Table Rock Bassmasters

The Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2026 descends upon Table Rock Lake near Springfield, Missouri, from April 17 through April 19, 2026, bringing 35 of the world’s elite bass-fishing professionals to compete for a $300,000 grand prize and the coveted REDCREST Championship trophy. This three-day championship unfolds across 43,000 acres of crystal-clear Ozark Mountain water—one of the premier largemouth bass fisheries in the nation—while the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield hosts the Outdoor Sports Expo, a parallel open-air festival featuring top outdoor brands, interactive children’s activities, casting challenges, live entertainment, and an array of food vendors drawing crowds from across the heartland.

Table Rock Lake exists because the White River refused to be tamed, its floods devastating Branson and surrounding communities until Congress authorized the dam in 1941. Construction delays from World War II and the Korean War pushed completion to 1958, when the Army Corps of Engineers finished the 252-foot impoundment that required 1.2 million cubic yards of concrete to contain waters that now stretch across more than 800 miles of serpentine shoreline. The lake takes its name from a flat rock formation on Highway 165 that was originally slated as the dam site until core samples revealed the unstable caves and sinkholes beneath—a reminder that Ozark geology keeps its secrets. Johnny Morris, who would eventually found Bass Pro Shops, started selling fishing lures from his father’s liquor store on Springfield’s south end around the time the lake filled to capacity in 1961, and the connection between this water and that retail empire has only deepened in the six decades since.

The fishing here rewards those who understand the lake’s moods: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass all thrive in abundance, with largemouth exceeding ten pounds and the Missouri state record paddlefish—a prehistoric beast weighing 140 pounds—pulled from these depths. The lake produced an exceptional year class of largemouth bass in 2020, fish that reached the 15-inch minimum length limit by spring 2024, promising tournament action that will test even these professionals’ skills. Beyond the competition, spectators gather along the shoreline and at weigh-in venues to witness the drama of anglers pursuing fish that have made Table Rock a perennial host of major tournaments, while the Outdoor Sports Expo transforms the Bass Pro campus into a celebration of the outdoor lifestyle that defines this region. Families find interactive zones designed for young anglers, couples discover the romance of Ozark spring evenings, and groups gather where the scent of barbecue mingles with the energy of live music.

The Springfield and Branson corridor delivers dining experiences worthy of championship weekend: Hemingway’s Blue Water Café, nestled inside the flagship Bass Pro Shops, honors Ernest Hemingway’s saltwater fishing legacy with an atmosphere that includes a massive aquarium spanning the bar’s entire length and Bonefish Willie’s original wooden skiff from Bimini. Black Sheep has earned devoted followers for burgers that locals insist are the best in the region, while Farmers Gastropub serves farm-to-table fare with gluten-free options clearly marked for dietary-conscious visitors. For Southern comfort, Lambert’s Cafe in nearby Ozark—famous as the “Home of Throwed Rolls”—delivers exactly the kind of generous portions and theatrical service that fuel tournament spectators. The White River Fish House at Branson Landing offers floor-to-ceiling views and lunch and dinner favorites that celebrate the local catch. For accommodations that position you perfectly for REDCREST weekend amid the natural beauty of the Ozarks, explore nearby lodging options on Lake.com and start planning your Missouri bass fishing adventure today.