Old Hickory Lake, just north of Nashville, became the stage for a dramatic start to The Champions tournament on Thursday. Bassmaster Elite Series professional Matt Robertson hauled in a five‑fish limit weighing an impressive 20 pounds, seizing the early lead in the historic showdown that pits 30 Bassmaster anglers against 30 Major League Fishing pros for a record $3.25 million purse.
Robertson’s dominant day
Robertson told OutKick OutDoors that the day was “pretty good” despite a bit of rough water. “Caught two real quick, and then I started wanting to run around, but I just made myself sit there and grind it out. And yeah, we caught us a little bag today,” he said.
The 20‑pound bag put Robertson 4 pounds, 9 ounces ahead of second‑place Fisher Anaya, who finished Thursday with 15 pounds, 7 ounces. MLF’s Michael Neal sits third at 13‑pounds 9‑ounces, followed closely by Bob Downey and Bryant Smith.
Day‑2 challenges
Friday’s competition will test the anglers’ adaptability because of the tournament’s restriction on forward‑facing sonar, known as LiveScope. Competitors may use the technology on either Thursday or Friday, but not both. Anaya, who relied on LiveScope Thursday, will have to fish without it Friday, acknowledging that “it’s going to make it tougher.” He estimates he’ll need 5‑7 pounds to survive the cut to the final 15.
Robertson, however, saved his LiveScope for Friday and says he may not need it. “We didn’t use LiveScope today. We’ll have it tomorrow, but not really planning on using it,” he said, confident that a one‑or‑two‑pound catch will be enough to maintain his lead.
What’s at stake
Only the top 15 anglers after Friday’s weigh‑in will advance to Championship Saturday, when weights reset to zero and the remaining competitors battle for the $1.25 million grand prize. The field has struggled to find quality bites on Old Hickory, making every pound critical.
Team Stars (Bassmaster) currently holds eight of the top 15 spots, while Team Stripes (MLF) claims seven. The balance could shift quickly as anglers adjust to sonar restrictions and the lake’s challenging conditions.
Local impact
The tournament brings significant attention to the Nashville area, drawing anglers and fans to Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville for Friday’s weigh‑in at 4 p.m. CT. Local businesses benefit from the influx of visitors, and the event highlights the region’s premier fishing venues.
OutKick OutDoors will continue to provide on‑the‑ground coverage, exclusive interviews, and video highlights throughout the weekend, keeping fans informed of every twist in this high‑stakes competition.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
