Head-to-Head Fishing on Outdoor Channel

The Outdoor Channel Thursday announced the creation of Ultimate Match Fishing.

The series will pit 12 of the nation’s best professional bass anglers against each other in head-to-head, seeded, bracketed, single-elimination competition, the network said.

Joe Thomas, host of Outdoor’s Angler on Tour and a professional angler for 20 years, will host.

The UMF competition will take place on Kentucky Lake in April and May, and the 13-episode series will begin airing in July. The Moors Resort and Marina will host the tournament. The winner takes home $50,000.

For the first time in more than 20 years -- which is essentially the modern era of competitive bass angling -- the top names and personalities associated with this dynamic and growing sport will be pitted one-on-one, and it will be seen only on The Outdoor Channel,” senior vice president of programming Wade Sherman said in a prepared statement.