DAYTON, Tenn. — Big bass will be the name of the game at Chickamauga Lake for the final stop of the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cole Sands says plenty of options will be available to achieve big limits.
“It is going to be a great time of year, especially for a college tournament,” the 2020 Bassmaster College Series national champion said. “There will be a great ledge bite, no doubt, but there will probably still be a shad spawn going on and the bream will be starting to spawn. It is going to set up really well for people to fish to their strengths. It will be really wide open.”
Tournament days are scheduled for May 30-31 with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins to be held at the Dayton Boat Ramp. This is the final chance for teams to qualify for the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops scheduled for later in the year, as well as a chance to earn Team of the Year points in the Lunkers Trail.
Chickamauga Lake has turned into one of the premier destinations on the Tennessee River over the last several years and has been a popular destination for the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. Last year, Chickamauga hosted the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Bill Dance Signature Lakes, which was won by Rex Reagan and Max Moody of Pickett County High School. The Elite Series and St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN have also visited in recent years.
Depending on water temperatures, Sands believes several different patterns could unfold during this event, which will allow competitors to fish to their strengths. It will also open up opportunities across the lake, from the Watts Bar tailrace all the way down to the Chickamauga Dam.
“You can compete from dam to dam and even down the Hiwassee River,” he said. “Each section fishes a little differently. South of the Highway 60 bridge will provide the better ledge bite, while north of there will be more of a shallow bite.”
If it is warm enough, the legendary ledge bite could be getting underway on the southern end of the fishery. Anglers will be able to target these bass with big crankbaits, worms and jigs.
“It is one of the best times of year to throw a big crankbait like a Yo-Zuri Hardcore Bullet Crank 7+. They like the bright ones this time of year,” he explained. “A 5-inch FishCo Radar Shad is another productive bait for me.”
For postspawners just making their way offshore, brushpiles will also be a key piece of structure.
“The brushpile bite can really play,” Sands said. “That’s how a lot of big ones get caught in May.”
Sands also believes college teams could take advantage of a late shad spawn that takes place early in the mornings. With hydrilla and milfoil also starting to grow that time of year, other shallow patterns will come into play. Sands noted a swim jig will be one of the better shallow-water techniques that time of year, particularly around reed lines.
“The gizzard shad spawn a little bit later too, and there is usually a good glidebait bite around that,” Sands added. “Big swimbaits could definitely produce a big bag of bass.”
Fish Dayton is hosting the tournament.