Category: BASS PRO SHOPS – US OPEN

Oklahoma’s Barton Cousins Win $50K in BPS Qualifier on Texas’ Lake Ray Roberts

Post author By jcarrigan
Post date April 21, 2021
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 21, 2021) SANGER, Texas – Cousins Alan Barton and Tanner Barton claimed first place at the regional qualifying event for the Bass Pro Shops US Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships – a first-of-its-kind amateur fishing tournament offering the biggest payout in freshwater fishing history – on Sunday, April 18, at legendary Lake Ray Roberts.

After inclement weather postponed the regional qualifying event a day to Sunday, the wait was worth it for the Bartons from Stillwater and Edmond, Okla., who fished from a Ranger Z521 boat and hauled in a five-fish catch weighing in at 22.64 pounds to top the 250-team field. They collect a first-place prize of $50,000 and are one of 40 teams to qualify for the National Championship on Nov. 19-21 at Big Cedar Lodge on Missouri’s famed Table Rock Lake. The National Championship will be broadcast internationally on NBC and carries a $1 million cash prize to the winning team.

“With so many friends and families making memories, we couldn’t have asked for a better day at Lake Ray Roberts,” said noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who participated and reminded us why we love fishing, conservation and the great outdoors. We look forward to hosting the top 40 teams for the National Championship in Missouri this fall.”

“At 62, your dreams still come true,” said first-place winner Alan Barton after winning the first-place $50,000 prize. “We’re going to spend our prize money on fishing! We’ll need to work hard and do our homework on Table Rock to do well in the National Championship, but we can’t wait to get up there in November.”

Proceeds from the Bass Pro Shops US Open benefit local fisheries conservation and the future of fishing thanks to Bass Pro Shops and Toyota. The event is a true celebration of bass fishing, exclusively for amateur anglers with a guaranteed purse value of $4.3 million.

“It was an honor for us to partner with Bass Pro Shops in hosting this event and also contributing to conservation in our home state of Texas,” said Bob Carter, executive vice president of sales, Toyota Motor North America. “We’re grateful to Johnny Morris for his vision in creating an all-amateur tournament that connects people of all ages and backgrounds to nature, while positively impacting conversation. After seeing all the big bass caught this weekend, it’s evident the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Toyota ShareLunker program continues to be among the best bass management programs in the country.”

Angler Prizes
The top 40 teams received a payout and qualified for the National Championship. Additional prizes were awarded for catching the biggest bass within the following categories:

Overall/Hometown Hero: The biggest bass (9.06 pounds) was caught by Blake Slater from Mansfield, Texas, while fishing with buddy Eric Starnater from Waxahachie, Texas, winning $9,060 ($1,000 per pound). Slater will receive a replica mount of the bass, with a replica also going on display at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, Texas, earned 8 pounds of Black Rifle Coffee for landing a bass larger than 8 pounds, and was entered into a drawing for a Nitro Z20 boat. Additionally, Slater – a lieutenant in the Pantego, Texas, Fire Department – won an additional $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card for catching the biggest bass among veterans, active military and hometown hero anglers.Youth Angler: Easton Munro, a 7-year-old angler from Manitou, Okla., fished with dad Brandon and earned a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card for the biggest bass (2.73 pounds) among anglers ages 10 and under.Junior Angler: Eli Still, a 12-year-old angler from Minden, La., fished with dad Chad and earned a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card for the biggest bass (2.61 pounds) among anglers ages 11-17.Family Teams: Craig and Chris Sanders, a husband-wife team from Oklahoma City, Okla., earned a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card for the biggest bass caught by a Family Team (8.18 pounds).

