The Citgo Bassmaster Open

October 14-16

The Lake is Reeling them in.

By Auburn Cecil

                Smith Mountain Lake is about to get national recognition. Soon you will see its quiet coves and intricate waterways on ESPN. Its sparkling water will glisten on the pages of national magazines. And, an infusion of new visitors will pack up and head to our lake. Why this sudden burst of fame? It’s due to the hard work of many SML and fishing enthusiasts who have promoted and worked to make us a part of the exclusive Bassmaster Tournaments. The Bass Anglers Sportsman’s Society (BASS) will bring one of its 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Open Tournaments to our lake on Oct. 14-16. The contest will be the final leg of the three Northern Division qualifying tournaments and will be one of the biggest events to ever take place at SML.

                The Bassmaster tournaments are a huge spectator sport, and like any big sport, there is a lot of money involved for both the competitors and the area where the tournaments are held. At this tournament alone, there will be 175 boats with two competitors in each craft. The purse is reported at $308,700.

                Dale Wilson, a competitive fisherman commented, “The Pros do this like a full-time job. Like other sports they get endorsements and sponsors and it is their career.” He hopes everyone will realize what a benefit a tournament like this could be to the lake. He said, “It’s hard to put a dollar on the amount of money this could bring to the lake, but it will definitely be well over a million. It will have a tremendous impact on the area – not just during the tournament but for years afterward. We were very fortunate to get this because there are many lakes in the U.S. that are suitable for these events.”

                This is the third event in the series. The other two will be held in New York. Dale has fished in this division for many years and is heading to both Lake Erie and the Hudson River for the competitions. He feels that these tournaments are great for both amateur and semi-pro anglers. He explains, “It’s a great learning experience for someone who would never get to ride with a Pro. The Pros are the boaters and each non-boater gets paired with one and gets to fish and learn from them, but they don’t compete against the boater. With the Pros only fishing against each other, there’s an opportunity for the non-boaters to win a fair amount of money competing against people at their same level.”

                The only requirement to get involved is to be a member of BASS, however every seat has been filled for this competition and there is a waiting list. Part of the reason is that this is a qualifying tournament to get to the Citgo Bassmaster Classic. Dale considers that tournament, “The Superbowl of Bass Fishing.” The top 15 boater anglers in each of the four Open divisions will earn Tour cards to fish as pros on the 2005 Tour which can lead to the Classic. While we are in the Northern Division, anglers come from all over – from Texas to New York.

                The Open lasts three days and each day the competitors must weigh in to earn their spot for the next day. The event will take place at Bridgewater and also brings other excitement to the area. BASS will set up their own stage and feature kid’s casting contests, booths, vendors, games and entertainment. Dale comments, “Everywhere they go a crowd follows them.” You might also notice that many of the pros will come down to get to know the area before the tournament. “Fishing is like anything else, the more you do it, the better you get. They want to get familiar with the area, what lures work best and where the fish are.”

                The SML Chamber and the tourism directors for both Franklin County and Bedford have worked hard and are excited about this event. “I think this will bring a lot of excitement to the area. If we show them a good time and show them what we have to offer, hopefully they will come back.”