Tour Hardin County: Registration opens for ‘Bill Dance Giant Bass Open’ at Pickwick Lake

Anglers and fishing enthusiasts, mark your calendars, because registration is officially open for the “Bill Dance Giant Bass Open” which will visit five Bill Dance Signature Lakes, plus a mystery lake for the Champion of Champions event.

Hosted by Tour Hardin County, the season kicks off at Pickwick Landing State Park on Feb. 10-11.

“Tour Hardin County is honored to host the ‘Bill Dance Giant Bass Open’ on Pickwick Lake,” said Hardin County Tourism Director Beth Pippin. “Lots of work and planning went into this program to bring this legacy to fruition. We are honored and excited to host the first event here in West Tennessee on Pickwick.”

This event serves as the launchpad for a new statewide bass tournament series across five Bill Dance Signature Lakes in 2024. The tournament on Pickwick Lake promises multiple opportunities for amateur anglers including youth to win cash prizes.

Anglers can secure their spot to compete at www.giantbassopen.com.

Pickwick Lake is home to a thriving population of largemouth and smallmouth bass, earning recognition as one of the Southeast’s Best Bass Lakes in 2022 by Bassmaster Magazine. The area has become a regional hub to national fishing tournaments.

Competition format and prizes

Each two-day tournament features seven hourly cash payouts in a big fish format tournament.

Anglers with the heaviest single catch over two days will take home $5,000 in the adult category, while the youth category winner receives $1,500.

Each tournament could pay out up to $55,000 in hourly prizes (based on 250 anglers participating per day

Full series schedule

Feb. 10-11: Pickwick Lake (Pickwick Landing State Park)

March 29-30: Dale Hollow Lake (Sunset Marina)

April 20-21: Douglas Lake (Dandridge)

June 22-23: Chickamauga Lake (Bluewater Resort)

Sept. 14-15: Kentucky Lake (Paris Landing State Park)

The series culminates in a Champion of Champions event later in the fall, with details to be announced. All hourly winners from the five tournaments will be invited to grab a fishing buddy and compete in a two-day, five-fish format team tournament for additional prizes and the ultimate title.

For tournament registration, schedule updates and news, visit www.giantbassopen.com.

About Bill Dance Signature Lakes

Bill Dance Signature Lakes is a collaborative effort between Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to improve Tennessee lakes, increase visitation and honor Dance’s legacy.

The program is designed to benefit Tennesseans through increased stocking, habitat and fisheries management, and improved access for fishing and boating at 14 designated lakes across the state. The multi-agency partnership has committed more than $15 million to improvements – both above and below the water – at lakes bearing Tennessee icon Bill Dance’s stamp of approval.

For more information, visit www.billdancesignaturelakes.com.