Lake Hartwell and Visit Anderson to host 2023 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops

The 2023 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will be the 18^th edition of this National Championship event.  First hosted on Lake Lewisville in 2006, the capstone event of each season for the Association of Collegiate Anglers is the longest-running National Championship in collegiate bass fishing.  Boasting a large amount of media coverage, a prize payout valued at over $30,000, and awarding the title of Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia, the ACA National Championship is the prize jewel of collegiate bass fishing.  This prestigious event is set to take place at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC on May 25-26, 2023.

“We are very excited to announce Lake Hartwell as the host site for the 2023 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops,” said Wade Middleton, Director of the Association of Collegiate Anglers.  “Over the past 15 years or so, Hartwell has played host to some of the most prestigious events in all of competitive bass fishing.  The ACA is looking forward to the opportunity to bring college fishing’s most prized Championship to Anderson, SC, and this storied fishery.”

Lake Hartwell boasts 56,000 acres of water with 963 miles of shoreline.  Its fertile waters are home to a very healthy population of largemouth and spotted bass.  Along with great fishing and boating, Lake Hartwell’s crown jewel, Green Pond Landing, offers world-class facilities and recreational opportunities.  Green Pond Landing will be the focal point of the college fishing community during the final week of May in 2023, as this is where tournament launch and weigh-in will take place.

“We are very excited to be working with the Association of Collegiate Anglers and hosting the 2023 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship in Anderson County, Green Pond Landing, and Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director at Visit Anderson.  “We’ve been very blessed here in Anderson County to host some of the largest bass tournaments in the world and the opportunity to host the longest-running National Championship in collegiate bass fishing was an opportunity we didn’t want to miss! With the continued development of Green Pond Landing, we look forward to hosting the college anglers and providing them with a first-class experience. We have a tremendous community that supports our lake, our facilities, and more importantly, our visiting anglers. We are very proud of this partnership opportunity for everyone involved.”

The 2023 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will be the final event on the schedule for the 2022-23 season of the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series.  A no-entry-fee event comprised of a 200-boat field of college fishing’s top young anglers, the ACA Championship features the most extensive media coverage of any collegiate fishing event.  The complete event will be featured in the ACA television series seen across national networks, as well as detailed coverage online, via social media, digital e-blasts, and live streaming on the Outdoor Action TV app.

Not only will a new National Champion be crowned on the final day of tournament competition, one team will be awarded the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  The ACA School of the Year race is college fishing’s only all-encompassing national ranking system.  Teams compete in events across the county over a 12-month span, battling to earn the number one ranking.  Once the scales close at Green Pond Landing on May 26, 2023, point totals will be tallied, and one deserving school will be crowned Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

More news regarding the 2023 Championship will be released in the coming months.  Also, stay tuned for another major announcement regarding the ACA and Lake Hartwell in the near future as well!