Boat registration is now open for the Baxter Health Foundation’s second annual Bass Classic, scheduled for Saturday, October 24, on Lake Norfork. The tournament begins with the first flight launching at 7 a.m. from Lake Norfork Marina in Henderson, followed by a 3 p.m. weigh-in.
The entry fee is $200 per boat, with a two-angler maximum per vessel. Registration is available online at baxterhealth.org/bassclassic. The tournament offers $7,750 in total prize money, including $4,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, $1,000 for third, $500 for fourth, and $250 for fifth.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Mruk Family Center on Aging, the Peitz Cancer Support House, and the Schliemann Center for Women’s Health. The tournament concludes a two-day fundraiser beginning with a banquet on Thursday, October 22. Officials are also seeking sponsors and donations for the event, with additional details to be posted at baxterhealth.org/foundation as the tournament approaches.
The Bass Classic was launched last November, replacing the foundation's former formal ball and other smaller fundraisers with a single weekend event built around the area’s popular fishing culture. The inaugural tournament drew 72 boats from Arkansas and Missouri and raised over $130,000 for the foundation.
Last year, Corey Cook of Lake Ozark, Missouri, and Roger Cook of Lebanon, Missouri, won the competition with a five-fish total weight of 13.52 pounds. Todd and Matt St. Clair of Pyatt secured second place with 13.15 pounds, with the top five teams finishing within a one-pound margin. A 5.70-pound largemouth earned Tony Moser of Violet Hill and Randy Zeigler of Glencoe the big bass award.
The 2022 rules allowed each team to weigh up to five bass with a minimum size of 15 inches, restricted participants to artificial lures, and prohibited Alabama rigs. Boats arriving late for weigh-in faced a one-pound penalty per minute. The foundation plans to release the official rules for this year’s competition closer to the tournament date.
Foundation Executive Director Sarah Edwards noted the event’s regional appeal, saying it was designed to attract anglers who already frequent the Twin Lakes area. “People come here from all over the region, from different states to fish in our community,” Edwards explained. “So why not engage a broader area to help in our fundraiser?”
Last year’s banquet raffle featured diverse prizes, including a kit car, zero-turn mower, motorcycle, and rifle. For information about sponsorships or donations, contact the Baxter Health Foundation directly.