The Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will compete on Lay Lake Feb. 25, 2023. 

Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.

February 22, 2023

Alabama’s Lay Lake hosts Bassmaster High School tournament this weekend

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — This Saturday, Feb. 25, 246 talented high school and junior teams from a dozen states will converge on historic Lay Lakefor the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Junior Series tournament.

Doing battle alongside Birmingham-area fishing powerhouse schools like Briarwood Christian School — which won three consecutive national championships from 2018-2020 — are teams from as far away as South Dakota. Teams will take off from Beeswax Creek Park in Columbiana at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in starting at 2:30 p.m. The Junior Series weigh-in, for competitors ranging from second to eighth grade, starts at 1:30 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

Each team is accompanied by an adult boat captain.

“We are so excited to welcome the Bassmaster High School series back to Shelby County in 2023,” said Kendall Williams, manager of tourism and events for Shelby County. “Lay Lake offers some of the best bass fishing in the country, and hosting events like this reminds us how fortunate we are to have this resource in our backyard. It is rewarding to see the community of support that has grown for fishing tournaments. Our local restaurants, stores and other businesses are ready to welcome student anglers and their families! We look forward to having new families discover Shelby and all we have to offer.”

The Coosa River reservoir, located just south of Birmingham, has hosted several Bassmaster Classics and in 2023 will also welcome 104 of the world’s best anglers May 11-14 for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake and the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops June 9-10.

Since B.A.S.S. started the High School Series events in 2013, there has been an astounding 724% increase in the number of clubs and schools competing.