Grand Lake Set As Qualifying Lake For BassPro's First Amateur Fishing Tournament With $1 Million Payout

BassPro Shops is hosting a fishing tournament unlike any other with the winning team taking home $1 million.

The U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Tournament is for the "regular folks" who love to bass fish and is designed for families to compete and make memories together.

Grand Lake is one of eight qualifying lakes for the event that has more than $4.3 million in overall cash and prizes up for grabs.

Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris said he wanted to host the open to celebrate Bass Pro's 50 year anniversary, to show appreciation to his loyal customers and to help with conservation efforts.

Morris said he will donate 100% of all the entry fees back to the National Fish Habitat Initiative.

Oklahoma Pro Angler and TV Show Host Jimmy Houston helped with the announcement Monday and said Morris is one of the greatest conservationists of our time and this event proves it.

"This event sounds like a blast, I'm talking a big-time blast,” said Houston. “This is an initiative that Johnny really had a lot to do with forming in the early years that makes fishing better in a lot of our older lakes. Fishing will be better for you and fishing with be better for me, too."

The qualifying events will happen between March and November with the championship set for November 19 at Table Rock Lake in Missouri, which will be televised.

Grand Lake’s qualifying event is October 16, but registration is not open yet.

Entry fees are $450 per person, $250 for kids 12 – 17 and free for kids under 12.

And there is one catch, you have to own a certain boat brand to enter (Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe and MAKO brands).

You can learn more about The U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Tournament by Clicking Here.