Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.

 

NORTH EAST, Md. — The summer feed will likely be in full swing for the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN, which means there will be plenty of potential to catch bags of 20 pounds or better according to Maryland's Brian Mullaney.

“They should be in full summer mode,” the Bassmaster Opens Division I angler said. “That means the bass will be in 5 or 6 feet of water. I’d be shocked if there weren't a couple 20-pound bags.”

Tournament days are scheduled for July 23-25. Competitors will launch from Anchor Marina in North East, Md., beginning at 6 a.m. ET and will return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 10 pros after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to Championship Friday for a chance to claim a spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., March 13-15.

All anglers will earn points toward the Division I points race. The Top 50 finishers in points will advance to the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series and compete for 10 invitations to the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series roster.

The Upper Chesapeake Bay has provided some of the more intriguing moments in Bassmaster history. Most recently, JT Thompkins claimed a come-from-behind victory during the 2022 Bassmaster Open held there, punching a ticket to the 2023 Bassmaster Classic in the process.

That tournament was in early September, and a lot of different areas came into play. This go-round, Mullaney expects the Susquehanna Flats to be the most popular area in the system. The expansive flats feature hydrilla and milfoil beds as well as ditches and drains that snake their way through the area.

Largemouth bass will be chasing baitfish and bream as well as crawfish. How good the bite is will be determined by when the tide cycles fall during the day.

“It is a vast, famous area. It will be won there. If not won there, the majority of the Top 10 will come out of there,” Mullaney said. “It is full of ditches and depressions, and at high tide, it can allow the fish to maneuver, while at low tide, they will condense. You can sit there all day long, and in five or six casts you can put 20 pounds in the boat.”

Around those flats, traditional grass baits will be in play, including frogs. Mullaney said that picking the right-size frog will be an important part of the equation. ChatterBaits, swim jigs and worms will also be productive.

While the Flats will likely be the most popular area on the system, there will be plenty of opportunities elsewhere too. Docks are a prominent part of the system, as Aaron Martens showcased in the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series event held here. There is also plenty of shallow wood and laydowns, which could produce big bites.

Crankbaits and flipping baits will be important tools for breaking down the hard cover areas.

“Someone could go off and get into a less congested area and run into the proper fish to Top 10 it, if not win it,” Mullaney said. “There are some sneaky rockpiles here and there that could come into play. Mostly the locals know about (them), and I think the locals should show really well in this tournament.”

With the potential for big bags, Mullaney believes it will take over 50 pounds to win the tournament. He thinks if an angler can average 17 pounds per day they will have a good shot at taking home the title. His goal is to catch 15 pounds a day, which he thinks will be good enough to make the final day cut.

Virginia’s Chase Clarke leads the Division I standings after two events with 387 points. Behind him are two Alabama pros, Laker Howell in second with 379 points and Matt Adams in third with 377 points. Virginia’s Ryan Lachniet is fourth with 373 points and Alabama’s Lucas Lindsey is fifth with 371 points. Russ Lane, Connor Jacob, Cody Stahl, Trey Schroeder and Tyler Campbell round out the Top 10.

Coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Upper Chesapeake Bay presented by SEVIIN will be available on Bassmaster.com each day of the tournament. FS1 will carry Bassmaster LIVE on Championship Friday.

Discover Cecil County is hosting the tournament.

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.