KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — New fishing regulations and a healthy fishery on the Tennessee River have some of the sport’s top anglers expecting bigger bags when the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.
It will be the third Bassmaster Classic held on the Tennessee River out of Knoxville, but local pro Sam Hanggi believes the event could produce the heaviest winning weight of any Classic contested on these waters. “My guess would be 17 pounds a day to win,” said Hanggi, a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie. “I would not be surprised if it took more.”
Past Knoxville Classics provide a benchmark. Ott DeFoe averaged about 16 pounds, 6 ounces per day when he won the 2019 Classic in Knoxville. Jeff Gustafson averaged about 14-2 when he won there in 2023…