TULSA, Okla. – When it comes to the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name.
The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016—and now, the picturesque reservoir located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it plays host to the 54th edition of the event, March 22-24, 2024.
B.A.S.S. officials alongside hosts from the Tulsa Sports Commission and ASM Global made the announcement at a press conference in Tulsa earlier this month, nearly 13 months before the event will take place.
As with past events held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center, which boasts 275,000 square feet of event space. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake.
Previous Bassmaster Classics drew large crowds lakeside and to packed venues around the “Capital of Route 66,” and more than 105,000 fans are expected for Classic Week festivities.
“When you saw 3,000 fans standing out in the freezing-cold weather every morning to watch the competitors launch their boats, that pretty much told you everything you needed to know,” says Eric Lopez, director of operations for B.A.S.S. “The people in that area love B.A.S.S. and bass fishing—and for those traveling in from out of town, the area has a fabulous selection of restaurants and hotels to choose from. It really is a great place for an event like the Classic, and that’s before you even start discussing the quality of the fishing, which is fantastic.”
“The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” says GRDA president and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country. GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.”
On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year—every year the list has been published—that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100.
The field will include 56 anglers who will qualify through the Bassmaster Elite Series, the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Strike King College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, and the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship. They will all be vying for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million.
