B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Green Pond This Week
Observer Reports
Grass-roots anglers from around the country and seven nations are at Green Ponding and Events Center this week to compete in the 2023 TNT Firework B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in a quest for one of three berths into the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
“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.”
This year marks the first time the Nation Championship has been hosted on Hartwell Lake since 2019.
“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.”
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