When rainfall saturated Branson, Mo., and water levels rose to dangerous levels last week, permits were revoked by the Water Patrol Division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and all events — including the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open — were canceled on Table Rock Lake.

With the collaborative efforts of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, Table Rock State Park, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bass Pro Shops, the anglers will have their shot at tackling this fishery.

The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open has been rescheduled for Oct. 20-22, 2011.

“Yes, it’s true that the water from the 2011 spring storm reached the highest level ever recorded on Table Rock Lake, surpassing 935 feet,” said Ross Summers, president/CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. “By the time the October tournament gets here, the wind and wave action will have reduced the leaves and small tree limbs to mulch along the shoreline. The organic matter actually adds nutrients to the water to provide for great spawning and cover, which is good for fishing!”

The new daily launch time is 7:15 a.m. CT from Table Rock Lake State Park Marina, 380 State Park Marina Drive, Branson, MO 65616.

Weigh-ins will take place Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 at 3:15 p.m. CT at the launch location, and the final weigh-in, Saturday, Oct. 22, will be at 4:15 p.m. CT in front of the Branson Landing water fountain next to the Branson Bass Pro Shops, 1 Bass Pro Drive, Branson, MO 65616.

“With immense postseason awards like the Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic at stake, we felt that eliminating an event from the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open division was not in the best interest of the anglers, fans and sponsors,” said Chris Bowes, senior tournament manager of B.A.S.S.

“Once it was determined that the event would be rescheduled, we knew we had great partnerships with Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, Table Rock State Park, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and our title sponsor Bass Pro Shops to make it happen. Staying at Table Rock Lake was a no-brainer for B.A.S.S.”

For more information about the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Table Rock Lake, go to www.bassmaster.com/open.

2011 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2011 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Supporting Sponsors: Humminbird, Luck “E” Strike, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com, ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events presented by Yamaha and Skeeter Boats and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.