2017 Bassmaster Classic coming to Texas???

Rumors have been floating around at some our of local tournaments about B.A.S.S bringing the 2017 classic to Canyon lake in New Braunfels Tx, saying that the mayor has got the ball rolling already.

Here is a quote from BASSEDITOR about it below.

no!

Canyon lake? No way!

BRING IT TO TEXAS!!!!!!!

Thats what I said! 3 people have mentioned it to me in the past 2 months so figured I would ask on here

So other than its size, what would be wrong with Canyon Lake? I would think that an alright Texas bass lake would out produce a good northern bass lake.

is there an arena near Canyon Lake?

San antonio! Other classics they have driven up to an hr for weigh-in

I will go on record and say, not a chance. It is 8,000 acres.

I would be very surprised. My first thought was not big enough. But the classic is only 50 anglers, so it could happen. Im still very doubtful. VERY DOUBTFUL.

As much as we wold love to see a Texas Classic, we don't think San Antonio is heart of fishing in Texas. Great area, lots to do, though not near the anglers DFW to Houston has.

I wish but it won't ever happen at a lake that small.

Travis maybe if it fills back up but I don't think you would ever see a classic on a lake less than 15 or 20 k acres.

I could see conroe but not canyon

I was in some tackle manufacturers meetings in San Antonio last fall. That was the rumor at that meeting. I think it could happen. I won't say it will happen. But, I hope it does.

BASS guys spent a day on Canyon Lake the day before the tackle meetings.

San Antonio would be a great venue.

I hope it happens it would be nice to finally check out a classic

It has been on Lay Lake several times which is only 12,000 acres. I just can't see them going much smaller than that.

Best chance for Texas would be Conroe or Ray Roberts.

Hey, if BASS can hold an Elite tournament on the Sabine, it could happen!

If it were at ray rob where would weigh in be?

You guys sure it wasn't choke canyon?

Super Pit at UNT
http://www.meangreenmap.com/superpit.html

I vaguely remember in 1996, Bassmasters had a top 100 tournament on Lake Minnetonka in MInnesota. It's 14,000 acres but if you look at the lake from an aerial view, it's really more like several lakes joined together (unfortunately by long no-wake zones) rather than one big giant body of water. 50 boats can disappear fairly well on 8,000 acres. On the flip side, I'm guessing these pros will have an easier time finding a needle in a smaller haystack too.

I would think if they are gonna do a classic in Texas it would be on Sam Rayburn

One classic on Texoma..I cant believe Big Sam never got a classic, or Toledo Bend, Palestine..Amistad, Falcon..Crazy...TV Media outlets playing a part in that..

The lake doesn't matter, its the venue to host the activities associated with the sponsors/vendors that matters.

The amount of MONEY that a City PAYS the BASS Organization is crucial. Sabine is presented by Stark. I could see it possibly going to Shreveport with the support of the Bosier City Chamber of Commerce backed by the Casino's. Now days its all about the MONEY. But it must be true that they are going to San Antonio because "I saw it on the Internet"!

Choke will be dry by 2017.

can we just get through 2016 first?

Possum Kingdom and have weigh in At Boodocks bar and grill. Amistad could handle it with the convention center.

The drive from Grove, OK to Tulsa, OK is longer than the drive from Many, LA to Shreveport, LA. They need to have one at Toledo within the next 5 years.

Not at Amistad, the city won't put up the funds for it.

Ray Roberts and weight in and venue at Winstar Casino in okiehoma. Winstar is what 30 minutes from Sanger?

The new indoor stadium being built at the Dallas Headquarters of the Tollway. Total time Jordan park to Frisco about 30 minutes.....

That's an excellent choice and venue. Jerra would love all the media hopla too

They fished Eagle Mountain. I don't remember what the tournament was called but they had to qualify for it and they had 50 fishing it. After days 1 and 2 they cut it down to 10 and fished Benbrook. Of course it's no classic but if EM can hold 50 I think there are plenty of others that can. This was back around 2006 or 07.

