Follow Chuck Pippin on the iKon Boats Tailgate Tour while he talks with the different teams fishing the 2023 Pan American Bass Championship at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The 2023 Pan American Bass Championship brought to you by iKon Boats on Lake Hamilton was a resounding success, according to organizers. Team USA clinched the gold medal, securing seven of the top 11 spots in the tournament. Mexico took silver, and Columbia, usually a rare sight on the podium, won bronze. The event, which was the first of its kind in Hot Springs, Arkansas, exceeded expectations in terms of venue and community engagement.
The tournament faced a weather-related delay on the first day, but safety was ensured thanks to a large metal building provided by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Despite the challenges, four of the nine teams caught more than 10 pounds of fish on the first day, with Team USA leading with an average of 10.1 pounds. By the end of the tournament, Team USA’s average weight was 10.7 pounds, while Mexico and Columbia had averages of 7.2 and 5.6 pounds, respectively.
Notably, Joey Cifuentes and Larry Nixon had the highest overall weight after the two-day tournament with 24 pounds, 5 ounces. The U.S. also dominated in a parallel event, the USAngling Challenge Cup, defeating teams from South Africa and the Philippines.
The organizers are already looking forward to their return to Lake Hamilton in 2026 for the World Black Bass Championship, which is expected to host about 30 countries. They plan to schedule the event in October to accommodate local bass fishermen who are also hunters, aiming for a time right before hunting season.
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