B.A.S.S. announced today that the 2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and Bassmaster Team Championship will both take place at South Carolina's Lake Hartwell. Dates are Nov. 6-8 for the Nation Championship and Dec. 11-14 for the Team Championship.
“We are excited to bring the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship back and the Bassmaster Team Championship to Lake Hartwell, Green Pond Landing and the city of Anderson,” said Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director and Team Championship tournament director. “They always roll out the carpet for B.A.S.S. when we come.
“And Hartwell is a fantastic fishery. I am excited to go back. They both should be very exciting events with lots of bass caught. I am pretty sure that Lake Hartwell with be the only lake in the history of B.A.S.S. that will singularly be responsible for sending four anglers to the Bassmaster classic in the same year. That’s pretty cool!”
The top boater and non-boater from each state competing in one of three regional championships will fish the National Championship, along with qualifiers from 11 foreign nations with affiliated B.A.S.S. Nation organizations. The top 3 finishers from the Nation Championship will earn a spot in the 50th Bassmaster Classic, to be held March 6-8 in Birmingham, Ala., with fishing on Lake Guntersville, as will the winner of the Team Championship Classic Fishoff competition.
The overall winner of the Nation Championship will receive an invitation to fish the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series. Two current Bassmaster Elite Series pros qualified for the top tier of professional bass fishing through the Nation Champions – Caleb Sumrall in 2017 and Randall Pierson in 2018.
The Team Championship comprises the top teams from organized tournament trails across the United States, as well as other countries. Teams were fielded this year from Australia, Canada and South Africa, in addition to the U.S. The trails must register with and be sanctioned by B.A.S.S. prior to the start of the season.
“These two grassroots programs provide weekend anglers a chance to prove their remarkable fishing skills on a national stage,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “We’re proud to provide that platform because they represent an important part of the foundation of the fishing industry and the sport of bass fishing.”
