Bassmaster boosts Columbus
Columbus, Mississippi is reaping economic benefits from hosting a recent Bassmaster tournament, with top anglers drawing fans and local revenue. (wcbi.com) Local officials and businesses reported a measurable tourism bump tied to the event’s crowds and teams. (wcbi.com)
The 2026 Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee‑Tombigbee Waterway ran March 26–29 with tournament central at Columbus Marina, 259 Marina Drive in Columbus, MS. (bassmaster.com). (bassmaster.com) The Elite field featured 101 professional anglers competing for a $100,000 first‑place prize at each stop of the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series. (bassmaster.com). (bassmaster.com) Daily competition took off at 7:00 a.m. CT with weigh‑ins each day at 3:00 p.m., and TV coverage included FS1 morning windows and FOX national coverage midday on semifinal/Championship days. (bassmaster.com). (bassmaster.com) A year earlier, the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Division 1 event at Columbus Marina (April 2025) drew 155 anglers representing 20 U.S. states and three foreign countries. (wcbi.com). (wcbi.com) Bassmaster estimated a tournament of that Opens’ size would produce roughly $800,000 in local economic impact, and local restaurants — named in reporting as Sweet Pepper’s Deli and Zachary’s — reported noticeable increases in foot traffic during the event. (wcbi.com). (wcbi.com) The March 2026 Elite stop was the only Mississippi event on the 2026 Elite schedule and represented Columbus’s first Elite‑level Bassmaster tournament appearance since 2004. (themississippimonitor.com; cdispatch.com). (themississippimonitor.com)
