BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The road to the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour will wind through the scenic Appalachian Mountains this fall as B.A.S.S. announces Watauga Lake in Carter County, Tenn., as the host site for the 2025 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. The event will take place on the clear, deep waters of Watauga Lake, a highland reservoir nestled within the Cherokee National Forest.

The Bassmaster College Classic Bracket is the ultimate test of collegiate bass fishing excellence, where the top four teams from the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops are split up and will compete head-to-head as eight individual anglers in a bracket-style, elimination tournament. The stakes couldn’t be higher: The winner earns a berth in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic, a coveted invitation to fish the 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN in both divisions and the use of a fully rigged Nitro boat and Toyota Tundra for the season.

“Super-excited to be sharing this moment with each of these anglers as they chase their dreams,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “Best of luck to all of them.”

Watauga Lake, which spans 6,430 acres, offers a unique challenge for competitors with its deep, clear water and abundance of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. As part of Tennessee’s Bill Dance Signature Lakes program, Watauga has seen continued investment to enhance habitat and access, making it one of the state’s premier fishing destinations.

“Carter County Tourism is excited to showcase the scenic beauty and incredible fishing of Watauga Lake with the 2025 Bassmaster College Bracket Tournament,” said Director of Tourism for the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce Luke Freeman. “We look forward to having these anglers experience firsthand all that Carter County has to offer.”

The excitement around this event isn’t limited to Carter County. The state of Tennessee is once again proud to welcome the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket to its waters.

“On behalf of the state of Tennessee, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket tournament back to Tennessee and, specifically, to Watauga Lake,” said the Chief Customer Officer – TN Department of Tourist Development at State of Tennessee, Dennis Tumlin. “Watauga, situated along the Tennessee/North Carolina state borders, is one of our hidden gems and is part of Tennessee’s Bill Dance Signature Lakes program. Visitors are going to be amazed by the hospitality and the natural beauty surrounding this 6,430-acre TVA highland reservoir nestled inside the Cherokee National Forest. I expect both largemouth and smallmouth to come into play, and I won’t be surprised to see a smallmouth over 6 pounds hit the scales during this event. With fishing this good, it’s easy to see why Tennessee ‘Sounds Perfect’ for your next fishing destination.”

Fans can follow all the action from the 2025 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s on Bassmaster.com and across Bassmaster social media platforms.

For more information on visiting Carter County and Watauga Lake, visit tourcartercounty.com and follow #TNVACATION, #BillDanceSignatureLakes and #FishTennessee.

This event is being hosted by Carter County Tourism.

2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2025 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Presenting Sponsor: Lew's

2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.