Where ever and if ever it were to take place in Texas; and I can't beleive they've gone this long without having a classic here, it will have to be an area with access to a good lake and a pretty good size arena.........I'd be happy if they did it in Shreveport again. Monroe, Louisana has hosted several Pro level events. They have an arena really close to the Ouachita River that would contain a Classic crowd. Anywhere in Texas with the afformentioned capabilitlies would be fine.

Bush Beer shootout

Why does the lake have to be massive for 50 boats? I'd like to see what the pros can do on Canyon, multiple species of Bass, can fish different styles with different types of structure, deep timber, steep banks, bluff walls, flats, creek channels, has good grass, good chunk rock, dirty or clear water, it sets up well IMO. I just made myself want to go there this weekend haha

People scoff and laugh about Canyon but why not?

In the same breath, it may not have enough water by then for the ramps, 11 foot low now.

Houston would be a good venue with reliant or even g r brown/minute maid?

But only lake close enough is lake Houston.

Hell they e gone to worse lakes before.

No keep them away. Then people would realize it's actually a fairly good lake. Those boys would all be ontop of each other like at Sabine haha

Why not conroe. TTBC Used to fish it every year with 50 pros. It could be a slugfest in February with those guys. Reliant arena is within a short drive for weigh in.

Lake Grapevine. BPS right down the street. Surely Southlake will put up the coin.

Belton

The number 1 consideration for Classic site selection is the location having a Convention and Visitors Bureau that will fork out the cash to bring the event there, and also has the facilities to host the Classic Expo, which is pretty large. 95% of the lakes people mention here do not have either of those. You can't compare places that host Elite Series events, as there is no offsite event.

I'm not knocking Canyon, but I just don't think it has the size/population to support a multi day event with anglers of this caliber. People would be fishing on top of each other, which on this stage, is not acceptable. 8,000 acres and low, and a lake that can fish a little small anyway.

I may end up eating crow, but I stick with my original thought that this is nothing more than dock talk.

Also, the drive to weigh in is not that big of a factor. The drive from Birmingham to Guntersville was 70miles. What does that tell you? Dallas and Houston have no interest.

Also, the attendance to the expo is not nearly as good when they go to bigger cities. They do a lot better when they go to mid sized cities where there isn't as much to do and the Classic is considered a "big deal" for the city.

The only place I see them considering launching out of Roberts would be the main state park. A main part of the event is the morning launch, photos and interactions with fans. And I don't see Roberts having a chance at this.

I hear ya T54. Ive seen this about Canyon on two forums now, may have been the same person, could be dock talk for sure. Someone said they were going to stock the lake and filler back up! LOL not sure about that one.

I think its an early April fools joke

Grapevine would be my guess. TPaW has babied the lake, Though it is small, it has LMB and smallies. BPS and jerrah world. Hotels everywhere.
If there is any chance, just watch the lake stocking reports on the lake in question this year. They will prolly get a jump on stocking up and making the lake prime. If Grapevine has a few monster smallies this year, who knows.

Ray Hubbard...they could all line up along 30 and everyone could wave at them.

They aren't going to have it on a slot lake.

You don't think they could lobby to remove the slot by 2017? That much money talks when it comes to TPWD

How in the heck could they ever fill it with all the water being sold from out of it. That's not a question but rather a statement.

I would imagine Texoma would have the best shot at getting it. They have held it there before but that was in 1979. It's a bit more commercialized now though. Sherman, Denison, or Durant's economy would welcome the boost I would imagine and the lake has the facilities like Highport to handle it.

I wish Ray Roberts still had an 18" MLL or a slot!! It was a much nicer and more peaceful place to live and fish back then!

P.S. I am not opposed to tournaments and I even fish a few I just don't like all of the pressure on my home lake! I am kinda selfish that way.

Sam rayburn lacks a venue for the weigh in close enough to fish it. the closest civic center is in Lufkin 40 miles from cassel boykin and its super small compared to the ones they used at the red river and grand lake in OK. Unfortunately rayburn and toledo's remoteness hampers their ability to draw something that big, and the money required by bass to put the tournament on would probably exceed the budget of most of the chamber of commerce's in the area.

the elites have come to Toledo and Rayburn in years past, but up front money is less for a regular season event and the weigh in doesn't require an arena.

