Bassmaster Classic 2023 Schedule: Dates, TV Coverage, Live Stream and Event Info
The Bassmaster Classic returns to Knoxville, Tennessee, where a field of 55 anglers will contend in the Tennessee River in the Super Bowl of bass fishing.
The event returns to the river for the first time since 2019 when Ott Defoe took home the $300,000 cash prize with a total weigh-in of 49 pounds and three ounces.
This year's field will include defending champion Jason Christie. He won the 2022 event at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina with a total weight of 54 pounds. Brandon Palaniuk—the 2022 Angler of the Year—will also be gunning for the top prize.
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With some rainy conditions during the practice sessions throwing some uncertainty into what patterns will be successful once the tournament starts, there are sure to be some surprises along the way.
Here's a look at all the information you need to catch the tournament.
Bassmaster Classic Live Stream and TV Info
Friday, March 24: 8 a.m. - 3 pm ET on Bassmaster.com
Saturday, March 25: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 and 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Bassmaster.com
Sunday, March 26: 8 a.m. to 11 am ET on Bassmaster.com and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 - noon to 3 p.m. ET on Fox
Full TV Coverage Schedule and Live Stream at Bassmaster.com.
Preview
Fifty-five anglers will compete in the three-day tournament, with the highest weight total over the course of the event taking home the prize.
The heaviest weight total in tournament history was 75 pounds and nine ounces by the legendary Rick Clunn in 1984, but Randy Howell's 67 pounds and eight ounces in 2014 is the most over the last 10 years.
Feedback from the practice rounds would seem to indicate there will be no records set this weekend.
Classic hopeful Caleb Kuphall made it sound like big fish would be hard to come by in the river.
"Eighteen pounds would be a miracle," he said, per Pete Robbins of Bassmaster.com. "I'd start laying off some stuff if I had 14 or 15 pounds, just to make sure I'd have enough fish left over for the other two days."
One thing that may help is the warming weather in Tennessee. According to The Weather Channel, the high will be in the 70s all three days of the tournament, with the rain only expected to return on Saturday.
Some anglers are concerned the water is becoming too clear. The conditions can make it easier to scare fish off. Saturday's rain could change that, but it will have to come down pretty hard.
"I would like it to be higher and dingier, but it seems to be clearing up," Brandon Card told Robbins in regard to the clearing water. "Once the run-off from today's rain comes in, it might dingy it up, but it takes a hard rain to do that and I don't think we got enough."
As far as contenders to keep an eye on are concerned, Palaniuk is an obvious name. His resume includes two Angler of the Year awards and plenty of big wins, but a Classic title has eluded him. He finished 10th in 2019 when this event was on the Tennessee River previously.
Jeff Gustafson figures to be dangerous, too. He picked up his first Elite Series win the last time an event was held in Knoxville, racking up over 63 pounds worth of smallmouth bass. He seems set to target them over the largemouth once again.
"If I have a largemouth in my bag, it's going to be no good," he told Robbins.
How many anglers choose to tail his strategy will be a storyline to track. Too much traffic could render his patterns fruitless, but his track record and familiarity with the waters are going to make him a favorite.
If you're looking to pick a hometown guy, then Brandon Lester is the best bet. He isn't from Knoxville but he is a Tennessee native who is optimistic that it's going to be a good weekend of fishing.
"We've had a warm spring so far and we've had some warm rain recently, so I feel like the system is going to be in really good shape for a strong, shallow-water bass tournament," he told reporters heading into the tournament.
The field should be wide open, and it's going to be hard to predict who will take home the prestigious title from this many talented anglers.
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