BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, originally scheduled to launch out of Burlington, Vt., will instead move across the lake to Plattsburgh, N.Y., B.A.S.S. officials announced today. The tournament will still be held July 8-11.

Plattsburgh hosted the Elite Series last summer, when COVID-19 restrictions prevented spectators from attending weigh-ins. That tournament featured an exciting final day, when Brandon Palaniuk mounted an afternoon rally to vault from fifth place to win the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain. B.A.S.S. staff and local officials expect that fishing fans will be allowed at this year’s event while emphasizing that they will adhere to any mandates limiting the crowd size.

“We appreciate the efforts and flexibility of our friends in Plattsburgh and Clinton County for the past two years as they’ve worked alongside our team to put on these tournaments,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.

The Elite Series will close out their 2021 season with a two-event New York swing. From Plattsburgh the tournament trail travels to Waddington for the Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River July 15-18.

The tournament will be hosted by the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, City of Plattsburgh and Clinton County.