September 25, 2018

Athens, AL. American Bass Anglers announced today the 2019 ABA Open Series schedules with 81 tournaments in 18 divisions, in a Pro/Am style format. The series provides the path the 2020 Ray Scott Championship where the winning boater will be awarded $50,000 and a new Triton/Mercury Boat package valued over $70,000. The winning co-angler at the Ray Scott Championship will win $25,000 and a new Triton/Mercury Boat package valued over $55,000.

ABA will take top ten Boaters and top ten Co-Anglers from each division by points after the Area Championship to the 2020 Ray Scott Championship. Additionally, the top five Boaters and top five Co-Anglers at the Area Championship by place of finish, who do not advance by divisional points, will also advance.

Each division hold four one-day qualifying events and advance anglers to a two-day Area Championship. The Angler of the Year, both Boater and Co-Angler from each division will receive their entries paid for the 2020 season in the same division. This includes four Divisional events and Area Championship.

Area Championships are held in the fall of year and the full field competes both days of these events which gives all anglers the opportunity to qualify for the Ray Scott Championship.

The Ray Scott Championship is a four-day event held in the spring of the following year. The full field competes for 3 days and the top 25 Boaters and Co-Anglers advance to Championship Sunday.

Entry fees are; for the divisional one-day events are $210 for boaters and $105 for co-anglers, for the area Championships entries are $310 for boaters and $155 for co-anglers.  Ray Scott Championship entries will be $310 for boaters and $155 for co-anglers.

Payout for all events will be based on number of entries, for one-day divisional events a guaranteed $5000 will go the wining boater based on a minimum of 60 boats, for each 2-day Area Championship a guaranteed $10,000 for boaters and $5,000 for co-anglers based on 100 boats.

ABA will introduce a new Arkansas division for 2019. Arkansas anglers will compete on Greer’s Ferry, Hamilton, Ouachita, Pine Bluff. In October of 2019, this division will compete against the Oklahoma division at the two-day Area Championship on Lake Dardanelle.

ABA will also hold events in east Tennesseee in 2019. The division will hold events on Chickamauga, Cherokee, Douglas, and Watts Bar lakes.

Boaters are always guaranteed use of their boats at all events. Co-Anglers registering as a package entry will receive priority entry into each event in that division. Co-Anglers can guarantee their spot in an event by “linking” with a registered Boater.

Registration opens for the 2019 season on Monday October 1, 2018 at 8am central time. Early package (paying for all events) registrations will receive the following.

– Free one-year new or renewal ABA membership
– Freedom Pass (Allows anglers to not attend the Friday night meetings)
– Personal pre-event local information including best hotel rates at the location
– Personal points and divisional reports and tournament report after each event

More information can be viewed on the ABAOpenSeries.com website including payouts, schedules, and additional information.  Registrations can be done online at ABAOpenSeries.com or by phone at (256)232-0406.

About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression.  For more information about American Bass Anglers Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, Military Team Bass Tournament and the Triton Boats 100% Plus Team Tour visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406. American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Hydrowave, SiriusXM® Radio, SiriusXM® Marine Weather, Garmin, Maui Jim, Power Pole, GEICO, and Optima Batteries.

Area 1
Division Dates Lake
Alabama North 03/02 Guntersville
Alabama North 04/13 Neely Henry
Alabama North 05/04 Guntersville
Alabama North 06/22 Weiss

East Tennessee 02/16 Chickamauga
East Tennessee 05/11 Cherokee
East Tennessee 06/08 Douglas
East Tennessee 07/13 Watts Bar

Area 1 Championship 09/07-08 Guntersville

Area 2
Division Dates Lake
Tennessee Central 02/23 Percy Priest
Tennessee Central 03/23 Center Hill
Tennessee Central 05/11 Old Hickory
Tennessee Central 06/15 Old Hickory

Kentucky 03/16 Kentucky Lake
Kentucky 04/20 Lake Barkley
Kentucky 06/08 Lake Barkley
Kentucky 06/29 Kentucky Lake

Area 2 Championship 09/28-29 Kentucky Lake

Area 3
Alabama South 02/02 Eufaula
Alabama South 03/02 Lay Lake
Alabama South 05/11 Eufaula
Alabama South 06/22 Logan Martin

Mississippi 02/16 Ross Barnett
Mississippi 03/16 Ross Barnett
Mississippi 06/22 Ross Barnett
Mississippi 07/13 Pickwick

Area 3 Championship 09/14-15 Logan Martin

Area 4
Georgia 01/26 Eufaula
Georgia 03/09 Hartwell
Georgia 04/27 Sinclair
Georgia 06/15 Oconee

South Carolina 01/26 Santee
South Carolina 02/23 Murray
South Carolina 04/13 Clark’s Hill
South Carolina 06/22 Russell

Area 4 Championship 10/05-06 Hartwell

Area 5
Florida Central 01/12 Toho
Florida Central 02/23 Kissimmee Chain
Florida Central 04/13 Harris Chain
Florida Central 06/08 Kissimmee Chain

Florida South 01/19 Okeechobee
Florida South 02/09 Okeechobee
Florida South 03/23 Okeechobee
Florida South 05/18 Okeechobee

Area 5 Championship 09/28-29 Okeechobee

Area 6
Southeast Texas 02/23 Sam Rayburn
Southeast Texas 03/23 Sam Rayburn
Southeast Texas 06/29 Sam Rayburn
Southeast Texas 09/14 Sam Rayburn

East Texas 02/09 Cedar Creek
East Texas 03/30 Lake Palestine
East Texas 05/04 Lake of the Pines
East Texas 09/07 Ray Roberts

Area 6 Championship 10/26-27 Toledo bend

Area 7
Arkansas 03/09 Greer’s Ferry
Arkansas 04/27 Hamilton
Arkansas 05/11 Ouachita
Arkansas 06/15 Pine Bluff

Oklahoma 03/02 Grand Lake
Oklahoma 04/13 Eufaula
Oklahoma 05/18 Tenkiller
Oklahoma 06/08 Ft Gibson

Area 7 Championship 10/12-13 Dardanelle

Area 8
North Carolina 02/02 Norman
North Carolina 03/09 Wylie
North Carolina 05/04 Hickory
North Carolina 06/15 High Rock

Virginia 03/02 Kerr
Virginia 03/23 Gaston
Virginia 05/18 Kerr
Virginia 06/29 Gaston

Area 8 Championship 09/28-29 Kerr

Area 9
Maryland 03/23 Potomac River
Maryland 04/13 Chesapeake Bay
Maryland 05/04 Potomac River
Maryland 06/01 Chesapeake Bay

New York 06/08 Lake Champlain Ticonderoga
New York 07/27 1000 Islands
New York 08/17 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh
New York 06/29 Oneida Lake

Area 9 Championship 09/28-29 Hudson River