FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va.—30 of the best big-bass anglers in the nation face off on Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake starting this upcoming weekend as they compete for big bucks in the B&W Trailer Hitches Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops. The sixth annual edition of the Major League Fishing (MLF) All-Star tournament starts Saturday and continues through Thursday.
Hosted by Visit Franklin County, Virginia, and Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the event will feature 30 pros from the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season competing for a $100,000 grand prize. The anglers can also earn Berkley Big Bass bonuses of up to $100,000 for the largest bass caught.
To qualify for the B&W Heavy Hitters event, the weight of each angler’s largest bass caught during the seven Bass Pro Tour events in 2024 was recorded. The 30 anglers with the heaviest combined weight from their seven largest bass qualified to compete in this event.
While the MLF has held events on Smith Mountain Lake before, this is the first time that the MLF Bass Pro Tour will hold a tournament on the fishery, considered one of Virginia’s best.
“We are beyond excited to welcome Major League Fishing’s top big bass anglers to Smith Mountain Lake,” says Kevin Tosh, director of tourism and communications at Visit Franklin County, Virginia. “This prestigious event is a powerful opportunity to showcase not only one of America’s rising top-tier bass fisheries but also the vibrant metro-mountain charm of Franklin County, Virginia’s Blue Ridge, and the entire Smith Mountain Lake community.”
Parts of the six-day competition will be broadcast on the Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel and MLFNOW! live streaming.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming our friends at Major League Fishing, a premier professional bass fishing brand, to our destination,” says John Oney, vice president of sports and sales at Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge. “This tournament will give our region a terrific platform to showcase our outdoor recreation opportunities, arts and culture, attractions, and many other metro mountain adventures that we’re known for.”
As the event descends upon Smith Mountain Lake, anticipation is high for what promises to be an unpredictable showdown on one of the East Coast’s more underrated bass fisheries. Local pro Martin Villa, who will be among the competitors in the tournament, says Smith Mountain Lake is fishing better than ever and is more than ready for the spotlight.
“Virginia’s done a phenomenal job on this fishery, and they’ve been stocking it for quite a while,” Villa says. “It’s been a minute since any big event has been here, but it seems like the region is setting up for a series of professional events over the next five years. It’s Virginia’s best fishery, hands down.”
For complete details and updated information on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
