Bass Tournament News

Some pros will target spawners, but not Snowden.

“I would rather not sight-fish, so I don’t go looking for the clearer water,” he said. “There are specific areas with natural springs that stay very clear all the time, and those are the areas most of the sight fishing will be in. The springs are a constant temperature, so the water warms quicker, and fish use those areas because of that.”

Snowden said he expects four-day total weights to be on par with the weights pros produced at the 2008 Sunshine Showdown.

“It will probably take 48 pounds to be in the Top 12, and right at 58 to 60 to win,” he said.

Facts about the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes:
• The March 10-13 weigh-ins and launches are open to the public; there’s no admission charge.
• The weigh-in site is Wooten Park, 150 E. Ruby St., Tavares, FL 32778; the launch site is the Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina at the same address, which is on Lake Dora.
• Takeoff time will be at 7:30 a.m. EST.
• Weigh-ins will begin each day at 4 p.m. EST.
• The daily bag limit is five bass. Bass must be at least 12 inches in length.
• The field of 99 will be cut to the Top 50 for the third day of competition. Only the Top 12 will compete on the fourth and final day.
• First prize is $100,000 and an instant 2012 Bassmaster Classic entry.
• Bassmaster.com will provide extensive online coverage, and it’s all free.
• Live video of the weigh-ins along with real-time leaderboards will begin at 4 p.m. EST.
• “Hooked Up!” with The Bassmasters hosts Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona will be presented at Bassmaster.com. (Closer to tournament time, check online for air times.)
• At 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 13, the clock is moved forward to 3 a.m. for Eastern Daylight Time.
• Other online features — all with free access — will include B.A.S.S.Cam video reports, extensive photo galleries and daily stories and standings.
• The winner of the Sunshine Showdown will take the lead in a revamped Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race. After eight regular-season events, the Angler of the Year will be the pro with the most points and will claim the top AOY payout of $100,000. Then the Top 8 in points, in addition to four “wild card” competitors from the Bassmaster Elite Series lineup voted on by fans at Bassmaster.com, will move on to the Toyota Trucks All-Star Week in Alabama to compete again for $100,000 in a two-event, winner-take-all format.
• Less than a week after the conclusion of the Sunshine Showdown, the Elite Series field will compete out of Palatka, Fla., in the March 17-20 Citrus Slam on the St. Johns River.

2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ramada

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com, and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events presented by Yamaha and Skeeter Boats presented by Yamaha and Skeeter Boats and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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