A Hundred Boats, Big Money, and Bigger Memories on Watts Bar Lake
By Perry Hensley
When registration opened for the 2026 ACC Big Crappie Bash, it did not take long for the tournament to hit its 100-boat limit. Anglers from 12 different states made their way to Watts Bar Lake during the week of April 25th, all chasing the same dream — landing one giant crappie worth thousands of dollars.
This year’s format once again proved why the Bash has become one of the most exciting crappie events in the Southeast. For seven straight hours, the biggest crappie weighed during each hour earned a massive $1,500 payout. On top of that, an additional $6,000 prize awaited the angler who brought in the single largest crappie of the entire tournament.
With nearly every boat carrying two competitors, the lake was packed with anglers scanning electronics, working brush piles, and hunting that one fish capable of changing the entire day with a single weigh-in.
The event also drew some of the most recognized personalities in the crappie fishing world. YouTube creators including Andrew Nordbye, Davis Lenzen, Chris Gill, and Matt Xenos joined anglers from across the country in pursuit of tournament glory.
As always, Watts Bar Lake proved to be both beautiful and unpredictable.
My partner, JD Dyer, and I hit the water Thursday morning ahead of tournament day. Unfortunately, the bite became tougher with each passing day, and by tournament morning it was at its worst for us. While we managed several quality fish in the 1.40- to 1.50-pound range, we simply could not connect with the elusive 2-pound crappie that was needed to seriously compete in this field.
Still, tournaments like this are about far more than the weigh-in stage.
The fellowship among anglers, the excitement of competition, and the opportunity to spend time outdoors enjoying God’s creation are what continue to make events like the Big Crappie Bash special year after year. Win or lose, days spent on the water creating memories are days well spent.
A special thank you goes out to Andy Lehman, tournament director Matt Xenos, and Jimmy and Ray Pratt for the hard work they invested into making this year’s Bash one of the best yet.
The good news for crappie anglers everywhere? The next Big Crappie Bash is already set for the final Saturday of April 2027. If this year was any indication, anglers will want to register early because spots disappear fast.
As always: Get up! Get out! And make those memories in the outdoors while enjoying all that our Creator has given us. God Bless