Bassmaster Classic 2022 Draws Record Crowds
Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 11:57PM Observer Reports
It was another record year for the Bassmaster Classic, hosted on Hartwell Lake in Anderson for the fourth time this year, with almost 160,000 fans on hand for the three days of events. 
Jason Christie, a 48-year-old pro from Park Hill, Okla., brought in 17 pounds, 9 ounces on Sunday to take home the championship and the $300,000 first prize. His three-day total of 54-0 was 5 ounces better than that of second-place finisher Kyle Welcher, who shared the lead with Christie going into the final day.
“Honestly, when I was sitting at the door waiting to come in and weigh my fish, I thought I had given it away again,” said Christie, who pushed his career earnings with B.A.S.S. to $1,668,011. “Stetson Blaylock had just weighed in a big bag, and Kyle Welcher used to be a professional poker player, so I knew he had more than what he was saying.
“I knew it was going to be close. I honestly thought there could be a tie, and that was scary for me because I didn’t have any fish left.”
Welcher earned $50,000 for finishing second with 53-11 while South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb earned $2,500 for overall Berkley Big Bass of the Week with the 6-12 largemouth he caught on Day 2.