BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Lay Lake, the same storied fishery that has hosted four Bassmaster Classics, will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open Dec. 3-5, 2020.
This tournament replaces the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open originally scheduled for August 6-8, 2020 on Oneida Lake, in Syracuse, N.Y., on the series’ schedule. After two spring Bassmaster Opens Series tournaments were initially postponed, the Oneida tournament was due to be the Eastern Division’s second stop of the 2020 season. The Open event on Lay Lake will now cap off the Eastern Opens, which will have held tournaments on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell and Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake.
“We want our anglers to have every opportunity to fish a full schedule as they compete for the Falcon Rods Angler of the Year title and a coveted invitation to join the Elite Series,” said Chris Bowes, Bassmaster Opens Senior Tournament Manager. “We are thankful to the local hosts who have worked so diligently with us to make this happen.”
Best known for its spotted and largemouth bass fishing, Lay Lake, a 12,000-acre Southern Company reservoir, is a top choice for anglers year-round.
The tournament is being hosted by DiscoverShelby.com, and daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at Beeswax Park in Columbiana, Ala.
“Shelby County, Alabama and B.A.S.S. have a long and successful collaborative history, and we are extremely pleased Lay Lake will once again be the host of championship fishing with a Bassmaster Open,” said Shelby County Manager Chad Scroggins. “Anglers will be treated to one of the nation’s top fisheries.”
With fan interest at an all-time high and a stacked field of anglers that includes some of the sport’s biggest names, B.A.S.S. officials have expanded live coverage options and implemented new technology for the 2020 tournaments.
Beginning June 18 with the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Arkansas River, both boaters and co-anglers began using BASSTrakk for real-time updates. Fans can also follow the final-day drama by streaming Nationwide Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Grizzly as camera boats provide coverage of the leaders.
For a complete schedule, including all of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens, visit Bassmaster.com.