May 23, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2023 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship will be held on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla., December 6-9, filling the last spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota. The Harris Chain last hosted this event in 2020.
“We’re happy to welcome back the Bassmaster Team Championship to Lake County,” said Ryan Ritchie, director of Discover Lake County (Fla.). “The Harris Chain of Lakes continues to provide a thriving environment for fish and an exciting area for anglers to compete. We couldn’t be more excited to keep showing Bassmaster all there is to offer in Lake County.”
Battling for that coveted berth in the Bassmaster Classic will be the grass-roots anglers competing at the Bassmaster Team Championship. The team portion of the event will be held Dec. 6-7 and will feature anglers from across the country. The winning duo will not only win a cash prize, but they’ll also lead the charge into the Classic Fish-Off which will take place Dec. 8-9.
“As a Commissioner and a resident, I am thrilled to welcome the 2023 Bassmaster Team Championship to our community,” said Commissioner Douglas B. Shields, Lake County Board of County Commissioners. “We look forward to showcasing Lake County’s natural beauty, excellent bass fishing and local hospitality to the visitors and anglers traveling for the competition.”
The Top 3 teams through Day 2 — six anglers in all — will have their weights zeroed and then compete individually in the Fish-Off. The competitor with the heaviest two-day total of the group will earn their spot in the Classic.
In 2022, that honor went to 27-year-old grounds foreman Collin Smith, who along with his 5 Alive Sunday Series teammate Brady Kimbrell, also won the team title and the $25,000 cash prize.
Since it was launched in 2014, the Team Championship has seen tremendous growth. Originally, 38 trails were signed up. That number grew to 62 trails (with more than 11,500 members) last season when the annual Team Championship drew 250 two-angler teams to South Carolina’s historic Lake Hartwell.
The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship is being hosted by Visit Lake, the City of Leesburg and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.
2023 Bassmaster Team Championship Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2023 Bassmaster Team Championship Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2023 Bassmaster Team Championship Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
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About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
