2018 Bassmaster Classic - Jordan Lee Defends 2017 Title

Back-To-Back Champion for 2017 and 2018

History is repeating itself in the world of professional freshwater bass fishing. The Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament, known as the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing returned to South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell for the second time in three years, after the 2015 event. Then angler Jordan Lee of Alabama, won the 2018 Bassmaster Classic weigh-in in downtown Greenville, defending his 2017 title from Lake Conroe in Texas and becoming a back-to-back champion. Lee started fishing on the Carhartt collegiate series, became a pro on the bassmaster series in 2015, and the 2018 Bassmaster Classic win brings his career earnings past one million dollars.

            

Jason Christie Led after Day One and Day Two,
but finished in third place.

The best freshwater bass anglers come from all around the country, with a strong contingent of young men from the Southeast, to compete in the Bassmaster Classic. The fact that the B.A.S.S. organization chose to return to Greenville, S.C. again shows the respect they have for the fishery at Lake Hartwell. That first tourney ended with S.C. native Casey Ashley winning the 2015 BassmasterClassic, and Ashley competed again this year, but did not weigh enough bass to claim a second title on home waters. When Ashley was on stage during Saturday’s weigh-in he urged the hometown crowd to cheer hard for all of the visiting anglers on Sunday.

            

Another great showing for Greenville fans

There was little drama after Day One fishing on Friday, and Day Two fishing on Saturday with angler Jason Christie of Oklahoma weighing in the heaviest bag of bass both days. All Christie would have to do is go out on Sunday and add another solid bag of bass to his weight total and he might claim his first ever Bassmaster Classic title. While a few anglers were in striking distance of Christie, Jordan Lee started Day Three in sixth place, and was just sort of hanging around after a lackluster Day One bag of bass. But that position proved to be good enough for back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.

B.A.S.S. is 50 in 2018 - Congrats!

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

 To view past blog entires about Bass Fishing in S.C. click on FLW Tour / Forrest Wood Cup.