Ponca City, Okla.-Nov. 8, 2016-Since 2011 the Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit has offered two-person teams the opportunity to compete in a professionally run setting on the Midwest’s best bass lakes for serious cash and prizes. The 2017 season promises even more great tournament bass action as the circuit again visits the region’s premier fisheries at peak fishing times.

The Cabela’s NABC’s 2017 schedule includes four qualifiers and a new end-of-the-season NABC Open that combines a Team of the Year Shootout and Tournament of Champions into one exciting event.

The schedule includes:

May 13 – Little Sturgeon Bay, WI

June 17 – Lake Vermilion, MN

July 29 – Bays de Noc, Escanaba, MI

Aug 19 – Mille Lacs Lake, MN

Sept 9-10 – NABC Open/Tournament of Champions – Location TBA

“The 2017 Cabela’s NABC schedule reads like a short list of truly world-class bass fisheries,” says Senior Tournament Director Dan Palmer. “Each of these systems could easily qualify as a once-in-a-lifetime destination for serious bass anglers from across North America.

“Plus, new for 2017 is an exciting year-end Cabela’s NABC/Open Tournament of Champions,” Palmer continues. “While this event is open to the public to fish, the top point getters from the first four NABC events will fish for the coveted NABC Team of the Year award, which comes with bragging rights and a hefty paycheck. The location and specific details will be announced shortly.”

Along with great fishing, the Cabela’s NABC’s proven format allows teams to test their skills against the region’s top bass anglers in pursuit of thousands in cash and prizes at each event. Payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Plus, the NABC Big Bass Pot and sponsor contingencies including Ranger Cup, Stratos 2X and Garmin Grand Giveaway add thousands more to the total.

Teams also compete for berths in the prestigious Cabela’s NABC World Bass Championship and Team of the Year titles. For example, Ben Otto and Casey Gallagher of Pulaski, Wisconsin, claimed a $3,600 prize package for winning 2016 Cabela’s NABC Team of the Year honors. The package included paid entry fees to all four 2017 qualifiers and the 2016 championship, $1,000 Cabela’s in gift cards and handsome trophies.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, recently concluded its sixth season as title sponsor of the NABC. Other sponsors include: Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, Mercury Marine, Garmin, MotorGuide, G-Juice and T-H Marine.

The Cabela’s NABC is based in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Entry fees are $500 per regular season tournament and $600 for the two-day championship. Along with an overall payback of more than 100 percent, a small donation is included in each entry fee and matched by the NABC and other conservation organizations up to 3-to-1 in support of bass conservation projects anywhere the NABC does business.

For more information, visit northamericanbasscircuit.com, email [email protected] */// –>, or call (580) 765-9031.