Athens, AL – The highly anticipated 2023 American Fishing Tour National Championship is set to kick off in Anderson, SC, this weekend, as anglers from across the nation converge for this prestigious event. This championship is quickly approaching 50 years old, with the organization beginning its journey as the Military Bass Anglers Association.Â
The stakes are high, with the 2023 American Fishing Tour Champion vying for a Caymas Boat complete with a Mercury Outboard package. Additionally, the Angler of the Year will also take home a Caymas Boat with Mercury Outboard. Cash payouts will extend to 15% of the field, along with coveted individual awards, including the 2023 Hall of Fame, Service Team Awards, and Draw Prizes.
The tournament is taking place on Lake Hartwell, which has been off-limits since midnight on September 17th and will remain so until safe light on October 7th. The competition spans seven days, commencing with Official Practice on Saturday, October 7th, and running through Tuesday. The main event kicks off on Wednesday, October 11th, and concludes on Friday, October 13th, with weigh-ins scheduled at Green Pond Landing at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and at 2 p.m. on the final day, Friday. Everyone is encouraged to attend the weigh-ins and show support for the participating anglers.
Registration remains open until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, October 10th, for qualified anglers. With an impressive 243 boaters already registered, this year’s championship promises to be one of the largest in recent memory.
Green Pond Landing, located at 470 Green Pond Rd, Anderson, SC 29625, is the gracious host of this event, thanks to Visit Anderson and Anderson County. Neil Paul, the Executive Director for Visit Anderson, expressed his excitement about hosting American Bass Anglers in their community, emphasizing the warm welcome extended to the anglers. Green Pond boasts top-notch facilities for launching, parking, and hosting major tournaments like the 2023 AFT Championship.
As fall approaches, the weather forecast predicts cooler temperatures, with mornings dipping into the lower 50s and daytime highs reaching the upper 70s during the tournament. The opening day of the competition, Wednesday morning, will begin with a flag ceremony followed by the National Anthem, showcasing representation for military service teams from all branches. Arriving at 7:00 AM is recommended to witness this memorable event.
Lake Hartwell, nestled in the charming city of Anderson, South Carolina, has earned its reputation as a premier destination for bass fishing enthusiasts. Spanning approximately 56,000 acres and straddling the South Carolina-Georgia border, this reservoir, formed by the confluence of the Seneca and Tugaloo Rivers, not only serves as a source of hydroelectric power but also offers abundant recreational opportunities. Its strategic location in South Carolina’s upstate region attracts anglers from far and wide, drawn by its renowned bass fishing potential.
Key Highlights of Lake Hartwell:
Abundant Bass Population: Lake Hartwell is home to healthy populations of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass. This diversity makes it a paradise for anglers who enjoy targeting various bass species. The lake’s favorable conditions, including ample forage fish and suitable habitats, contribute to the robust bass population, offering anglers the chance to tackle trophy-sized bass.
Diverse Fishing Techniques: The lake provides opportunities for various fishing techniques, including topwater action, finesse fishing, and power fishing. During warmer months, topwater lures like buzzbaits, poppers, and frogs lure bass prowling the shallows. Soft plastics, jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are also effective depending on the prevailing conditions and seasonal patterns.
Prime Fishing Hotspots: Anglers have numerous prime spots to explore, such as creek channels, drop-offs, main lake points, and humps. These areas offer a combination of cover, structure, and access to baitfish, making them ideal for catching bass during different times of the year.
Lake Hartwell has gained recognition as a premier tournament venue, hosting prestigious events like the American Bass Anglers National Championship, Bassmaster Classic, and FLW Tour events, attracting professional anglers from across the country. The lake’s challenging nature and potential for big catches ensure that tournaments held here are both thrilling and fiercely competitive.
In conclusion, Lake Hartwell stands as an angler’s paradise, blending natural beauty with abundant bass fishing opportunities. From its sprawling waters and diverse habitats to its year-round fishing potential and tournament scene, this South Carolina gem has captured the hearts of bass fishing enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice seeking an unforgettable fishing experience, Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC, promises memories and the chance to reel in trophy-sized bass. So pack your gear, embrace the adventure, and immerse yourself in the unparalleled bass fishing offered by Lake Hartwell.
