Bassmaster Elite series heads to Pickwick Lake

2021 Bassmaster Open series competitors waiting to launch from Pickwick.

For the second time this season, the Bassmaster Elite series returns to Tennessee for a four-day-event at Pickwick Lake. The tournament event begins Thursday and runs through Sunday, June 5.

The tournament is hosting 92 bass anglers competing for the championship trophy and $100,000 first-place prize, and has a total prize winnings of $720,000.

“Qualifying to be an Elite series competitor is kind of like Minor League baseball,” B.A.S.S. communications manager Emily Harley said.

Competitors qualified for the Elite series through two Bassmaster Open series held earlier this year. Anglers who were already on the Elite series must re-qualify each year by maintaining enough points throughout the Bassmaster competition season.

Competitor Brock Mosley didn’t grow up fishing Pickwick Lake, but “it’s where I learned to fish, so to speak,” he said.

“When I was at East Mississippi Community College I was only 90 minutes away from Pickwick,” the 33-year-old Elite series pro from Collinsville, Mississippi, said. Mosley added, “It was my first chance to fish something other than a shallow mud hole. It’s a special place for me.”

The Bassmaster Elite series is hosted by Tour Hardin County and launches each day from Pickwick Landing State Park’s marina. The tournament will also be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports 1.

“We are excited to welcome the Basspro.com Bassmaster Elite series to Pickwick and Hardin County,” said Beth Pippin, tourism director for the Hardin County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Pickwick Lake is known for great fishing and scenic beauty that we locals get to enjoy every day. Hosting this tournament will allow us to showcase Pickwick Landing State Park and its amenities with the anglers, their families, spectators and more due to the national media exposure. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Competitors will launch daily from Pickwick Park’s marina at 7 a.m. and return in time for the 3:30 p.m. weigh-ins.