North American Bass Circuit Headed For Bays de Noc Smallmouth Slam!
Jun 28th, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jun 28th, 2011 at 12:00 AM
JUNE 15, 2011-MINNETONKA, MN-World-class bass fishing and hefty paychecks continue when the North American Bass Circuit rolls into Escanaba and Gladstone, Michigan, July 30-31 to ply the smallmouth paradise of Big and Little Bays de Noc of mighty Lake Michigan.
After getting the Circuit’s inaugural season off to a strong start on Wisconsin’s bass-rich Lake Winnebago Chain June 11, NABC anglers alike are anxious to sample the Bays’ legendary fisheries.
Given the late-July time frame, Circuit competitors like Rapala’s Mark Fisher expect bass to be entrenched in summer patterns, offering a wealth of options from shoreline weeds and rocks to offshore structure. “If the weeds are up and hearty, I think we’ll see a strong weed bite,” he predicts, while acknowledging that the Bays’ legendary smallies will make the rocks a force to be reckoned with.
Of course, great bass fishing is only part of the NABC’s appeal. The single-day, 50-boat, team-format tournament rewards the heaviest bag of up to five bass with a $10,000 paycheck. Second place pays $2,250; third place $1,500; fourth place $1,250; and fifth place $1,000. The Circuit’s Big-Bass Pot, along with sponsor contingencies including Cabela’s Angler Cash, Stratos 2X ‘Double Your Winnings,’ Ranger Cup, Detwiler-MarineTech Products, Optima Batteries True Blue program and O2 Technologies U2 and Oxygenator bonuses, add nearly $15,000 to the payout. As a bonus courtesy of Rapala, Trigger X and Sufix line, the top four teams also receive great line and bait packages comprised of these fine products.
As an added incentive, the top 10 teams at each of the NABC’s three regular-season tournaments qualify for the 2011 World Bass Championship. Set for Sept. 24-25 at Leech Lake out of Walker, Minnesota, the Championship offers a $20,000 first-place paycheck.
Bass are winners in the equation as well. A $15-per-boat donation from each team’s entry fee-made via our Bass Conservation Fund through non-profit affiliate Wildlife Forever-will benefit Department of Natural Resources’ projects to protect local fisheries. Since 1984, the MWC’s Conservation Fund has donated more than $275,000 to fisheries-enhancement projects in states where our tournaments are held-and the Bass Conservation Fund is proudly following this historic tradition for fisheries conservation.
The NABC is open to all anglers. Registration is now under way, and costs $400 per team, per NABC qualifying tournament. Teams may register by mail, fax, or online. Full details and printable registration forms are available at northamericanbasscircuit.com. Or call toll-free (877) 893-7947, or email [email protected] for more information. Teams interested in competing at Escanaba should keep in mind that a $50 late fee kicks in July 11 and registration closes at midnight July 24.
Given the tournament’s location and timing (the weekend before the Cabela’s National Team Championship and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit qualifier on the same waters), anglers fishing the NTC/MWC dual event have the chance to fish a bonus bass tournament while in town for the walleye events.
This is the second stop on the NABC’s 2011 season. The Lake Winnebago season opener drew teams from four states, and awarded a full payout plus contingencies. After Bays de Noc, the remaining tournament is August 19 at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. The North American Bass Circuit’s title sponsors include Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats and the North American Fishing Club. Supporting sponsors include Mercury Marine, Rapala, Sufix, Trigger X, Detwiler-MarineTech Products, Gemini Sports Marketing, Wave Fishing, O2 Marine Technologies and Optima Batteries.