October 1, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For one talented college angler, the road to competing in the iconic Bassmaster Classic and launching an incredible fishing career starts this weekend. But thanks to Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, gamers and anglers alike can start their climb to angling immortality October 28.

Eight of the country’s top college anglers will face off on Alabama’s Coosa River in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, which runs Oct. 1-4. Fans can stay up-to-date on the action by following Bassmaster College Classic Bracket LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, which will feature real-time coverage from all eight boats on Saturday as anglers battle to advance and win a coveted berth into the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. Continuing coverage of the tournament can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

Dovetail Games, developer and publisher of Bassmaster Fishing 2022 and other authentic sports simulation titles, is celebrating the launch of the game and their sponsorship of event coverage — as well as championing upcoming angling talent — by including the College Classic Bracket champion as one of the game’s playable anglers.

The young champion will find themselves in good company, appearing alongside a playable lineup of 10 Elite Series pros. Players can choose to play as their favorite angler or design their own before setting out to begin their journey to the Classic. Much like the young anglers squaring off on the Coosa River, players can use the game’s Career Mode to work their way to the Classic, beginning in the College Series. Taking the real-life progression of professional anglers and recreating it in-game, players start their careers in the College Series before moving on to the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens. If players have the skills to win in the Opens events, they’ll be invited to the Elite Series to try and gain enough qualifying points to go to the Bassmaster Classic.

“These events provide opportunities for anglers of all ages and backgrounds that might have otherwise just kept to bass fishing as a hobby,” said two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Hank Cherry. “You never know who the next Bassmaster Classic winner might be. It’s great to see Dovetail Games bringing a career mode to Bassmaster Fishing 2022 so that more people can experience what it’s like to be a professional angler.”

Becoming the Bassmaster Classic champion is about more than just catching bass — it takes passion, pride and skill. To be the best, anglers will need to know their way around their equipment, trust their instincts and know when to go big. In Bassmaster Fishing 2022, players can make a name for themselves by climbing the ranks and becoming a master of the water.

Dovetail Games will sponsor live coverage of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake Oct. 21-23 and is partnering with B.A.S.S. on the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine Oct. 15-17 in Decatur, Ala.

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 will be available beginning Oct. 28 in North America and Europe on the PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Xbox Game Pass, and Windows PC via Steam. The game is available for preorder now on PlayStation, and Playstation®Plus members get a 10% discount.

For regular updates and more information, please visit Bassmasterthegame.com.