Registered Anglers
Randy Ables, Mulberry, FL
Barry Adcock, Adairsville, GA
Lee Alderman, Lincoln, AL
Bob Allen, Canton, GA
Jason Allen, Sugar Hill, GA
Lee Allred, Youngsville, NC
Phillip Anderson, Saluda, SC
Joe Angelone, Albion, NY
Don Anyon, Charlton, MA
Brian Aungst, Pine Grove, PA
John Bailey, Sorrento, FL
Jim Banks, Lamar, MO
Christopher Barker, West Jefferson, NC
Richard Bates, Yorktown, VA
Aaron Batson, Mansfield, GA
William Beadlescomb, Brierfield, AL
Donald Beck, Social Circle, GA
Mike Beck, Hull, GA
Robert Bennett, Stephens, GA
Eldridge Bentley, Canton, GA
Mike Blackshear, Macon, GA
Gordon Bocash, Woodstock, CT
James Bonner, Mobile, AL
Joe Brown, North Brookfield, MA
David Brunaugh, Carbondale, IL
Ryan Bryant, Calhoun, GA
Gregg Buda, New Lenox, IL
Curtis Bush, McDonough, GA
Mike Calloway, Titusville, FL
Blake Campbell, Anderson, SC
John Campos, Fairfield, NJ
Tony Cannon, Gahanna, OH
Joseph Capistran, Upton, MA
Elvis Carter, Morrisville, NC
Clifferd Chavez, Clayton, NC
Danny Christ, Eufaula, AL
Joseph Ciamaichela, Hatfield, PA
Keith Claridge, Oakland City, IN
Bobby Clark, MaCclesfield, NC
Robert Clark, Dublin, GA
Joseph Clevinger, Troy, AL
Mike Colbert, Newport, NC
Wayman Coleman, Abbeville, SC
Barry Collins, Locust Grove, GA
Burkitt Deacon Collins, Tyrone, GA
Lance Collins, Monticello, GA
Micheal Conley, Bainbridge, GA
Gary Conner, Williamsburg, VA
Tommy Cooper, Hampton, GA
Russell Corry, Shelby, NC
Josh Cotier, Clinton, MA
Aaron Craven, Columbia, SC
Rodney Cromer, Pomaria, SC
John Crosby, Palmetto, GA
Chuck Cunningham, Duncan, SC
Wayne Davenport, Pelzer, SC
K Barry Davis, Johnstown, OH
Bradley Day, Anderson, SC
Greg Del Russo, Hopatcong, NJ
Aaron Dixon, Bel Alton, MD
Previn Dixon, Raleigh, NC
Russell Dobbins, Easley, SC
Steve Dobbs, McDonough, GA
Michael Donaldson, Thorsby, AL
Brett Douglas, Properity, SC
Kenneth Draskovic, Scottsboro, AL
Luke Drown, Jacksonville, FL
James Dudley, McDonough, GA
Bill Durham, Ball Ground, GA
Cathy Eades, Evington, VA
Lance Eckford, Troutman, NC
David Enlow, Union, SC
Luke Farley, Dover, NC
Jonathan Farmer, Jasper, GA
Blake Forrest, Newportville, PA
Jamie Fountain, East Dublin, GA
Clayton Fowler, Canton, GA
Samuel Freeman, Lexington, SC
Malcolm French, Augusta, KS
Larry Gaines, Valparaiso, FL
James Gammons, Ridgeway, VA
William Glawson, Macon, GA
Gregory Glouse, Liberty, SC
Hilton Glover Jr, Fayetteville, NC
Jamareon Green, Canton, GA
Zachary Green, Elberton, GA
Anthony Griffin, Greensboro, NC
Paul Gring, Ferrum, VA
Karl Guegold, Johns Town, OH
Mike Guilbeau, Evans, GA
Parker Guy, Ocilla, GA
Miles Hair, Elizabethtown, NC
Paul Ham, West Columbia, SC
Bradford Hambric, Leesburg, GA
Robert Hammonds, Durham, NC
Scott Hayes, Wedowee, AL
Carl Hayes III, Eatonton, GA
George Haynie, Cordele, GA
Logan Heimer, Cartersville, GA
Mark Hill, Palm Coast, FL
Michael Hill, Millbrook, AL
Richard Hoefle, Ozark, AL
Tony Holliday, Piedmont, SC
Larry Hollinsworth, Acworth, GA
Gregory Hopkins, Athens, OH
Joseph Horyza, Palm Harbor, FL
Benny Howell, Union Point, GA
Tony Howell, Ball Ground, GA
Calvin Hunter, North Chesterfield, VA
Delores Hunter, North Chesterfield, VA
Joseph Hunter, Cartersville, GA
Paul Hurding, Winston Salem, NC
Robert Jarrett, McDonough, GA
Scott Jeffers, Dublin, GA
Elvin Jennings, Nathalie, VA
Melvin Jiggetts, Henrico, NC
Lowell Johnson, Cartersville, GA
Grover Jones, Starr, SC
Michael Keeney, Cartersville, GA
Timothy Kelley, Prosperity, SC
Grant Kelly, Milledgeville, GA
Edward Kenyon, Indian Head, MD
Donald Kneece, Saluda, SC
George Kunkle III, Albertville, AL
John Lambert, Fredericksburg, VA
Thomas Lang, Virginia Beach, VA
Michael LaRocque, Louisa, VA
Scott Laughman, Kennesaw, GA
Keith Law, Worcester, MA
Danny Lawson, Advance, NC
Randy Lewis, Crumpler, NC
Karl Lightner, Long Valley, NJ
Keith Lott, Mobile, AL
Warren Loudermilk, Center Hill, FL
David Lowery, Milledgeville, GA
Jeffrey Ludlow, Charles City, VA
Tim Lyle, Dickson, TN
Joseph Lynch, Waverly Hall, GA