For those of you saying Ray Roberts, have you ever fished it in February? My guess is that it would be as tough as nails to fish that time of year..

Conroe- Woodlands-Houston could pull this off.

Woodlands is only getting larger everyday. The pavillion will hold 17,000 people. Only issue would be floor space and convention center, but the way buildings are popping up around there, and with Exxon in town, anything is possible.

Medina!.....Plenty of room to park!

I hope it comes to benbrook

The only lakes that make sense for a classic in TX are Ray Roberts, TB, Conroe and Rayburn. San Antonio could be driving the bus on this one as they are looking for ways to bolster their image and attract visitors, conventions and commerce. Look what they did for the Cowboys when they came to town. Is it viable with the possibility of low water? Likely not.

I would love to see it at ray roberts. Especially in feb and watch those guys try and figure them out

Conroe!! And I got 1k on Combs!!

If they'd change the date to warmer weather, towns with big outdoor football stadiums could host it. That would open up a lot more possibilities in Texas, pretty much any town with a university could host it if a deal could be worked out with the locals, the univiersity, and BASS. Quiet a stretch I know, but possible.

Thought I'd re-ignite this topic since the announcement is getting close and Canyon Lake is full and fishing much better. Don't see size as an issue since there are only 50 some anglers in the Classic. Would like to see how deep some of the pros would fish.

Travis is just about full, just 3 feet low down.

Lake is full, supposedly TPWD is stocking it heavily.

I am going to put my money on Shreveport for 2017. Red River

Done let the lack of a venue close by stop them from holding the classic. They traveled over 50 miles to Lake Martin to Montgomery for one classic

I certainly wouldn't bet against him!!

This is something I've never understood is WHY Texas has never hosted a CLASSIC. We probably have more tournament fishermen than any state in the union. I know that you need a venue/community that is interested in financing and seeing a return on their investment for starters.
The (ROI) is clearly demonstrated in the past attendance of previous Classics and FLW Championships. I was at KVD's first Classic win @ New Orleans in the Superdome and there was probably 20 to 30K people there and probably over 100K head count for the exhibition based on the traffic I saw @ the Bossier City, Louisiana Classic. I don't know what Bossier City drew @ the Centurylink Center because I didn't get to attend that part, but I bet is was near full. I also went to the FLW Championship when it was held there and it probably had just as much attendance as the Classic. We would see more BASS and FLW tournaments in general, as well as the Classic and the FLW Championships if we would contact Chambers of Commerce in cities that have the venues that could function as a host city. If they don't know how much potential for tourism our sport brings they aren't going to find out by mental telepathy, we've got to tell them. If anyone wanted to do a presentation to a community in NETX I'd be more than willing help present.....my two cents..........

Texoma had a classic back in the day.

ray Roberts in March would be a smash!

Lake Fork? Catch and Release classic? Thoughts

Never gonna happen!

Fork hosts Toyota and it's a tremendous success...... Classic could be the same if they adopted the same procedure and moved the date to mid April.....

Not going to happen in Texas.

People have said that Canyon is suddenly full of 5 lbers!

Nope, just rumors... Fishing still sucks as it always has and always will. Don't waste your time going there, too many pleasure boaters. Falcon or Fork are the places to go!

I heard that White Rock and Bachman are contenders. They would split the field and have 25 fish White Rock and 25 fish Bachman, then switch after four hours.

^^ This

I'm thinking/hoping....the Classic will come to Chickamauga/Chattanooga, soon. This time of year, 5 fish limits, consistently, top out at 40lbs or more....records would fall....

Thoughts? Think never. While "good fishing" is a consideration, infrastructure for the event is more important. Only thing that keeps Falcon from being used more. Thats what makes White Rock/Buchanan a consideration.

With Toyota coming to RR this year, if it goes well
Then don't count Jerruh out.

Classic on Ray Bob and festivities at his
new digs in Frisco. Will have an indoor
Stadium with around 12k seats

If Jerruh can make money off it, you know
He could sell BASS on it.

Yeah, sure... Bachman is 100 acres.

maybe it would not snow or ice up in Feb at Canyon

You missed the joke.

