BASS Report
Bassmaster Classic
With this year's Bassmaster Elite Series barely written into the history books, B.A.S.S. officials are already looking toward a bright future with Tuesday's announcement of the Elite Series slate for 2022.
The professional bass fishing circuit will once again kick off its season in Florida, with events on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Feb. 10-13, and the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Feb. 17-20.
From there, the trail will visit six more states in seven months while working its way to a season-ending event on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 26-29.
After a pause for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell, March 4-6, the Elite Series schedule will resume right there inside the Palmetto State with the third regular-season event on the Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, S.C., March 17-20.
After Santee, the trail will shift to Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn., April 7-10. "The Chick," as it's known by avid bass anglers from around the country, is a 36,240-acre Tennessee River fishery known for producing giant largemouth.
The next lake on the schedule รณ Lake Fork in Quitman, Texas - is perhaps known as the country's largemouth mecca. The Elite Series will drop in on
Fork May 19-22 for only the fourth major event B.A.S.S. has ever held on the giant-bass paradise. The lake was ranked No. 1 overall in the country for 2021 in Bassmaster 's list of Top 100 Best Bass Lakes.
Details on an event June 2-5 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Another destination that has become a staple for the Elite Series, the St. Lawrence River (fourth overall, 100 Best Bass Lakes), will be the next stop. The event, which is likely to be dominated by big smallmouth, is scheduled for July 14-17 out of Clayton, N.Y. This will be the sixth-straight year the Elite Series has visited the St. Lawrence and the 21st time B.A.S.S. has called on the fishery to host a major event.
Unlike the 2021 season that ended in mid-July, the 2022 slate will push into August with events at two fisheries where fans have been clamoring for the trail's return.
On Aug. 18-21, massive 370,000-acre Lake Oahe will host the next-to-last event of the season out of Mobridge, S.D.
The season will conclude on Aug. 26-29 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis.
All nine Bassmaster Elite Series events as well as the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms. Visit Bassmaster.com for more details.
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule
- Feb. 10-13 , St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla.
- Feb. 17-20 , Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
- March 4-6 , Bassmaster Classic, Lake Hartwell, Greenville, S.C.
- March 17-20, Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.
- April 7-10, Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.
- May 19-22, Lake Fork, Quitman, Texas
- June 2-5, TBA
- July 14-17, St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands, Clayton, N.Y.
- Aug. 4-7, Make-up date
- Aug. 18-21, Lake Oahe, Mobridge, S.D.
- Aug. 26-29, Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.