A trip to the Bassmaster national championships is at stake for 210 anglers as they gear up for the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional presented by Magellan at Shasta Lake on Wednesday.

Bassmaster returns to Shasta Lake for the first time in more than a decade while B.A.S.S. Nation is making its first appearance on the lake – both full of water and fish, B.A.S.S. Nation director Jon Stewart said.

“It’s good for the future of fishing when it fills back up like it is,” Stewart said.

The competition runs Wednesday through Friday with 6:15 a.m. daily launches at the Bridge Bay Marina. The weigh-ins each day begin at 2:15 p.m. A welcome for the participants during registration Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel is led by Laurie Baker, the CEO of the Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau, Phil’s Propeller owner Phil Mitsueda, and Johanna Wilson, the guest relations director for Bridge Bay at Shasta Lake.

Each of the 11 states in the west region brings a 20-person team of 10 boaters and 10 non-boaters. The top boater and non-boater from each state advances to the national championships in South Carolina in October.

Aside of vying for a spot at nationals, the top boater will take home $5,000 and the top non-boater collects $2,500. A total of 21 places will be paid for the tournament, Stewart said.

“There’s a lot of fish to be caught,” Stewart said. “The weights will be close and it’s going to be exciting. I don’t think anyone will run away with it.”

The tournament added a team competition this year where the state catching the most weight across the first two days wins a boat to sell as a fundraiser, valued at $38,000, Stewart said.

Event:         Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional presented by Magellan
Contact:     Jon Stewart, director of B.A.S.S. Nation
Phone:        407-557-0126
Date:           April 19-21, 2017; 6:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
 Where:       Bridge Bay at Shasta Lake
URL:            Tournament website - statistics and standings