Families and Veterans Among the Amateurs Competing for $1 Million
The Lake Ray Roberts qualifying event featured anglers ranging in age from 6 – 84 years old. The amateur field of 250 two-person teams consisted of a cross-section of families and active military/veterans adding to the fun of the tournament, including:59 military veterans3 active military 35 father-son teams10 mother-son teams14 husband-wife teams11 brother-brother teams2 father-daughter teams20 female anglers
Benefiting the Future of Fishing in Texas & Beyond
The Lake Ray Roberts event benefits local fish habitat with proceeds supporting The National Fish Habitat Partnership. Thanks to Bass Pro Shops and Toyota, 100 percent of all entry fees – over $1 million throughout the tournament – will benefit conservation.

Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops has made significant contributions to the future of the outdoors in the Lone Star State as a longstanding conservation partner of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). From fisheries management to restoring Eastern wild turkey and cutting-edge bobwhite quail research, Bass Pro Shops and TPWD are working together to find solutions for critical conservation needs including the restoration and enhancement of native wildlife, public education, and nationally-recognized research programs.

Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops are proud partners of TPWD’s renowned Toyota ShareLunker program, a national model for trophy bass management that encourages angler participation in producing bigger, better bass for Texas lakes. Now in its 35^th year, the program enables anglers to donate bass greater than 13 pounds to TPWD Inland Fisheries biologists for a selective breeding program and genetic analysis, spawning bigger, better bass that will enhance fishing in Texas lakes for years to come.

To honor Johnny’s contributions and those of fellow conservationist Richard M Hart, TPWD established the Richard M. Hart and Johnny Morris Conservation Center at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Texas, which stands as a centerpiece of the campus and a lasting legacy of the partnership. The 14,000 square foot facility provides unparalleled educational opportunities for Texans and a place to celebrate Texas’ rich fishing heritage.

In keeping with its longstanding commitment to conservation, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops partnered with TPWD to help ensure all fish caught during the Bass Pro Shops US Open regional qualifying event on Lake Ray Roberts were released responsibly following a fish-friendly weigh-in.

Remaining Regional Qualifying Events
April 24 – Lake Mead, Nevada (registration closed)
July 17 – Chesapeake Bay, Maryland (registration opens May 12)
Aug. 21 – Lake St. Clair, Michigan (registration opens May 12)
Sept. 11 – Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee (registration opens July 14)
Oct. 16 – Grand Lake, Oklahoma (registration opens July 14)
Nov. 17 – Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas (registration date TBA)

To learn more about the Bass Pro Shops US Open and how to register for remaining regional qualifying events, visit www.basspro.com/usopen.

BASS PRO SHOPS - US OPEN

Bass Pro Shops opens registration for the first three qualifying events for the US Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championship

$4.3M in cash and prizes and an anticipated $1M+ for conservation

What:
Registration for the first three regional qualifiers for the Bass Pro Shops US Open – Lake Okeechobee, Fla. (March 13); Lake Ray Roberts, Texas (April 17); and Lake Mead, Nev. (April 24) – opens on Wednesday, February 10, at 10 AM CST at basspro.com/usopen. Registration will be open for 24 hours only and allows amateur anglers to be entered in a drawing to compete as one of 250 two-person teams in regional qualifying events this spring. Bass Pro Shops last week announced the first-of its-kind amateur team tournament with a total guaranteed purse of $4.3 million.

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 top 40 finishers from each regional qualifier will be eligible to fish the National Championship this fall at Big Cedar Lodge on famed Table Rock Lake in Missouri. The National Championship will be an internationally broadcast and feature 350 two-person teams competing for the ultimate $1 million prize, the largest payout in fishing tournament history.

Note: White River Marine Group boat owners have received direct communications on the registration window from Bass Pro Shops over the last two weeks.

When:
Registration will be open for 24 hours from Wednesday, February 10 at 10 a.m. CT through Thursday, February 11 at 10 a.m. CT

Who:
The tournament is open to amateur anglers owning one of the world’s foremost boat brands – Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brands. For a full list of qualifications, visit basspro.com/usopen.

