The world of weekend bass angling is about to witness a new chapter in competitive fishing, and it’s all thanks to the ABA Professional League. This revolutionary league is empowering weekend anglers and redefining their fishing experience. One of the most anticipated divisions in this league is the Central Tennessee Division, promising an exciting lineup of tournaments set against the backdrop of two of the state’s most renowned fishing lakes.
2024 Central Tennessee Division Schedule and Lakes
The Central Tennessee of the ABA Professional League promises an action-packed season for weekend anglers:
March 9, 2024: Percy Priest – Fate Sanders – Register
Percy Priest Lake, nestled just a stone’s throw away from Nashville, Tennessee, is a paradise for both largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing. This expansive 14,000-acre reservoir, created in the 1960s, offers an ideal habitat for these prized game fish, attracting anglers from across the region eager to test their skills. The lake’s diverse environments, ranging from steep rocky banks and flooded timber to weed-lined shores, provide numerous hideouts for bass, making every fishing expedition a thrilling adventure. Largemouth bass, known for their aggressive strikes and spirited fights, thrive in the lake’s warmer, shallower waters, while smallmouth bass, favoring cooler, deeper areas, offer a challenging catch with their fierce resilience. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice angler, the lake’s scenic beauty and abundant bass populations promise a rewarding and memorable fishing experience.
April 13, 2024: Old Hickory Lake – Bull Creek – Register
Old Hickory Lake, a reservoir formed by the Cumberland River in Tennessee, has carved out a niche as a premier venue for competitive largemouth bass fishing, drawing anglers from across the nation. With its complex structure of creek channels, submerged brush piles, and extensive shoreline vegetation, this lake offers the perfect battleground for tournaments. Largemouth bass, the stars of the show, are abundant and known for their size and fighting spirit, making each competition a test of skill, strategy, and local knowledge. Old Hickory’s varying water conditions throughout the year, from the cool, clear depths of winter to the warm, vegetated shallows of summer, keep anglers on their toes, requiring them to adapt their techniques and strategies to outwit their quarry. The lake’s accessibility, coupled with its reputation for producing quality-sized bass, has made it a hotbed for fishing tournaments.
May 18, 2024: Center Hill – Ragland Bottom – Register
Center Hill Lake, with its pristine waters nestled in the heart of Tennessee, has emerged as a coveted destination for competitive largemouth bass fishing. This scenic reservoir, known for its deep, clear waters and rugged shoreline, provides a challenging and diverse habitat for largemouth bass, making it an ideal setting for bass tournaments. The lake’s structure, featuring steep bluff walls, submerged timber, and numerous coves, requires anglers to employ a range of techniques and strategies. Center Hill Lake’s reputation for quality bass fishing is enhanced by its healthy, well-managed bass population, attracting competitive anglers eager to prove their abilities in tournaments. The combination of natural beauty and challenging fishing makes Center Hill Lake a standout venue in competitive bass fishing.
September 21-22, 2024: Percy Priest – Fate Sanders – Register
Percy Priest Lake, located just east of Nashville, Tennessee, is a man-made reservoir with a rich history that dates back to its creation in the 1960s. The lake was formed by the damming of the Stones River as part of a project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, power generation, and water supply. Named in honor of Congressman J. Percy Priest, who played a crucial role in the lake’s development, it spans approximately 14,000 acres and has since become a beloved recreational hotspot. Beyond its practical purposes, Percy Priest Lake has grown into a popular destination for fishing, boating, swimming, and outdoor activities, drawing locals and tourists alike to its scenic shores and waters.
Learn more with Frequently Asked Questions (See this link)
Also, additional information (See this link)
Link to all Central Tennessee Divisional Events (See this link)
A Watershed Moment in Bass Angling
The ABA Professional League is making history by allowing weekend anglers to compete solo in a prestigious National Series. This groundbreaking shift puts anglers in control of their destiny on the water. The series, commencing in early 2024, consists of 16 divisions, each featuring three one-day Divisional qualifying tournaments and one two-day Divisional Championship.
Lucrative Payouts and Coveted Prizes
One of the standout features of the ABA Professional League is its commitment to competitive payouts. Anglers who’ve long grappled with payouts below 70% at single-day events will find solace in this league, which offers an impressive national series payout of 80%. This ensures that anglers are duly rewarded for their skills and efforts.
For those who excel, the top award for a one-day divisional event can soar to an impressive $10,000 with a full field. Caymas Owners can further enhance their earnings by securing an additional $7,000 through the Caymas Cash program, potentially netting a substantial $17,000 at a one-day event.
Proven Success for the Angler
In Florida on the Harris Chain just a few weeks ago, with 100 boats first placed paid exceptionally well vs the nearest national tournament trail. While the ProLeague paid out $6,700 to first place, the nearest competitor with 145 boats only paid out $4,800 for first place. (See Below) The Professional League paid out almost 40% more for first place with 2/3s of the same field size. The additional places paid were also much higher than the competitor’s, judge for yourself.
Top 20
Flexibility and Personalization
Flexibility reigns supreme in the ABA Professional League. Anglers accumulate points based on their performance in each event, with the best three one-day events and the best two-day event, regardless of the division, counting towards national standings. This unique system empowers anglers to strategically select events that align with their strengths and preferences, ultimately enhancing their national standing within the league.
Moreover, the league provides anglers with the opportunity to bounce back from low-scoring tournaments by participating in one-day or two-day events from different divisions. This flexibility gives them the ability to proactively influence their national standings.
The Quest for Angler of the Year
Excellence doesn’t go unnoticed in the ABA Professional League. Each Division’s Angler of the Year will have the chance to compete head-to-head for the coveted title of Angler of the Year at the Championship, with significant cash awards on the line.
A Commitment to Fair Play
Integrity and fair play are non-negotiable in the ABA Professional League. Truth verification measures are firmly in place at events to ensure a level playing field for all participants, underscoring the league’s unwavering dedication to maintaining fairness.
The Grand Finale
The apex of the ABA Professional League is the Championship, scheduled to take place in spring 2025. The venue will bring together the nation’s top anglers, all vying for the ultimate title in weekend bass angling.
More information, sample payouts, and Rules are available under Professional Series on AmericanBassAnglers.com
American Bass Anglers is proud to be sponsored by industry-leading companies, including Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, Optima Batteries, HotelPlanner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
About American Bass Anglers: Committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments for weekend anglers, American Bass Anglers offers an exciting platform for individual angler progression.
For more information about American Bass Anglers and its various series, including the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the Professional League, the annual Military Team Bass Tournament, ABA Team Series, Top 150 Solo Tour, and the all-new ABA Professional League for 2024, presented by Caymas Boats, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406 for more information.
