Registration is now open for the second Baxter Health Foundation Bass Classic, scheduled for October 22 and 24. The two-day event includes a Thursday evening banquet and a Saturday fishing tournament, with proceeds benefiting health programs in the region.
The banquet is set for Thursday, October 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Baxter Health Wellness Education Center, a new location for this year’s event. Tickets are priced at $50, down from $75 last year. Guests will enjoy a fish fry provided by John 3:16, featuring catfish, chicken tenders, fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies. Wine and beer will be available for purchase, and live music will be provided by the Country Case Band. The evening will also feature a silent auction and raffles.
Competitive fishing follows on Saturday, October 24, at Norfork Lake. The first flight will launch at 7 a.m. from Lake Norfork Marina in Henderson, with the weigh-in scheduled for 3 p.m. The entry fee is $200 per boat, with a maximum of two anglers per team. Cash prizes include $4,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, $1,000 for third, $500 for fourth, and $250 for fifth. A Big Bass prize is also listed; however, details on the award amount have not yet been announced.
Last year’s inaugural event drew 72 boats from Arkansas and Missouri and raised over $130,000. Participants and supporters praised the tournament for combining multiple fundraisers into a single weekend, replacing the foundation’s previous formal ball. A Missouri team clinched first place with five bass weighing a total of 13.52 pounds, narrowly edging out the runners-up by 0.37 pounds.
The Bass Classic originated from the Peitz Cancer Support House’s earlier “Kick Cancer in the Bass” tournament but has since been expanded by the Baxter Health Foundation to support additional services. Proceeds from the event will go toward the foundation's annual fund, which aids the Mruk Family Center on Aging, the Peitz Cancer Support House, and the Schliemann Center for Women's Health.
Anglers can register online at baxterhealth.org/bassclassic or in person by picking up paper forms at the Foundation Office, located on the ground floor of the Medical Arts Building in Mountain Home.