Ponca City, Okla.-May 30, 2017-The Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit’s 2017 tour of the Upper Midwest’s hottest bass fisheries continues Saturday, June 17, with a regular season qualifier presented by Garmin on Minnesota’s renowned Lake Vermilion, from the Fortune Bay Resort Casino.

The single-day event offers two-person teams a chance to win thousands in cash and prizes while enjoying a mix of smallmouths and largemouths on one of the Northwood’s premier bass lakes.

Vermilion’s smallmouth population is on the rise and will likely play a major role in the tournament’s final standings. Based on the results of past NABC events, teams will need to break the 20-pound mark to have a shot at victory. In 2015, Mark and Shane Reveling won with five smallies for 20 pounds, 7 ounces. And in 2014, which was a two-day contest, Andrew and Michael Nitchals topped the leaderboard with 10 fish for 40 pounds, 9 ounces.

The upcoming tournament is open to all two-person teams regardless of club or sponsor affiliation. Teams will be allowed to bring their best five large- or smallmouth bass to the scale, and the team with the heaviest total will be crowned the champions. Bass fans of all ages are invited to watch the action unfold at the weigh-in, beginning at 3 p.m. at Fortune Bay Resort Casino.

Besides great bass fishing and the thrill of competing in a professionally run setting, teams will battle for serious winnings. Cabela’s NABC payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Plus, the NABC Big Bass Pot and sponsor bonuses including Ranger Cup, Stratos 2X and Garmin Grand Giveaway add thousands more to the total.

Teams competing in multiple events can reap even greater rewards. Those fishing at least three Cabela’s NABC tournaments have a shot at qualifying for the 2017 Tournament of Champions. Team of the Year titles will also be awarded to the top three teams, led by a Team of the Year prize package that includes paid entry fees to four 2018 qualifiers and the 2017 championship, plus $1,000 in Cabela’s gift cards and handsome trophies.

The 2017 Cabela’s NABC season includes four regular season qualifiers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, on a selection of largemouth and smallmouth bass fisheries anglers have called the circuit’s best lineup ever and a “dream season” for the region’s bass fans.

The action kicked off in May with a smallmouth blitz on Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Remaining events include Lake Vermilion, Minnesota, June 17; Bays de Noc, Michigan, July 29; and Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, August 19. A special NABC Open and the Tournament of Champions are set for September 9-10 on the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its seventh season as title sponsor of the NABC. Other sponsors include: Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, Mercury Marine, Garmin and G-Juice.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the Cabela’s NABC is open to two-person teams regardless of club or sponsor affiliation. Entry fees are $400 per regular season tournament and for the NABC Open. Registration for the Lake Vermilion tournament closes at 4 p.m. (CST) Monday, June 11th.

Along with an overall payback to anglers well in excess of 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.

NEXT UP IS June 17 is NABC Vermilion, Presented By Garmin! (Registration closes Monday night June 12)

ATTENTION ANGLERS the room block at Fortune Bay will expire SOON don’t forget to call and book your rooms ASAP. Tell them your with NABC!

Event fact sheet

Fortune Bay Resort Casino

1430 Bois Forte Road

Tower, MN 55790

800)992-7259