Bassmaster to launch 2012 Central Open Series at Lewisville Lake

For the second straight year, Bassmaster will launch its Central Open Series at Lewisville Lake, giving anglers their first opportunity of 2012 to qualify for the prestigious Bassmaster Classic.

The local tournament will be held Feb. 9-11, launching from Lewisville Lake Park with final weigh-in to be held at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine. The full field will compete the first two days of the tournament, with the top 12 pros and co-anglers moving on to a third day.

The 2012 Opens will award a Bassmaster Classic berth to the pro-side winner of each event, if the angler competes in the same division at all three Central Open Series tournaments.

“The 2013 Classic berth to the winner of each Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open event makes each tournament in the series a high-stakes, premier event with the eyes of the industry anxious to see what angler can grasp that coveted invitation,” said Chris Bowes, B.A.S.S. senior tournament manager.

The pro prize package includes $5,000 cash and a bass boat rig valued at $45,000. The co-angler first prize is a boat-and-motor package valued at $35,000. The event pays to 40th place in pro and co-angler divisions, with a total purse of $229,700 based on 125 boats. In addition, $500 each will be awarded for the pro’s and co-angler’s big bass of the tournament.

Lewisville was site of the season-opening Central Open in February 2010 and also has been home to three Women’s Bassmaster Tour events and a Bassmaster Elite 50 tournament in June 2005.

Declared the official “Urban Bass Fishing Capital of Texas” by the State Legislature, Lewisville Lake is located 20 minutes north of downtown Dallas along Interstate 35E. Created in 1954 on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, the lake covers nearly 30,000 acres of surface area and reaches depths of up to 67 feet. Lewisville Lake is rated as “excellent” by Texas Parks & Wildlife for catfish, crappie and white bass, and “good” for largemouth bass and striped/hybrid bass.

For information on the Central Open Series, visit bassmaster.com. Lewisville-area lodging, dining and entertainment information is available at visitlewisville.com.

Submitted by James Kunke, Community Relations and Tourism Director.

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  Bass Pro Shops, Bassmaster, Bobby Murray, Central Open Series, Grapevine, Lake Lewisville, Lewisville, Lewisville Lake, Ott Defoe