DAYS: August 20-23, 2020OFF-LIMITS STARTS: July 20, 2020TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake St. Clair and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake St. Clair. Anglers will not be allowed to travel south of the Ambassador Bridge Highway 3 in the Detroit River or north of the I-94 bridges in the St. Clair and Black rivers. Only 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 fish – All bass 14-inch minimumFISHING LICENSE: Michigan License. If fishing Ontario waters you must purchase an Ontario Fishing License. If fishing Walpole Island you must purchase a Walpole fishing License.