Visit Lake Ready to Host Bass Anglers on Harris Chain of Lakes

Lake County welcomes the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open to the Harris Chain of Lakes this March 4 – 6. Nearly 450 anglers from the region are expected to compete, including local professional angler Tim Frederick, who is sponsored by Visit Lake.

"We look forward to welcoming the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open and competing anglers to the Real Florida," said Lake County Commissioner and Tourist Development Council Chairman Doug Shields. "These events mean a great deal to our local economy, and we're proud to showcase our area as a premier bass fishing destination."

The Open tournament will launch daily at 6:45 a.m. from Ski Beach at Venetian Gardens in Leesburg, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Dr., Leesburg, 34748. Weigh-ins on March 4 and 5 will take place at Ski Beach at 2:45 p.m. Weigh-in on the final day, as well as the final awards presentation, will take place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 5156 International Dr., Orlando, 32819.

The Harris Chain of Lakes will also host the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series on Feb. 27, which is presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Over 200 high school teams from around the country will compete in this one-day tournament. This will be the first time the trail has visited the fishery, which has hosted 17 major B.A.S.S. tournaments. In 2020, the 2020 Carhartt Bassmaster College National Championship, which was presented by Bass Pro Shop, saw a record-breaking three-day weight set by the Bryan College duo Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro.

To help ensure the safety of all involved, fans are encouraged to wear face coverings, maintain proper social distance and avoid congregating in large groups.

The 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain of Lakes is hosted by Lake County and the City of Leesburg. For additional information about the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open, visit https://www.bassmaster.com/bass-pro-shops-bassmaster-opens. The 2021 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors is hosted by Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. For additional information on the High School Series, visit https://www.bassmaster.com/high-school-bass-fishing. Visit the official tourism site for Lake County, Florida, at www.visitlakefl.com to find information on area restaurants, activities, places to stay and more.