For the second time in the 4-year history of the event, the Bassmaster Team Championship is headed to Arkansas.
B.A.S.S. officials announced this week that the tournament will be held Dec. 6-9 on Norfork Lake in Mountain Home, Ark. The winning team will receive a boat and the individual winner will earn the final berth into the 2018 Bassmaster Classic.
“We are very excited and humbled that B.A.S.S. has decided to bring this tournament to the Twin Lakes area,” said Jeff Pipkin, president and CEO of the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce. “We know the organization could have brought the event to any of the numerous fishing lakes around the country, and we are flattered and honored they chose Norfork Lake.
“We look forward to welcoming and hosting these fishermen, our guests and the people of B.A.S.S. in December.”
Teams from 54 affiliated trails around the country will qualify for the Team Championship. Anglers will begin as two-angler teams, with a team champion being crowned after the first 2 days. For the final 2 days, the six anglers from the Top 3 teams will fish solo with a Classic berth on the line.
“We are excited to return to Arkansas for the Bassmaster Team Championship,” said B.A.S.S. Nation director Jon Stewart. “The very first Bassmaster Team Championship was held in Arkansas at DeGray Lake back in 2014, and it was a great event. We are looking forward to Norfork Lake and the Mountain Home community hosting another great tournament.”
Stewart said the timing might be perfect for this event.
“The Elite anglers showed what Norfork could produce in April 2016,” he said. “I think the fishing could be even better in December.”
