ANDERSON, S.C. — Talented young anglers from 32 states will converge on Lake Hartwell July 21-22 for the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship for second- through eighth-grade anglers. This will mark the first time the championship has been decided outside of the state of Tennessee.
After qualifying for the tournament through state events and four Opens held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lay Lake, Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee and Louisiana’s Red River, 127 teams will compete for the junior championship crown.
“I think people will be amazed, not only by the knowledge these young anglers have of the sport, but by the size of the fish they bring to the scales,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “What they know and how they perform at such a young age really shows how the sport of competitive bass fishing is evolving — and gives us a good idea of the kind of competition we’ll see at the higher ranks in the future.”
In 2022, Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters took home the title with a two-day total of 18 pounds, 5 ounces and were honored during the Night of Champions at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.
The full field of competitors will depart each day at 6:20 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and return at 1:20 p.m. for weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
The Bassmaster Junior Series National Championship is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
