BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Grass-roots anglers from around the country will take to the waters of legendary Lake Hartwell to compete for one of three berths into the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota during the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship October 18-20 in Anderson, S.C.
“When Anderson County hosted our first B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in 2017, the leadership of Anderson County identified the Nation Championship as a must-have event in our community,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson, which is hosting the events. “Many of the amenities that Anderson County has included in the development of Green Pond Landing were a result of hosting our initial Nation Championship. Our community enjoys a significant benefit from hosting the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, and our (Anderson) County leadership is to be commended for the resources they provide us to bring championship events to our community.
“We take great pride in being able to host anglers from all over the country and the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship is yet another opportunity to host a championship event in our championship facility on our championship lake!”
2023 will mark the first time the Nation Championship has been hosted on Hartwell since 2019 when Oregon’s Cody Hollen caught the heaviest bag of the tournament — a five-bass limit that weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces — to vault from 10th place to the tournament title. Alabama angler Will Davis Jr. is the most recent angler to hoist the Bryan J. Kerchal Memorial Trophy, winning the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake.
“B.A.S.S. has had such great experiences in Anderson, with Hartwell hosting incredible events at every level of Bassmaster competition,” said GL Compton, tournament director for the B.A.S.S. Nation. “As in years past, the competition should be incredible.
“It is fun and inspirational to see the talented anglers coming out of the B.A.S.S. Nation and to watch as Nation champions go on to success at the Elite level, whether it’s reigning Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk — the 2010 Nation champion — or Will Davis Jr., who has made the Semifinal Saturday cut in his first three Elite Series events.”
Anglers will qualify via five regional championship tournaments. The Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour will also send its Angler of the Year winner to compete.
Not only will the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings realize a dream of competing in the Bassmaster Classic, but the Nation champion will earn the title of “Nation’s Best,” which includes the use of a fully-rigged tournament boat for a year, an invitation to join the Bassmaster Elite Series and a cash prize. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater champion will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the opportunity to qualify for the Elites.
The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship is just one of several championship-level Bassmaster tournaments that will launch from Green Pond Landing in 2023. This year the national championships for the hugely popular Bassmaster High School and Junior Series will be decided on the renowned waters of Lake Hartwell. The 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship for second- through eighth-grade anglers will head to Anderson, S.C., July 21-22, while the Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will be held July 27-29.
“Since Green Pond Landing opened in 2015, we have hosted numerous B.A.S.S. events across all platforms,” said Paul. “Anderson County recognizes that B.A.S.S. is the leader among tournament organizations and our community has enjoyed a significant impact with each Bassmaster visit. The leadership of Anderson County has placed a great deal of confidence in the leadership at B.A.S.S. such that B.A.S.S. has served as an integral part of the continued development of Green Pond Landing.”
The championship tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit Bassmaster.com.
