Minor tweaks for Bassmaster Opens in 2026

B.A.S.S. on Wednesday announced the 2026 Bassmaster Opens schedule with eight tournaments split across two divisions as the pathway to the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier Series, which ultimately feeds the next wave of anglers to the 2027 Bassmaster Elite Series.

The schedule spans from late January in central Florida to late August in western New York with stops at many well-known and often-visited venues in between. Additionally, B.A.S.S. announced live sonar technology usage will be permitted at two events in each division. It will not be allowed in the other four events.

The Division 1 schedule is as follows (* denotes live sonar permitted):

> Jan. 29-31: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes (Kississimme, Fla.)
> April 1-3: Lake Eufaula (Eufaula, Ala.)*
> April 30-May 2: Lake Norman (Charlotte, N.C.)
> Aug. 20-22: Lake Erie (Buffalo, N.Y.)*

The Division 2 schedule is as follows (* denotes live sonar permitted):

> Feb. 19-21: Sam Rayburn Reservoir (Jasper, Texas)*
> Apr. 23-25: Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees (Grove, Okla.)
> May 20-22: Pickwick Lake (Counce, Tenn.)*
> June 18-20: Upper Mississippi River (La Crosse, Wis.)

“Year after year, the Bassmaster Opens provide some of the most exciting and diverse competition in bass fishing,” B.A.S.S. Chief Executive Officer Chase Anderson said in a release announcing the schedule. “With legendary stops like Sam Rayburn and Lake Erie alongside other diverse venues, this schedule ensures our anglers — and fans — will see a mix of techniques and fisheries in 2026.”

Entry fees and payouts will remain the same from 2025, but there are several updates pertaining to the Angler of the Year races and EQ qualification. They are:

> The Angler of the Year from each division and the overall Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year will earn berths into the EQs at no cost. In addition to qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic, if an angler enters all four tournaments in a division and wins one, they will also earn a guaranteed berth into the EQs.

> Only full-division participants will earn points toward the 2026 Bassmaster Opens Divisional Angler of the Year races, meaning anglers who enter only a single event will not receive AOY points regardless of their finish.

> Anglers who fish all eight Opens will earn overall AOY points, with the Top 35 in those rankings receiving automatic bids to the EQs. Beyond that, the Top 50 by AOY points in each division (not including anglers who qualified through overall AOY points) will also advance, creating more paths for aspiring pros to reach the Elite Series.

Registration for the 2026 Bassmaster Opens will open Nov. 4.

---