Canyon Lake might not produce the biggest weights but that is not the biggest consideration for a Classic. Venue and participation are, and supposedly BASS representatives have already visited San Antonio last year. 2017 may be in Shreveport but scouting has already took place for the 2018, 2019 events. If not next year maybe soon.
http://www.bassmaster.com/news/daily-limit-how-classic-venue-chosen

After all these years, they just recently installed mile markers/navigation buoys from the dam all the way into the river on Canyon.

That makes no sense, the lakes not even that long or dangerous.

Is there even a ramp big enough to hold 50 trucks/ boats much less all the other stuff that would come with a classic?

Canyon lake marina? Has the restaurant right there.

Late last year the Corp cleared all the brush around the 6 lane boat ramp and parking lot in Canyon Park that had been abandoned for the last decade. So yes, you can easily launch 50 boats from there. Next to that ramp is also the 3 lane ramp in Canyon Park which by itself can hold 50 truck and trailers. TTZ held a tourney with 111 teams from that ramp.

BTW, I'm not saying it's going to happen, I'm just pointing out what has been going on out there encase you haven't been out there recently.

Since I was asked in a PM, no, the 6 lane ramp (actually two 3 lane ramps) they cleared is not open to the public. I have no idea why they cleared it, but they did ask TTZ to run a tournament from it last year instead of the usual 3 lane ramp where TTZ usually goes from.

I think a lot of you are missing the number of boats and trailers that are at a classic. The number would be in the neighborhood of 100-125 boats. There are multiple media boats, support boats, hosts on the water (Dave Mercer)boats, and then you bring in the fan boats who follow the competitors. I have worked the Elite tournaments in Texas the last 2 yrs. and am scheduled to work this one. In 2014 on T-Bend of the last day I was the assigned observer boat for Randall Tharp. At one point I counted 34 boats following him. And this was just an Elite tournament. I went to the Classic in Shreverport but did not take my boat. I talked to one man who drove down from Minn. to attend the Classic. He said he brought his boat, but after the first day never used it again because of all the congestion the Red River caused. I have never been on Canyon Lake, but I doubt seriously if any stocking program conducted at this time would provide any benefit to the lake in time for the tournament.

Have it at Squaw Creek.....

There has been a B.A.S.S. event on White rock before.

That was for a fish-off between two anglers in the Megabucks Event which lasted 8 days. Not like it was the entire field.

http://www.bassmaster.com/blogs/fish-central-open-blog/nothing-fish-0

Yea I know, If I remember right it was like 12 guys

I have not been in several months but it does indeed sound like they are prepping for something. I'm hoping to go on Friday, finally got my boat put back together and if I can get the job I'm on to cooperate.

Texoma would be cool with me

Texoma would be awesome

Texoma getting BassFest in 2016 but doesn't have the facilities to host the Classic at present and I doubt they have the money either.

+1

It will be either Shreveport or New Orleans. My money is on Shreveport.

Rayburn has the same issue. Lacking the necessary facilities to host the event and the money.

Scott Gordon and Mark Jones also held the 100 year Celebrating White Rock tournament.

Choctaw Casino could do it

Choctaw is awesome and going to be great for BassFest but not big enough for Classic. The expo space requirement is massive 100,000+ square feet and they need an big arena capable of 15,000+. Choctaw doesn't have it. Their new event center is 5500 seating and they have around 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Also Choctaw can't afford the host fee alone or should I say it's doubtful they would pay it.

I thought that was a disaster last year.

Wasn't that the place they had concerts rain or shine, and they cancelled the concerts and had no parking

it was

Sam Rayburn is handicapped by the lack of venues for the expo and weigh in there's not even a civic center closer than Lufkin to hold anglers meetings at. While the lake has a couple of excellent on the water pavilions it does not even meet the criteria for a bass elite tournament. Also they don't bring those for free it requires thousands of dollars in up front money by the host areas. I would love to have one close (went to the one on the Red River in 2012 it was amazing) but the area around Rayburn is too Rural I am afraid

San Antonio can host this event, but the choice of lakes would be suspect. Canyon, or Calaveras or the only two, unless they decided to travel from Choke Canyon to San Antonio for the weigh in. That is 87 miles, but with police escort (like they do in Alabama) it is doable.