February 11, 2021
Press release from the National Fish Habitat Partnership
On February 1, Bass Pro Shops announced a new era in fishing with the introduction of the Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops US Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships. Noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris had a dream to create “the ultimate owner’s appreciation event” while benefitting conservation. The first-of-its-kind tournament invites owners of Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe, and MAKO brand boats to compete in two-person teams. With proceeds benefitting conservation and the future of fishing, the event is being created exclusively for amateurs, including serious weekend tournament anglers, parents, grandparents, and youngsters giving everyday anglers, friends, and families the chance to win big!
The tournaments will benefit local fish habitat with proceeds supporting the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP). One-third of all entry fees will be matched equally with donations from both Bass Pro Shops and Tournament sponsor Toyota. This amount will be equal to 100 percent of all entry fees – to benefit conservation through our partnerships under NFHP.
The Open Championship events will accommodate a total of up to 4,700 anglers, and each regional qualifying event will be open to up to 250 two-person teams. Regional qualifiers will take place at some of the best bass fishing locations in the country while offering up plenty of fun. Event dates and locations are as follows:
• Lake Okeechobee, FL – March 13, 2021
• Lake Ray Roberts (Dallas), TX – April 17, 2021
• Lake Mead, NV – April 24, 2021
• Chesapeake Bay, MD – July 17, 2021
• Lake St. Clair (Detroit), MI – August 21, 2021
• Old Hickory Lake (Nashville), TN – September 11, 2021
• Grand Lake ‘O the Cherokees (Tulsa), OK – October 16, 2021
• Last Chance Qualifier: Bull Shoals Lake, AR – November 17, 2021
• Grand Championship finale for those who qualify: Table Rock Lake, MO – November 19, 2021
“We are grateful to be a conservation partner of Bass Pro Shops and are excited for the announcement of the US Open National Bass Fishing Tournament,” said Ed Schriever, Chairman of the National Fish Habitat Board. “This is a beautiful example of how partnerships with the angling community support conservation. Great fishing requires great habitat. Aquatic habitat is the field of dreams for anglers; if you build it – the fish will come. This is how anglers pay it forward and help ensure the ability for future generations to share in the passion of fishing and conservation.”
History with NFHP and Bass Pro Shops:
NFHP is a significant conservation effort that can trace its roots back to Table Rock Lake. In 2007, Bass Pro Shops and other organizations established a science-based approach to improving reservoir fish habitat. This resulted in the formation of the Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership being developed in an attempt to enhance reservoir fisheries habitat.
Piloted on Table Rock Lake, the resulting effort established a national model for freshwater reservoir habitat efforts that continues to positively impact fish populations.
The US Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships‘ finals will be broadcast live on NBC on November 19, 2021.
About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has supported over 1,000 projects benefiting fish habitat in all 50 states. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships. In 2020, the National Fish Habitat Partnership was recognized by Congress as part of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act. For more information, visit http://fishhabitat.org/.