CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Impressive limits can be expected when qualified anglers take on Chickamauga and Nickajack lakes at the 2025 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft.

The two-day contest is scheduled for March 11-12, with tournament headquarters located in Chattanooga. The top finishers will be recognized on stage prior to the Day 1 weigh-in at the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in Knoxville, Tenn.

“This is going to be a prespawn tournament, and weather will play a big factor,” said Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation kayak angler Chris Walters. “Most everyone will target prespawn females staging in creek channels and ditches. Both lakes are pretty equal this time of the year. Both lakes produce double-digit bass.”

Nationally recognized as one of the best big-bass fisheries in the country, Chickamauga Lake has been a recurring stop on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. This will be the third visit to Chickamauga for the Kayak Series, the last visit being the 2023 National Championship won by Rus Snyders.

Nickajack, meanwhile, remains one of the hidden gems of the Tennessee River system and sees much less national tournament attention, mostly due to its smaller size in comparison to other reservoirs in the region. The fishing, however, is just as good, and sometimes better.

While Chickamauga flows into Nickajack, the two fisheries look quite different in March. Chickamauga experiences a winter drawdown and will be close to 6 feet below full pool in normal conditions, but a substantial rain event could result in a flooded reservoir.

Offshore bars, channel swings, stumps and planted brushpiles will be key pieces of structure and cover in low-water conditions. Depending on the water temperature, some grass might be available on the northern end of the lake.

“The Hiwassee River arm is really good in the springtime too, as well as the Dayton area,” Walters said. “The very lower ends of both lakes are cleaner, and that is where the minnow will be a big player.”

The water level fluctuates very little on Nickajack, which allows for better grass growth earlier in the year. This vegetation, which includes eelgrass and milfoil, will be key to finding groups of prespawners.

The X factor in this tournament will likely be smallmouth bass and the tailraces below the Watts Bar Dam and the Chickamauga Dam. Because of Tennessee’s regulations, smallmouth have typically not factored in boat tournaments on Chick and Nickajack, but with the catch-photo-release format in the Kayak Series, brown fish can make an impact. For this tournament, all black bass must be at least 12 inches long.

“Those tailraces are loaded with smallmouth this time of year,” Walters said. “A lot of guys love the current. That bite won’t be affected as much by cold fronts either.”

Expect traditional prespawn baits such as lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, ChatterBaits, jigs and crankbaits to shine in this tournament as well as jighead minnows.

For more information on the 2026 Bassmaster Classic and Classic week events, visit Bassmaster.com.

This event is being hosted by the Chattanooga Tourism Co.

 

2026 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2026 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsor: Under Armour 

2026 Bassmaster Classic Platinum Sponsor: Toyota, Progressive

2026 Bassmaster Classic Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mountain Dew, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha

2026 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: TNT Fireworks

2026 Bassmaster Classic Local Partner: TNT Fireworks, Calhoun’s, TN Tourism, TVA, Whataburger

2026 Bassmaster Classic Youth Forum Sponsor: U.S. Army

2026 Bassmaster Classic Takeoff Sponsor: Melin

2026 Bassmaster Classic Weigh-In Sponsor: Yokohama

2026 Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party Title Sponsor: Daiwa 

2026 Bassmaster Classic Kickoff Party Presenting Sponsor: TNT Fireworks

2026 Bassmaster Classic Tailgate Title Sponsor: Progressive

2026 Bassmaster Classic Tailgate Presenting Sponsor: Maxam Tire

2026 Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am Title Sponsor: Progressive

2026 Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am Presenting Sponsor: Yokohama Tire

2026 Bassmaster Classic Fishing Pond Sponsor: Zebco 

2026 Bassmaster Classic Host: Visit Knoxville Sports Commission

 

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.