Chalk up more major bass tournament cancellations and postponements for Texas waters, courtesy of the COVID-19 crisis.
Kilgore-based Skeeter Boats recently announced that the 27th Annual Skeeter Owner’s Tournament scheduled for June 11-14 on Lake Fork has been cancelled because of safety concerns associated with the ongoing pandemic. The 2020 tournament will not be rescheduled, but plans are already in the works for the 2021 event, according JoAnne O’Bryant, marketing manager with Skeeter Products.
“The health and well-being of our angler families and all those who attend is our first priority,” said Jeff Stone, senior vice president, Skeeter Boats. “We recognize this event is very popular with our owners; therefore, we will be planning accordingly for next year’s event.”
The popular tournament drew more than 2,200 anglers and 1,000 Skeeter boat owners to the fabled East Texas fishery last year.
Several other East Texas area tournaments have either been postponed or canceled in recent weeks. Among the biggest to be postponed are the Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash events on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend.
Held annually since 1984, the Sealy Rayburn event that was set set for April 17-19 has been rescheduled for Oct. 9-11. The May 15-17 Toledo Bend derby has been moved to July 10-12.
Both tournaments lure thousands of anglers from several states and different countries to cast for amateur fishing’s most lucrative pay days. This 36th annual Sam Rayburn tourney will award a guaranteed $600,000 in cash and prizes.
The Bass Champs Mega Bass derby originally set for March 22 on Lake Fork has been postponed until July 19. Additionally, the Texas Team Trail event set for May 9 on Lake Fork has been canceled, and a June 5 TXTT qualifier on Toledo Bend has been relocated to Sam Rayburn on the same date. The circuit has also rescheduled its year-end championship for Oct. 24-25. The location is TBA.