A bass angler from Lenexa is looking to make the catch of a lifetime as he competes in a national competition for a life-changing $1.25 million grand prize.
Starting today, Brent Chapman will be competing in World Bass Enterprises’ inaugural “The Champions” bass tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, where 60 of the best professional anglers battle for millions of dollars in prizes.
While the competitors come from all over, a championship-level bass angler coming from Johnson County is rare, Chapman said.
“We’re not traditionally known as a bass fishing community, kind of like some of the places down south,” he said during a press conference with the Johnson County Post.
Still, that makes him all the more proud to be representing the area.
“It’s great to be a person that represents Kansas. I’ve lived there my entire life, and I’m proud to say I’ve made a living bass fishing for the last 30-plus years,” he said.
The tournament is the first time 30 of the top anglers from the Bassmaster Elite Series will face off with 30 of Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour stars, which includes Chapman, as they aim for the biggest catches in Old Hickory Lake in middle Tennessee. The main goal: Proving which team is the best. The angler with the biggest catches on the winning team will receive $1.25 million.
The tournament will run through Nov. 1 and is available to watch on pay-per-view for $49.99 via World Bass Enterprises’ website.
Chapman is an award-winning bass angler
Since he began fishing with his dad decades ago, Chapman turned an interest into a decorated career.
In over three decades of being an angler, Chapman has earned accolades including the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year, one of the most prestigious awards a professional angler can earn, as well as competing in the Bassmaster Classic qualifier 14 times and Major League Fishing’s REDCREST qualifier twice.
“I did well enough that I’m here at The Champions,” he said.
Chapman’s interests extend across the family, as his wife Bobbi, and two children, Mason and Makayla, travel with him as part of the Brent Chapman Fishing Team.
The tournament is one of the biggest of Chapman’s career
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While Chapman is a decorated angler, the Champions tournament will likely be one of the most challenging competitions of his career.
First, two different leagues of anglers have never competed in this kind of fashion, angler Jacob Wheeler said at the Champions press conference.
“This is like in football, you have an AFC championship and an NFC championship, and basically we never compete against the other league,” he said.
In addition, Old Hickory Lake is known to present problems with anglers, especially with an expected low lake levels and no current flowing in certain areas.
Whatever challenges he might face, Chapman said he’s using some hometown championship spirit to guide him.
“Just like our Kansas City Chiefs, I’m a winner and hope to bring home a new title to Kansas City, and that is the champion of the of the World Bass Enterprises event,” he said.
The winner gets $1.25 million
While Chapman has earned some big cash prizes in past competitions, the grand prize for this tournament would set him up for life, he said.
“It would be a life changing event to win because it would secure our future,” he said. “It would pay off our mortgage, which would alleviate a lot of stress, and it would allow me, probably for the rest of my career, to be able to fish more freely and under a lot of less pressure. And I know my kids would sure appreciate it as well,” he said.
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