LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — Grass-roots anglers from nine states will take to the iconic waters of Lake Havasu Feb. 3-5, 2021 for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional. Lake Havasu recently ranked No. 17 on Bassmaster Magazine’s list of Top 25 Best Bass Lakes of the Decade.
The tournament is one of five regional championship events scheduled around the country this year where anglers will be competing for cash prizes and a spot in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. The Championship tournament will feature qualifiers from all five regions, and the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings will earn a berth to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
The winner of the 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will also receive a cash prize, an invitation to join the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series and use of a “Nation’s Best” wrapped, tournament-ready boat.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., who had his first career Top 10 finish with B.A.S.S. in a 2003 Western Open on Havasu, said he expects top finishers to rely on a variety of techniques.
“Most of the high finishers will rely heavily on the smallmouth factor because it is so early in the year, but the winner will most likely weigh some kicker largemouth every day,” said Pirch. “Typical light line finesse-y winter tricks will catch quite a few fish, but the gambler who gets largemouth on a reactive pattern or a heavy cover deal usually wins.”
At 19,300 acres, the stark beauty of this desert oasis forming part of the California/Arizona border is only overshadowed by the lake’s bounty of bass.
“The neat thing about Lake Havasu is there is so much variety of cover and water conditions,” said Pirch. “From deep canyon reservoir rocks and artificial cover to river current and backwaters full of tules and grass, it always produces a mix of largemouth and smallmouth.”
Competition days will start each day at 7:15 a.m. MT from Lake Havasu State Park. Weigh-ins will be held back at the park each day at 3:15 p.m. and streamed on Bassmaster.com. The full field will fish Days 1 and 2, and the Top 18 in the pro and co-angler divisions will compete on Championship Friday.
The tournament is being hosted by Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
“We are honored to host the talented anglers of B.A.S.S. Nation in their Western Regional Championship,” said Terence Concannon, President/CEO of Go Lake Havasu. “As one of the best bass fishing lakes in the Western U.S., we hope these anglers enjoy these waters for this prestigious competition of the best of the best.”