Jeff Maddox, McDonough, GA
Robert Majerick, Eden, NC
Brett Matthews, Cumming, GA
Kenneth Mayton, Hope Mills, NC
Kenneth McCLarity, Dallas, GA
Roan McCollough, Donalsonville, GA
Norman McCord, Severn, MD
Randy McFadden, Seaford, VA
Reid McGinn, Fort Mill, NC
Scott McLamb, Salemburg, NC
James McLean, Jacksonville, FL
Gary Menninger, Scio, OH
Gerald Mitchell, Monticello, GA
Tracy Mitchell, Springfield, MO
Henry Montgomery, Keystone Heights, FL
Paul Morris, Lanexa, VA
Phil Morris, Saluda, SC
Phillip Morris, Monticello, GA
Dan Morrow, Eastanolle, GA
Mark Mothersell, Rochester, NY
Mitchell Mullins, Dawsonville, GA
Martie Murphy, Thomaston, GA
Shawn Nabus, Dublin, GA
Carl Nasello, Rochester, NY
Kim Neal, Easley, SC
William Nelson, Patuxent River, MD
Tom OBryant, Cedar Grove, TN
Russ Padgett, Saluda, SC
Ricky Parker, Adairsville, GA
Byron Pate, Mooresville, NC
Thomas Pegues, Montgomery, AL
Don Perkins, Howey In The Hills, FL
Kevin Pfautz, Barboursville, VA
Jarred Pharr, Mint Hill, NC
Athur Pina, Trenton, FL
Gretta Pittman, Adelphi, MD
Gerald Powe, Hampton, GA
Alex Prince, Blue Ridge, SC
Mike Pryor, Gainesville, FL
Charles Rackley, Champlain, VA
Justin Raines, Easley, SC
James Rampey, Liberty, SC
Scott Randall, King George, VA
Daniel Ray, Statesville, NC
Russell Ray, Statesville, NC
Jeremy Renfroe, Trussville, AL
Timothy Reuwer, Enterprise, FL
Brad Reynolds, Bainbridge, GA
Keith Ridenhour, Woodstock, GA
Samuel Rineer, Aberdeen, MD
James Roten, West Jefferson, NC
Josh Sanchez, Summerville, SC
Peter Saraf, Kissimmee, FL
Chris Saunders, Forsyth, GA
George Schonhoff, Slidell, LA
Mark Schultz, Tolland, CT
Jamie Sellers, Burns, TN
Gil Senn Jr, Anderson, SC
Michael Sessoms, Spring Lake, NC
Dennis Shiley, Adairsville, GA
George Simonof, Barksdale AFB, LA
Kevin Simpson, Catonsville, MD
William Sipe, Albemarle, NC
Edward Skipworth, Greensboro, NC
Donald Smith, Fayetteville, GA
Johnny Smith, Albany, GA
Micheal Smith, Lexington, SC
Edward Snider, Somerset, OH
Donny Soto, Talladega, AL
Roger Springs, Osage Beach, MO
Don Sprinkle, Lexington, NC
Henry Starks, Byron, GA
Colin Steele, Ball Ground, GA
Chase Stewart, Ware Shoals, SC
Bill Stines, Dover, TN
Rob Stone, Cabot, AR
David Streich, Mansfield, OH
Alan Swink, Covington, GA
Danny Taylor, Buckhead, GA
Eric Teague Jr, Newnan, GA
Ray Templeton, Andover, KS
Ron Terlop, Macedonia, OH
Kevin Thomas, Albemarle, NC
Brad Thompson, Little Mountain, SC
Jeff Tibbetts, Auburn, MA
Justin Timme, Canton, GA
Gene Townsend, Deatsville, AL
Nick Treadwell, Powder Springs, GA
Donald Tripoli, Webster, NY
Eric Turner, Jacksonville, AR
Robert Uzzle, Hampton, VA
Bryan Waddell, Taylors, SC
Buddy Wallace, Cedar Grove, TN
Brent Walser, Lexington, NC
Benjamin Walters, Satsuma, AL
Jonathon Webb, Elberton, GA
Andy Wicker, Cayce, SC
Joe Wikoff, Phenix City, AL
John Wilcox, Hazlehurst, GA
Clarence Williams, Boone, NC
Matthew Williams, Westminster, SC
Wally Williams, Williamston, SC
Michael Williamson, North Augusta, SC
James Wilson, Wagener, SC
Randy Wilson, Augusta, KS
Timothy Wiltfong, Wake Forest, NC
Jim Windham, Bonaire, GA
Barry Woodward, Mobile, AL
Anthony Wright Sr, Middlesex, NC
Bill Yaeger, Union, MO
Gregory Yarbrough, Milledgeville, GA
Warren York, Thomaston, GA
Karl Youngblood, Deatsville, AL
Raymond Youngblood, Guntersville, AL
Tyler Youngblood, Ooltewah, TN
Waclaw Wes Zabdyr, Williamsburg, VA
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is dedicated to providing affordable and locally accessible tournaments tailored for weekend anglers. These events also offer a progressive pathway for individual angler development.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
For more information about American Bass Anglers, including the American Fishing Tour, American Couples Series, annual Military Team Bass Tournament, Professional League, ABA Team Series, and Top 150 Solo Tour, all proudly presented by Caymas Boats, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
