Hot Springs, Arkansas – Hot Springs is welcoming anglers from around the world this week as Lake Hamilton becomes the setting for the 20th Black Bass World Championship, a major fishing event expected to bring thousands of visitors to the city.
The championship is scheduled to run from Thursday, October 1, through Saturday, October 3. Organizers expect more than 30,000 visitors to attend, while competitors representing 23 countries will take part in the international competition.
Professional Angler Charlie Evans explained that each participating nation will have six anglers competing as part of its team. The anglers will be divided into three boats, with two competitors assigned to each boat.
“Every nation has to have six anglers, two anglers per boat, so they’ve got three boats for six anglers,” Evans said.
The format will give teams several days to compete on Lake Hamilton before the championship reaches its final stage. During the tournament, anglers will work to catch fish and build their results, with the competition ultimately coming down to the largest fish brought in by each boat.
The final weigh-in will take place in front of spectators rather than simply being handled away from the public. According to Evans, the biggest fish from each boat will be brought to the stage and weighed inside the arena.
Read also: Daughtry brings its 20 Years Unplugged Tour to Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff next January
“And weigh them right on stage in the arena. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Evans said.
The event is expected to bring a major international crowd to Hot Springs, with visitors coming not only to watch the fishing competition but also to experience the activities surrounding the championship.
Evans said this year’s event includes several features that organizers believe set it apart from previous Black Bass World Championships. Among them is an indoor weigh-in, which will allow spectators to watch the final results in an arena setting.
The championship will also include a free boat giveaway and a free country music concert, adding entertainment beyond the fishing competition itself.
“This is the largest world bass championship ever,” Evans said. “First one with indoor weigh-in. The first one to give away a free boat. First one with a country music concert that’s free. This is the largest one ever, and the whole idea is to make bass fishing an Olympic sport.”
The competition comes to Hot Springs at a time when the city is preparing to host visitors from a wide range of countries. With 23 nations represented, the championship gives Lake Hamilton and the surrounding community an international spotlight.
For the anglers, the three-day event will be about strategy, patience and finding the fish that can produce the biggest result when it matters most. For spectators, the indoor final weigh-in is expected to provide a chance to see the competition’s biggest catches up close as the championship comes to its conclusion.
The 20th Black Bass World Championship will continue through Saturday, October 3, when the final catches are weighed and the international competition reaches its closing stage.
