Event slated for Nov. 5-7 in Monroe
Competitors from all over the world will gather in Monroe in November for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River with hopes of earning a spot in the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lakes O’ the Cherokees in March of 2016.
“B.A.S.S. has had such great experiences in Monroe that we’re extremely excited to return,” Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director, said. “This will be our third championship on the river, and the competition, as in years past, could be tough.”
With representatives from 47 states, the Canadian province of Ontario and nine countries competing, the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship is the premier worldwide amateur championship. Also, the Paralyzed Veterans of American Tour will send its Angler of the Year winner to compete.
The fishery was also the site of the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, where Connecticut angler Paul Mueller earned the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy and a berth in the Bassmaster Elite Series.
“The Ouachita River can be a challenge, but national championships should be challenging,” Stewart said. “This river has produced two Elite Series anglers through the B.A.S.S. Nation — Jamie Horton and Paul Mueller.”
The next batch of anglers to qualify for the championship will do so during the B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional held on Ross Barnett Reservoir in June, followed by a Mid-Atlantic and Northern Divisional. The final group of anglers will be determined in Connecticut during the Eastern Divisional in September.
The winner of each division at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be invited to compete in the 2016 Bassmaster Classic presented in Tulsa. Six spots in the world championship of bass fishing are allocated to the B.A.S.S. Nation.
