Some of the best weekend anglers from across the nation will come together Nov. 11-13 for the 37th annual BFL All-American at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. The 3-day, no-entry-fee event features a boater/co-angler format with lucrative payouts and serves as a stepping-stone for anglers to advance to the 2020 Toyota Series Championship.
The 2020 All-American will feature a field of the top 55 boaters and 55 co-anglers from across the 24-division Bass Fishing League, The Bass Federation, College Fishing and High School Fishing, all competing for a grand prize of up to $120,000 in the boater division, including a lucrative $20,000 FLW Phoenix Bonus contingency award, and $50,000 in the co-angler division.
Additionally, the highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each of seven Regional Championships (including the Wild Card) at the All-American will advance to the 2020 Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 and $33,500, respectively.
Although the fishery has never hosted an All-American, Lake Hartwell has hosted numerous major bass-fishing tournaments throughout the years, providing a venue that showcases intense competition, excellent community support and high numbers of solid limits.
“There isn’t anything in Lake Hartwell that doesn’t have fish on it right now,” said FLW Pro Circuit angler Troy Morrow of Eastanollee, Ga., who was the 2010 All-American champion. “Everything on the fishery is going to be in play, but the fish are spread out, which means catching five quality fish may prove to be a little tricky.
“With the temperature consistently in the 60s, the winter bite won’t be in full effect, so I expect to see several different tactics – from topwater fishing in the backs of creeks to fishing in 40 foot of water on the main lake.”
Morrow said he believes versatility is the key to earning the win on this fishery, and expects the 2020 All-American champion will weigh in 13 to 14 pounds per day.
“It’s probably going to take a combination of largemouth and spotted bass to pull out the win,” Morrow said. “If the topwater bite happens, flukes and pencil-poppers may come into play. I also expect to see large numbers caught fishing a dropshot around offshore brush piles, flipping jigs and creature baits in laydowns or bushes, and a shaky-head-rig or small crankbait on intermediate points.”
All-American competitors will take off from Green Pond Landing, located at 470 Green Pond Road in Anderson, at 7:30 a.m. EST each morning. Weigh-in will be held at the landing at 4 p.m. daily. Attendance is limited to anglers, family and essential staff. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the daily coverage, live blogs and photos at FLWFishing.com.
