There will be no spectator activities associated with the next two MLF Bass Pro Tour events (Lake Fork and the three-lake tournament out of Raleigh, N.C.) or the upcoming Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Lake Chickamauga due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, according to announcements Thursday evening by MLF-FLW and B.A.S.S. All FLW tournaments (Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, BFLs, college and high school) will also be impacted and B.A.S.S. has postponed the Bassmaster College Series event scheduled for later this month at Lake Hartwell.
Below is the complete text of a press release distributed by MLF-FLW, followed by a statement provided to BassFan from a B.A.S.S. communications official.
MLF-FLW Press Release
Major League Fishing and FLW announced the suspension of all public gatherings associated with their events through April 12, 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was made to safeguard the health and well-being of all involved. Public gatherings include all fan meet-n-greets associated with the Bass Pro Tour, and the attendance of fans and non-essential staff at all FLW tournaments, including weigh-ins. Due to the nature of competitive bass fishing, the league will continue to host tournaments for participating anglers. Decisions regarding future events will be made in the coming weeks as the league monitors the situation with COVID-19 under the guidance of medical and public health professionals.
“We’re taking these proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of our anglers, volunteers, fans and staff,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF president and CEO. “As a unique outdoor sport where competitors have limited interaction, we feel that we can continue to host tournaments under an abundance of caution. Should circumstances change around a particular event, we will alert those competitors and volunteers directly involved with as much notice as possible.”
Public appearances of the MLF pros associated with Stages Three and Four of the Bass Pro Tour will not take place. Fans are encouraged to remain home and watch their favorite anglers on MLFNOW! rather than gathering in person.
Events cancelled include the following:
> Friday, March 13 – MLF All Access: angler appearances at Neon Moon (Yantis, Texas)
> Saturday, March 14 – MLF All Access: student angler clinic at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (Athens, Texas)
> Sunday, March 15 – MLF All Access: crawfish boil, Neon Moon (Yantis, Texas)
> Friday, April 3 through Sunday, April 5, 2020, MLF Midway (Garner, N.C.)
Attendance at all FLW weigh-ins will be limited to essential staff and immediate family. Considering the breadth and scope of FLW tournaments across the continental U.S.A, the league feels this decision is in the best interest of public health including volunteers, anglers, fans and staff. Events affected by this weigh-in attendance restriction include:
> Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Lake Martin, March 19-22
> Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit at Cherokee Lake, April 2-5
> Toyota Series Southern Division at Lake Okeechobee, March 12-14
> Toyota Series Western Division at Lake Havasu, March 12-14
> Toyota Series Plains Division at Lake of the Ozarks, March 26-28
> Toyota Series Southeastern Division at Wheeler Lake, March 26-28
> Toyota Series Southwestern Division at Fort Gibson Lake, April 8-10
All weigh-ins associated with Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI, and FLW High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments held between March 12 and April 12 will also be affected by limited attendance. Only essential staff and immediate family will be able to attend.
“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our anglers, sponsors and fans,” said Kathy Fennel, FLW executive VP and GM. “We realize that fan attendance at these weigh-ins is a highlight of our events, however, based on the current understanding of how the COVID-19- is progressing in the United States, we feel everyone’s health and safety must outweigh the inevitable disappointment.”
In addition to addressing fan involvement, Major League Fishing will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 and take the advice and mandates set forth by local, state and national health officials to address the potential impact events will have on competitors, volunteers and staff. Cancellations or postponements of tournaments and competitions will be announced directly to the registered anglers, school officials and confirmed volunteers as needed.
MLF and FLW recommends that everyone follow the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on everyday prevention of viral infection, which include:
> Stay home when sick or living with a sick person.
> Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
> Wash hands often with soap and water.
> Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
> Limit face-to-face contact.
> Consult a healthcare provider as needed.
B.A.S.S. Statement
At this point, competition will continue as planned for the Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga (March 19-22); however, due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus, please note that all fan activities have been canceled at this time. All fans of bass fishing and our anglers should tune in to Bassmaster LIVE on Bassmaster.com or ESPN3 for on-the-water and weigh-in coverage. B.A.S.S. will continue to monitor the situation with Rhea County public officials and follow the precautions and advice outlined by the Center for Disease Control.
As colleges and universities across the U.S. are closing campuses and limiting fan attendance to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we will postpone the 2020 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Hartwell presented by Bass Pro Shops (March 26-28). Several schools with teams registered for the event have informed anglers and coaches that they are not allowing student athletes to participate in sporting events and tournaments, even those events being held outside. B.A.S.S. is currently working with the tournament local hosts on a new date to ensure all registered teams have the opportunity to compete.