BASS PRO SHOPS - US OPEN

To Kickstart its 50th Anniversary Celebration, Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris Announce the Grandest Fishing Tournament in History

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Bass Pro Shops today announced a new era in the sport of fishing with the introduction of the Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops U.S. 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 prize totals are staggering: Competitors will be rewarded with a total guaranteed purse value of $4.3 million. The national championship team wins a $1 million cash prize – the largest cash payout of any single freshwater fishing tournament in history. Conservation wins too, with a minimum of $1 million going to improve fish habitat.
• Build your own team with a fishing buddy or family member: Registration is open exclusively for amateur anglers, creating a thrilling opportunity for families and friends from all walks of life to compete together on the water. To help grow the sport, regional and international qualifier events will feature division payouts for youth, family teams, all-female teams, veterans, and more. Additional prizes will be offered for the biggest bass and other categories that add to the collective excitement. Johnny is awarding one lucky junior angler (ages 11 – 18) a $250,000 scholarship toward a conservation-related area of study. Events will offer fun for the whole family with activities and entertainment. Rewarding customer loyalty and supporting conservation: As a thank you to loyal customers, the event is open to owners of the world’s foremost boat brands
– Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brands. For over 50 years, these celebrated brands have come to represent the #1 best-selling boats in North America. Along the way, they made first-time boat ownership more affordable for thousands of families.

Join the conversation at the US OPEN FACEBOOK GROUP!

Left to right: Legendary anglers Roland Martin, Tom
Mann, Bill Dance, Johnny Morris and Ricky Green

Fishing icons Ray Scott and Fishing icons Ray Scott and Johnny Morris weigh in a lunker during the early days of tournament fishing.

Anglers to compete for the ultimate prize with the biggest audience in
fishing history airing live internationally on NBC
Following a series of regional qualifying tournaments starting this spring, 350 two-person teams will compete in an internationally broadcast championship finale this fall at Big Cedar Lodge on famed Table Rock Lake. The competition will also include international teams from around the world including Japan, Spain, Germany, Romania, Mexico and Holland.
Celebrating Bass Pro Shops’ Origins
On the eve of our 50th Anniversary, the championship brings Bass Pro Shops back to its birthplace in the beautiful Ozark mountains of Missouri. Prior to founding the beloved outdoor brand in the back of his father’s liquor store in 1972, avid young angler Johnny Morris grew up float fishing on Ozarks rivers and later, Table Rock Lake, before spending five years competing on the professional bass circuit, which continues to have a profound impact on his life.
“Fishing in the first national BASS tournament on Table Rock Lake in 1970 rewarded me with friends for life and served as my inspiration to start Bass Pro Shops. Fishing on the BASS Tournament Circuit also helped keep us abreast of the latest emerging trends in fishing and enabled me to stay closely connected to our customers. And without our loyal customers and industry-leading independent boat dealers, we simply wouldn’t be here today. This tournament is our way of giving thanks and rewarding our customers with the chance to land the catch of a lifetime. Beyond offering the ultimate prize in fishing, we’re excited to celebrate our heritage, raise funds for conservation, and have some big fun with people who love fishing as much as we do,” said Johnny Morris.
Morris underscored, “We are also very grateful to our network of independent boat dealers. Their passion and support for helping get so many anglers and families out on the water has made this dream possible.”
Entry and Qualifying Process
In an effort to provide the widest opportunities for participation, there are three ways anglers can qualify for a chance to compete in the national championship event:

