What you need to know about the world championship of bass fishing

10 things you should know about the Forrest Wood Cup:

1. What is the Forrest Wood Cup?

It’s the world championship of professional bass fishing and will be held at Lake Murray Friday-Sunday. Hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, the tournament will feature 53 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals casting for the sport’s biggest award – $300,000.

2. History at Lake Murray

The Forrest Wood Cup has been held at Lake Murray twice, in 2008 and 2014. Michael Bennett of Lincoln, Calif., won in 2008 and Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity won in 2014. Gagliardi beat Scott Canterbury of Odenvile, Ala., by one ounce.

3. What Gagliardi says

“The key factor in this year’s event will be catching a 5-pounder every day. The lake is fishing really good – similar to 2014 – but there are some differences. There is a lot more grass and vegetation this year. The fish are a little bigger. But the patterns will be similar to 2014.”

4. The bait

Blueback-chasing schoolers and shallow bluegill eaters dominated the 2014 event, and topwater baits were the predominant tactic, but a few other patterns emerged, including drop-shotting , dragging on offshore structure and fishing a mayfly hatch far up the Saluda River.

5. Where it all starts

Anglers will take off from Dreher Island State Park located at 3677 State Park Road in Prosperity, at 7 a.m. each morning.

6. The weigh-in

Each day’s weigh-in will be held at the Colonial Life Arena located at 801 Lincoln St., beginning at 5 p.m.

7. What’s the FLW Expo?

It will be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center each day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. prior to the weigh-ins. It includes games, activities and giveaways provided by more than 40 FLW sponsors, Ranger boat simulators, a casting pond and a trout pond for children.

8. BBQ on the menu

On Saturday and Sunday, FLW and the South Carolina BBQ Association have partnered to feature award-winning BBQ teams offering delicious fare.

9. Music, too

Country music superstar Easton Corbin will perform a free concert on the weigh-in stage at Colonial Life Arena on Sunday starting at 4 p.m., prior to the final weigh-in. The concert is presented by 97.5 WCOS radio.

10. TV coverage

The 2017 Forrest Wood Cup will premiere on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) Sept. 27 from Noon -1 p.m.