Big Fish, Big Partnerships

Bassmaster College Classic at Watauga Showcases Resources and Restoration

At 7 a.m. on a sunny Saturday, eight of the best college anglers in the country set off across TVA’s Watauga Reservoir.

They hoped to catch the heaviest bass to win the Bassmaster College Classic.

It wasn’t only a high-stakes fishing competition. The day also marked one year since Hurricane Helene raged through the region.

And even today, recovery efforts continue.

“Some people still don't have their homes or normal lives back,” Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby said. “We know there's still a long road ahead of us, but we're sending the message that the lake is clean, we're open for business and that we're resilient.”

Hosting a national fishing championship at Watauga, a designated Bill Dance Signature Lake, was a sign of recovery for the local economy – and for an ecosystem that’s home to at least 45 different fish species.

As tourism returns to the area, TVA is partnering with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which manages the fisheries, to restore underwater habitat destroyed in the storm and its aftermath.

Through 2026, the partners plan to anchor 75 trees underwater where fish can hunt, hide, feed and lay eggs, according to TVA water resources program manager Shannon O’Quinn.

That means a future of healthy fish and those who cast for them.

“Healthy waterways are one of our region’s most valuable natural assets,” Michael McCall, TVA Environment and Stewardship vice president, said. “It takes partnerships to keep these assets thriving for the benefit of the public.”

Cove Ridge Marina on the shores of Watauga Reservoir served as the launch point for the 2025 Bassmaster College Classic. (Photos by Susan Ehrenclou / TVA)

‘A phenomenal resource’

By 3 p.m. on the first day of the Bassmaster College Classic, towering clouds draped shadows like shawls over mountain shoulders.

“They’re coming in!” families of the fishermen called.

In the distance, boats streamed across the glassy water.

Bassmaster officials met the college anglers with double bags – mesh inside waterproof – to haul their fish to waiting tanks. That’s where the fish would be weighed, displayed and rushed back to their aquatic home.

Tripp Berlinsky, representing the University of North Alabama, arrived first.

“I have about 18 or 19 pounds, so I hope to be leading this tournament after today,” Berlinsky said.

He gestured to the water behind him where he had spent the last eight hours.

“You can see where Helene came through,” he said. “Despite that, it's one of the most gorgeous lakes I've ever been on, for sure. Just gorgeous.”

Berlinsky did go on to win that day – and the tournament overall.

But he wasn’t the only one to catch stunning bass.

One by one, the college competitors strode to the podium, where Bassmaster host Glenn Cale boomed, “Five alive!” as anglers held up massive fish that weighed in at 13, 15 and 19 pounds.

“It's such a phenomenal resource that TVA has given us,” Gretchen Sheppard, Bassmaster administrator, said. “We go to TVA waters across the Southeast for tournaments. A lot of people use them recreationally, and they're certainly beautiful.”

Tripp Berlinsky, from the University of North Alabama, gets a big hug from family members who watched results on the first day of the competition.

‘Energy, economics and environmental stewardship’

Of TVA’s reservoirs, Watauga is the highest in elevation and one of the deepest. It's home to big bass – bigmouth, smallmouth and striped – and other game fish such as lake trout, crappie and walleye. And it’s home to dozens of non-game fish as well.

“To support the top predators like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye, you have to have an entire food web underneath them,” Kurt Lakin, TVA fisheries biologist, said.

Lakin and the rest of the Fisheries and Aquatic Monitoring crew at TVA would know.

Since 1990, TVA crews have regularly monitored 69 sites in 31 reservoirs to sample aquatic insects and fish.

The biologists assess the habitat.

They look for pollution-sensitive species, a diversity of fish, good fish health and a stable overall catch rate – fish per hour – based on the reservoir’s location.

“Through our monitoring programs we make sure that everything is healthy, and we work with partners like the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency so the natural resources stay in great shape,” Lakin said.

Monitoring is just one part of TVA’s Environmental Stewardship mission that supports communities throughout the Valley region.

“Outdoor recreation is economic development,” Woodby said.

She cited the $53 million dollars in revenue in the region annually from tourism – $9 million of that from Watauga recreation alone.

“This initiative will provide long-term, high-quality habitat for a variety of fish species, contributing to the ecological health and sustainability of Watauga Reservoir,” John Hammonds, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency fisheries biologist, said.

“TVA’s reservoirs are good examples of where energy, economics and environmental stewardship meet,” TVA fisheries biologist Kevin Parr said.

Photo Gallery

Grant Pursifull, of Stephen F. Austin State University, returns after a day of fishing on Watauga Reservoir.

Competitors Ben Burns and Grant Pursifull await official results.

Clouds over Watauga Reservoir for the Bassmaster College Classic.

Bassmaster's Mike Phillips prepares double fish bags for the returning anglers.

Bassmaster's behind-the-scenes crew shows Carter County officials the setup.

Carter County Emergency Management director Catherine Umrichin and deputy director Lucas Gragg flank Bassmaster's Glenn Cale at the Bassmaster College Classic.

April Blanton, proud parent of college competitor Andrew Blanton, awaits results at the Bassmaster College Classic.

Berlinsky led the field after Day 1 at the competition.

Phillips visits returning boats to carry fish back to tanks for official weigh-in.

Anglers keep the bass cool in the boat’s holding tank until they’re transferred to tanks for weigh-in.

University of North Alabama teammates Berlinsky and Bryce Dimauro greet each other after a long day of fishing.

Anglers and families gather before weigh-in at the Bassmaster College Classic.

PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE: Boats of anglers return to the shores of Watauga Reservoir.