Finish in the top 40 at one of eight regional qualifier events hosted around the country: Accommodating a grand total of 4,700 anglers, each regional qualifying event will be open 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:
• Lake Okeechobee, Fla. – March 13, 2021
• Lake Ray Roberts (Dallas), Texas – April 17, 2021
• Lake Mead, Nev. – April 24, 2021
• Chesapeake Bay, Md. – July 17, 2021
• Lake St. Clair (Detroit), Mich. – Aug. 21, 2021
• Old Hickory Lake (Nashville), Tenn. – Sept. 11, 2021
• Grand Lake ‘O the Cherokees (Tulsa), Okla –Oct. 16, 2021
• Last Chance Qualifier: Bull Shoals Lake, Ark. –Nov. 17, 2021
• Culminating in the Grand Championship finale for those who qualify: Table Rock Lake, Mo. –Nov. 19, 2021
Win one of several existing fishing competitions across the United States and around the world organized by authorized independent dealers of Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brand boats, with details available at basspro.com/usopen.
We’re also proud to make eligible the winning teams from the three major national collegiate championships: As a continued investment in the future of the sport, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops will honor the collegiate fishing champions of the three top college trail events with an invitation to the championship with special prizes and recognition for this division.

In addition to a festive environment with activities for the whole family, each qualifier event will feature celebrity weighmasters and guests such as country music star Chris Janson and fishing legends like Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin, Kevin VanDam, Ott DeFoe, Timmy Horton and more. Additional weighmasters and celebrity guests will be announced prior to each qualifier.

Entry fees are $450 per person, $250 for youth ages 12 – 17, and free for kids under 12. Entry includes a US Open Gift Bag for each team member with exclusive goods valued at $150. Most importantly, entry fees will go to conservation and the future of fishing (see details below).
Due to anticipated high demand, boat owners can only register for one qualifying event, with all entrants placed in an independently verified drawing to determine the 250 teams eligible for each event. Individuals who do not receive a slot in the regional qualifiers can register for the “last chance” qualifier on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas, with registration opening later this year.

Epic 3-Day Championship Finale at Big Cedar Lodge on Missouri’s Legendary Table Rock Lake
The National Championship will take place in November, on one of America’s most legendary bass fishing lakes, Table Rock Lake in Missouri’s beautiful Ozark Mountains. Internationally televised on NBC in what is anticipated to be the largest audience in the history of the sport, the epic 3-day championship and star-studded festivities will be hosted by Bass Pro Shops’ Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort.
The National Championship will consist of a 5-fish limit each day, with overall weight recorded determining the champion at the conclusion of the three-day competition. Awaiting the champion is the $1 million cash prize. The angler who catches the biggest bass receives a 21’ fiberglass RANGER, NITRO or TRITON bass boat, a TOYOTA Tundra truck and other incredible prizes.
The event will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, November 21, followed by a feature special airing on NBC later this year.
Note: There is no additional entry fee to participate in the final championship event for those who qualify in regional events.

Anglers to Help Raise Over $1 Million for Conservation and the Future of Fishing
The tournaments will benefit local fish habitat with proceeds supporting The National Fish Habitat Initiative. One-third of all entry fees will directly support the project. Bass Pro Shops will match each donation as will Toyota, a longstanding conservation partner, enabling an amount equal to 100 percent of all entry fees – over $1 million – to benefit conservation.
The National Fish Habitat Initiative is a major conservation effort that can trace its roots back to Table Rock Lake. To improve the fisheries habitat that assures high-quality fishing in our lakes, in 2007 Johnny Morris convened the Army Corps of Engineers, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Arkansas Fish and Game Commission to establish a research-based approach to improving habitat in Army Corps of Engineers-managed reservoirs.
Piloted on Table Rock Lake, the resulting effort established a national model for freshwater reservoir habitat efforts that continues to positively impact fish populations. Since 2007, the initiative has supported over 1,000 projects in all 50 states, restoring tens-of-thousands of acres of habitat including freshwater impoundments and over 2,000 miles of rivers.
In keeping with a longstanding commitment to conservation, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops is partnering with local conservation agencies to help ensure all fish are released responsibly following a fish-friendly weigh-in.
Don’t miss your chance to support the future of fishing and compete
for the ultimate prize with the biggest audience in fishing history
airing live on NBC. For complete rules, registration details and
updates, visit basspro.com/usopen.