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 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series pros as well as the 2022 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers.
ELITE #1: St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla.
RAMP/PARK: Palatka City Docks
PRACTICE DAYS: February 6-8, 2022 (Sun, Mon, Tues)
OFF DAY: February 9, 2022, Pre Season rules, photographs, headshots, wrap & jersey inspections, etc.
COMPETITION DAYS: February 10-13, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: January 9, 2022
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. Locking into Rodman is allowed and considered tournament waters.
Northern Boundary: Fuller Warren Bridge (I-95), Jacksonville, FL.
Southern Boundary: Hwy 44, DeLand, FL. Volusia and Associated County St Johns River Basin Manatee Protection Areas and Boating Restricted Areas – https://myfwc.com/media/24645/volusiastjohns-mpz-bramaps.pdf
CREEL: 5 bass – 12-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Florida – http://myfwc.com/license/
ELITE # 2: Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
RAMP/PARK: Venetian Gardens
PRACTICE DAYS: February 14-16, 2022
OFF DAY: No off day
COMPETITION DAYS: February 17-20, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: January 17, 2022
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Harris Chain of Lakes and all rivers, canals and creeks connecting to Harris Chain of Lakes. 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. Locking into Lake Apopka is allowed and considered tournament waters.
EMERALDA MARSH– See map with off-limits. Once off Yale Canal in the marsh, it is trolling motor only. https://www.sjrwmd.com/static/lands/recreation/Emeralda-Marsh-recreation-map.pdf
CREEL: 5 bass – 12-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: Florida – http://myfwc.com/license/
ELITE # 3: Santee Cooper, Clarendon County, S.C.
RAMP/PARK: John C Landing III
PRACTICE DAYS: March 13-15, 2022 (Sun, Mon, Tues)
OFF DAY: March 16, 2022
COMPETITION DAYS: March 17-20, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: February 14, 2022
TOURNAMENT 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 minimum
FISHING LICENSE: South Carolina – http://www.dnr.sc.gov/licenses/pricing.html
ELITE # 4: Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.
RAMP/PARK: Dayton Boat Docks
PRACTICE DAYS: April 3-5, 2022 (Sun, Mon, Tues) OFF DAY: April 6, 2022
COMPETITION DAYS: April 7-10, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: March 7, 2022
TOURNAMENT 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 fishing from Blue Water back to Dayton Boat Docks. 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 – https://www.tn.gov/twra/license-sales/fishing-licenses.html
ELITE # 5: Lake Fork, Quitman, Texas
PARK: Sabine River Authority – New Park/Ramp
PRACTICE DAYS: May 15-17, 2022 (Sun, Mon, Tues)
OFF DAY: May 18, 2022
COMPETITION DAYS: May 19-22, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: April 18, 2022
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 bass – 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: Pickwick, Counce, Tenn.
RAMP/PARK: Pickwick Landing State Park
PRACTICE DAYS: May 30, 31 & June 1, 2022
OFF DAY: No off day
COMPETITION DAYS: June 2-5, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: May 2, 2022
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: Either Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, license is required. Some accessible areas may require license specific to that state. It is your responsibility to have the proper license.
TN online: https://www.tn.gov/twra/license-sales/fishing-licenses.html
AL online: https://www.outdooralabama.com/licenses/freshwater-fishing-licenses
MS online: https://www.mdwfp.com/license/fishing/
ELITE # 7: St. Lawrence River, Clayton, N.Y.
RAMP/PARK: Antique Boat Museum
PRACTICE DAYS: July 10-12, 2022 (Sun, Mon, Tues)
OFF DAY: July 13, 2022
COMPETITION DAYS: July 14-17, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: June 13, 2022
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. Including Lake Ontario. No locking. Eastern Boundary – Moses Saunders Power Dam. No Locking. You cannot lock through the Eisenhower Lock at Massena, NY.
CREEL: 5 bass – 12inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: New York – http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html 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
ELITE # 8: Lake Oahe, Mobridge, S.D.
RAMP/Park: Indian Creek State Park
PRACTICE DAYS: August 14-16, 2022 (Sun, Mon, Tues)
OFF DAY: August 17, 2022
COMPETITION DAYS: August 18-21, 2022
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: July 18, 2022
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake Oahe and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Oahe. 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. South Dakota Waters only.
CREEL: 5 bass – 12inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: South Dakota – http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/fish-licenses.aspx
ELITE # 9: Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
RAMP/PARK: Veterans Freedom Park
PRACTICE DAYS: August 23-25, 2022 (Tues, Wed, Thurs)
OFF DAY: No off day
COMPETITION DAYS: August 26-29, 2022 (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon)
OFF-LIMITS STARTS: July 25, 2022
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Mississippi River Pools 7, 8 & 9 and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to the Mississippi River Pools 7, 8 & 9. The Northern boundary is Lock & Dam #6 at Mile Marker 714. The Southern Boundary is Lock & Dam #9 at Mile Marker 648. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters within these boundaries closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants.
CREEL: 5 bass – 14-inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: WI, MN or IA license is required – https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing There is a reciprocal agreement between Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa between the railroad tracks. The RR tracks parallel both sides of the river. If you go past the tracks on either side, you must have that states license. It is your responsibility to have the proper license.
BASSMASTER CLASSIC: Lake Hartwell, Greenville, S.C.
RAMP/PARK: Green Pond Landing
OFFICIAL PRE PRACTICE DAYS: February 25-27, 2022
OFFICIAL PRACTICE DAY: March 2, 2022
COMPETITION DAYS: March 4-6, 2022
OFF-LIMITS START: January 1, 2022
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Lake Hartwell and all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to Lake Hartwell. 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 fish – 12inch minimum
FISHING LICENSE: South Carolina and Georgia licenses are reciprocal on Lake Hartwell but not to any tributary streams to the Savannah and Tugaloo Rivers. Online: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/licenses/pricing.html