BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials, along with Visit Anderson and VisitGreenvilleSC, announced today that the 2027 Bassmaster Classic will be held for the fifth time at a familiar location to B.A.S.S. events, Lake Hartwell, March 19-21, 2027.
Lake Hartwell is a 56,000-acre man-made reservoir situated between Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing portions of the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It features a vast array of habitat and a good population of both largemouth and spotted bass.
The fishery has hosted four previous Classics in recent years.
In 2008, Texas pro Alton Jones Sr. went into the final day with little more than a pound lead, but managed to hold off the rest of the field and claim his only Classic trophy. In 2015, when temperatures dipped as low as a frigid 9 degrees, hometown favorite Casey Ashley of South Carolina came from behind on the final day to win his only title. Then in 2018, young Alabama pro Jordan Lee jumped from sixth place on the final day to win his second-straight Classic. And in 2022, Jason Christie with a final-day limit of 17 pounds, 9 ounces.
Since the 2022 Classic, Hartwell has hosted several other high-level B.A.S.S. events, including Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments Bassmaster Open tournaments, and college and high school series fishing tournaments on Lake Hartwell.
The 2027 Classic will feature 55 qualifiers who will earn their berths through the Elite Series, the Opens, the B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, the Bassmaster College Series and the Bassmaster Team Championship plus the defending Bassmaster Classic champion and winner of the final Elite Series event of the 2026 season. They will compete in the no-entry fee event for their share of a whopping $1 million purse, with the champion earning $300,000.