PARK FALLS, Wis.– The St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series rolls into Many, Louisiana this week for the first Division 2 Opens event of the 2023 season. A field of 225 boats, pros, and accompanying co-anglers will compete on 185,000 acres of water on storied Toledo Bend Reservoir along the Louisiana-Texas border. At stake is a total payout of over $250,000, an invitation for the pro-division tournament winner to the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, as well as EQ points that could result in an invitation to fish the coveted 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series. The competition will take place April 13-15.

This season’s new Elite Qualifiers (EQ) format means only anglers that commit to all nine Opens events — three divisions, three events each — will be eligible for one of nine Elite Series invitations, based on EQ standings at the end of the season.

Current conditions on Toledo Bend are stable, with water levels approximately 2 feet below pool and water temperatures in the lower 70’s. Look for anglers to target some remaining spawners and fry-guarders along favorable shoreline areas and the backs of the lake’s abundant creek channels, as well as post-spawn females fattening up on spawning shad. Expect big bags of Toledo Bend largemouth bass with some kicker fish in the mix approaching or even exceeding ten pounds.