Hot Springs to host 2023 Pan American Bass Championships

A view of Lake Ouachita from a boat ramp at Lake Ouachita State Park. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record
A view of Lake Ouachita from a boat ramp at Lake Ouachita State Park. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record

The country's best bass anglers will square off against their counterparts from around the Americas on Lake Ouachita in 2023, after Visit Hot Springs was selected to host the Pan American Bass Championships by the Pan American Sportfishing Federation.

"Visit Hot Springs, as the sponsor of the 2023 Pan American Bass Fishing Championship, has provided a huge boost to our national bass fishing team," USA Bass team manager John Knight said in a news release.

"We are excited about hosting the Pan American at such an iconic location. We expect teams from all over the Americas to attend. It will be a huge leap forward for competitive sport fishing and will get us closer to our goal of making bass fishing an Olympic sport. Hot Springs has hosted several FLW Forrest Wood Cup championships and is known as one of America's premier bass fishing destinations," Knight said.

The USA Bass team will consist of top anglers from MLF and B.A.S.S. including Scott Martin, Jacob Wheeler, John Cox, and 2021 ICast Cup winners Melissa Young and Michelle Jalaba, the release said.

"Our team will be a diverse collection of America's best bass anglers," USA Bass President Tony Forte said in the release, adding that team members will be announced as they are selected by the USA Bass competition committee.

"We are excited to support the USA Bass team and look forward to hosting this international event when it comes to the United States," Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said in the release.

"Our community is uniquely qualified to showcase competitive bass fishing. The Pan American anglers will be treated to our world-class fisheries and welcomed by our friendly community. Fishing fans from coast to coast will be able to come and cheer on team USA as it goes for Gold."

The 2023 Pan American Bass Championships will "showcase a growing rivalry between Canada and the United States teams as the two countries have traded wins in the previous Pan American Championships. Mexico will also field a strong team, and Costa Rica has made the podium in the past."

USA Bass is part of USAngling, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the USA Bass team as they compete in Pan-American and World Championship fishing events around the globe.

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