The Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic is headed back to the Tennessee River! The prestigious championship bass tournament — widely known as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing” — will be held March 24-26 in downtown Knoxville and on the University of Tennessee Campus.

Fort Loudoun and Tellico lakes are twin reservoirs that cover about 30,000 acres. With the lakes connected by a canal, Classic competitors will be allowed to fish both. They’ll also find good fishing along the Tennessee River upstream from Fort Loudoun Dam to the Interstate 40 bridge on the Holston River and the Highway 168 bridge on the French Broad River.

The field will include 55 anglers who will qualify through the Bassmaster Elite Series, the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Strike King College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster Team Championship. They’ll all be vying for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million.

All of the events are free to the public!

Kickoff Party

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Join us as we kick off the most exciting event in bass fishing on the Plaza Terrace located at the Knoxville Convention Center!

Live music, kids activities and more! 

Takeoffs

Daily takeoffs will be from Volunteer Landing in downtown Knoxville each competition day.

Weigh-ins

Weigh-ins will take place in Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus — a 20,000-seat facility that is fifth largest in the country. 

Expo

The fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be held in the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.