Did you know that a primo Midwest fishing spot happens to be located right in Macomb County‘s very own Harrison Township? If you ask Eric Lopez, he’ll tell you just that.
“From a fishing standpoint, the anglers love being in that part of the country, especially Lake St. Clair,” says Lopez, who’s the events director for B.A.S.S. –which touts itself as the “worldwide authority on bass fishing.” He adds, “The fishing is excellent.”
This location is ideal for those traveling in from different regions, he explains, and it’s perfect for families and fishing fanatics of all ages to experience the annual Bassmaster Elite Series, which runs Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2019. This annual event brings together the top 50 anglers in the country to compete for a grand prize of $100,000 and the title of angler of the year.
It’s a big deal for fishing enthusiasts of all ages. “From the angler standpoint, the angler of the year event is the most coveted event,” Lopez says.
Bass, Brews and BBQ
To kick off the free fishing fun, families are invited to the Bass, Brews and BBQ Festival at Lake St. Clair Metropark on Sept. 28-29, 2019.
You can find a full list of events on the Bass, Brews and BBQ page on the Make Macomb Your Home website, but read on for a few highlights.
Saturday gives families an opportunity to interact with the anglers for Fan Appreciation Day. The first 100 people who show their B.A.S.S. member card will receive a Bassmaster hat.
Starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, stop by to meet the Elite pros in Angler Alley – or, from 1 until 4 p.m., learn different techniques from the pros during the Bassmaster Academy & Angler Clinic.
Sunday is Military and First Responder Appreciation Day, and the first 100 to show their ID also receive a Bassmaster hat.
On both Saturday and Sunday, visitors can take a demo boat ride, snag some Bassmaster merchandise, meet different vendors, enjoy BBQ and craft beer, play games and more.
Bassmaster Elite Series
The main fishing event, which is broadcast on ESPN and Bassmaster.com, begins on Sunday.
“Sunday is the first day of competition and the anglers will take off from Lake St. Clair Metropark,” Lopez says. “They’ll go out in a specific order – everything they do is very theatrical.”
Spectators can watch things unfold as the anglers fish for a few hours. Once they’re done fishing, the anglers return from the lake – and the weighing portion of the event begins. Anglers can have five fish, and their ranking is based on cumulative weight.
They’ll fish on Sunday and Monday – and, by Tuesday, they’ll be whittled down to the top 25.
The 2019 event is a bit unique, Lopez notes, “in part because we have that last event of the year a week prior in Oklahoma.” That event is a make-up event for anglers, but the winner of that event also receives a cash prize.
“All eyes are going to be on the event the week before, because there’s going to be a winner for that tournament (who) is also going to receive $100,000 – but people will be watching the points to see who is going to qualify,” he says.
The results are all based on weight.
“Anything can happen at these events,” Lopez says. “Someone can run away with the tournament on Sunday and it’s conceivable that no one can catch them.”
So who will win? Find out during this annual event, which welcomes all ages. And, whether you’re interested in fishing or not, there’s fun for everyone all weekend long.
For more information on Macomb County, visit the Make Macomb Your Home website.