HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — The spotlight of the bass fishing world focuses on Hot Springs for four days this week as the city plays host to the Pan American Bass Fishing Championship on Lake Hamilton.
“Starting Wednesday with a special Bridge Street LIVE welcoming celebration, Hot Springs welcomes bass fishing teams from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, South Africa and the Philippines who will be competing for Pan American medals,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said Sunday. “The event kicks off on Wednesday with the Bridge Street LIVE event, where fans can meet the USA Bass Team, special guest and fishing legend Jimmy Houston, USA Bass team coach Charlie Evans with ‘PAW Patrol's Skye & Marshall’ and listen to the pop hits band Manhattan.”
Arrison said, “I was out on Lake Hamilton Saturday, and I could already see a lot of lakeside homes that had hung out big American flags to show their support for the USA team, and I expect that businesses throughout the city will do the same to emphasize that all of us in Hot Springs recognize what a great showcase for Hot Springs this international event will provide.”
After a practice day Thursday, the tournament will be held on Lake Hamilton this Friday and Saturday. The weigh in will be held at 4 p.m. each day at the Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery boat launch site.
“Visit Hot Springs is the perfect partner for this Pan American Bass Fishing Championship. A record number of nations want to fish this iconic bass fishing location and visit this community” USA Bass President Mark Schlarb said. “Steve Arrison and Hot Springs have the necessary vision to help USA Bass expand bass fishing worldwide. We are starting with this Bass Pan American Championship and Hot Springs will host the Bass World Championship in 2026.”
The American team this week consists of a great mix of legendary veterans, top pros, rising stars and women anglers: Scott Martin, Roland Martin, John Cox, David Dudley, Joey Cifuentes, Larry Nixon, Tyler Rivet, Michelle Jalaba, Hannah Wesley, Keith Carson, Brock Mosely, Hot Springs’ own Stephen Browning, Fred Roumbanis and Brian Latimer
USA Bass is part of U.S. Angling, a 501c3 charitable organization that supports the USA Bass Team as they compete in Pan-American and World Championship fishing events.
For more information on the USA Bass Team: www.usabass.org
Follow USA Bass on Facebook: www.facebook.com/usabassorg
For more information on the PanAmerican Sportfishing Federation follow it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PanAmericansportsfishing
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