Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
The 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series will cast their lines into Richard B. Russell Lake in Anderson County next week, with cash and prizes going to the top anglers in the tournament.
The March 2-3 event is one of six events set for the series. 
“In just two years we’ve been amazed by the growth of the series,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart, who oversees the Kayak Series. “We knew kayak fishing was experiencing major growth — that’s why we started this back in 2020. But I’m not sure we had any idea just how popular it was.
“It’s been really fun to watch anglers enjoy this trail as the sport continues to evolve.”
The championship will feature such anglers as Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Mike Iaconelli - who won a Kayak Series event last year on the Upper Chesapeake Bay. Ioconelli is the only angler to ever win the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship. He also holds the record with a streak of 19 consecutive Bassmaster Classic appearances. He also works to promote the sport of fishing with his own entertainment, education, and charitable organizations: The Bass University, Ike Live Podcast, Going Ike YouTube Series and The Ike Foundation®. Iaconelli is host of the television show, ‘City Limits’ on the Pursuit Channel and ‘Fish My City with Mike Iaconelli’ on NatGeo Wild.
The tournament field will be comprised of qualifiers from the 2021 Kayak Series — and though the tournament will actually conclude on March 3, the winner will be revealed March 4 and receive a first-place prize of at least $20,000 on stage at Bon Secours Wellness Arena before the first-round weigh-in of the Bassmaster Classic.
As in the past, anglers will use the TourneyX app and photograph their bass on special measuring boards to submit their catches. The angler with the most inches of bass will be the winner. All 2021 winners had at least 85 inches of bass.
For more information and to register, visit Bassmaster.com/Kayak.