B.A.S.S. Announces Changes to 2001/2002 BASSMASTER Tournament Trail
The Best BASSMASTER Tour Ever Awaits Fans in 2001/2002 Season

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ­ April 20, 2001 -- The world¹s top professional fishing series announced several changes designed to ensure that the BASSMASTER Tour remains the most competitive and prestigious for years to come, including a new two-tier qualifying format for the BASS Masters Classic.

"A new era has begun. The best professional fishing series in the world just got better and even more competitive," said longtime B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Dewey Kendrick upon revealing plans for the 2001/2002 BASSMASTER Tournament Trail.

The BASS Masters Classic® Shootout is a grueling two-day elimination tournament designed as two competitions in one big event one for professionals and one for amateurs. Because only 23 of the 86 pros will make it to the Classic, the anglers in this event held one week before the Classic will have to give it their best shot. Additionally, one amateur out of 86 will be lucky enough to win a brand-new bass boat in a random draw.

"The BASS Masters Classic Shootout brings a new dimension in competition, a really dramatic fight to the finish, beat the clock excitement that the fans will love," added B.A.S.S. Assistant Tournament Director Chuck Harbin.

In addition to an exciting new format, the BASS Masters Classic Championship, already the most sought after title in competitive fishing, became even more valuable. First prize doubles from $100,000 to $200,000 and the overall purse for the event nearly doubles to over $600,000.

Beginning with the 2002 Classic, there will be eight ways to qualify for fishing's biggest event. The 40 slots will be determined by the following criteria:

• The top 10 finishers, including the 2002 B.A.S.S.^® Angler-of-the-Year, from the 2001-02 BASSMASTER® Tour (formerly referred to as the Top 150)
• The top qualifier from the Eastern BASSMASTER^® Open series (formerly Invitational)
• The top qualifier from the Central BASSMASTER^® Open series (formerly Invitational)
• The top qualifier from the Western BASSMASTER^® Open series (formerly Invitational)
• The 2002 B.A.S.S.^® Federation Champion
• The previous year¹s Angler of the Year
• The previous two BASS Masters Classic^® champions
• The top 23 finishers at the BASS Masters Classic^® Shootout

The 86 pro anglers in the 2002 BASS Masters Classic^® Shootout will be determined as follows:

• The 11th-55th-place qualifiers from the 2001-02 BASSMASTER^® Tour Pro Division point standings
• The 2nd-11th-place qualifiers from the 2001-02 BASSMASTER^® Central and Eastern Open point standings
• The 2nd-8th-place qualifiers from the 2001-02 BASSMASTER^®Western Open point standings
• The top 2 Federation finishers in each of five Divisions from the 2002 B.A.S.S.^® Federation Championship does not include the 2002 B.A.S.S.^® Federation Champion
• Five (5) provisional slots