BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A significant change is coming to the Bassmaster Opens in 2025 as B.A.S.S. officially ends its long-running co-angler program. This decision was made in response to multiple factors, including a decline in participation since the pandemic and concerns over competitive fairness for boaters.
The co-angler program has been an integral part of the Bassmaster Opens since its inception, offering amateur anglers a chance to compete for prizes while learning from seasoned pros. However, the landscape began to shift in 2020 when COVID-19 caused participation numbers to drop due to state restrictions and health concerns. Despite efforts to revive the program, co-angler interest has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
More recently, some boaters expressed concerns over fairness, citing competitive imbalances between those who fished with co-anglers and those who didn’t. In response, B.A.S.S. prioritized maintaining the integrity of the Opens by addressing these concerns, ultimately deciding to phase out the co-angler format for the upcoming season.
A New Opportunity for Co-Anglers
While the decision to end the co-angler program was difficult, B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Hank Weldon emphasized that it paves the way for a fresh opportunity through the B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifiers, a newly introduced circuit designed specifically for non-boaters.
“It was a tough call,” Weldon shared. “But now that we have a home for our co-anglers in the new B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifiers, it just makes sense. These avid anglers will still have the opportunity to compete at a high level, and our Opens pros will be able to pursue their dreams in a league that couldn’t be more fair … or more competitive.”
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What’s Next
The 2025 Bassmaster Opens season will begin at Clarks Hill Reservoir from January 23–25, setting the stage for one of the most competitive fields in the series’ history. Meanwhile, co-anglers will have their first chance to participate in the B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifiers at Pickwick Lake from March 12–14.
For more details, visit the official Bassmaster Opens schedule.
This change reflects B.A.S.S.’s commitment to evolving the sport while ensuring fairness and opportunity for anglers across all levels of competition.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster
and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
