If the activities surrounding the 2012 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship were limited just to the tournament itself, it would still be the biggest event the genre has ever seen. The Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) will welcome two hundred teams, hailing from 29 states, from large institutions and small ones, to battle it out on Pickwick Lake for bragging rights. It promises to be a slugfest, too – after living in the shadow of its sister, Lake Guntersville, for years, Pickwick may be the hottest lake in the southeast right now, consistently pushing out double-digit bass and limits that easily exceed 20 pounds. 

However, this isn’t just a tournament – it’s an event to be reckoned with.

 

These students will be treated like kings – and queens, since there are more than a few female competitors – from the time they arrive in Florence, Alabama for the festivities. In fact, the largesse will begin before they even leave campus. It’s a no-entry fee event, with lots of sponsor goodies, and even a hundred dollar travel stipend. On top of that, there’s over $120,000 in combined prizes available in the form of cash, services and merchandise.

 

The actual competition days won’t begin until Thursday May 24th, but once these young men and women arrive they’ll be treated as if they’d qualified for any other prestigious fishing championship. Tuesday the 22nd will be Yamaha Angler Appreciation Night at McFarland Park. Students will be treated to dinner, mingle with pros including Ish Monroe and Takahiro Omori, and have time to take Ranger/Yamaha demo rides and get help from the respective service crews.

 

On Wednesday, registration will begin with a sponsor reception hosted by 20 very involved corporate entities. Dinner will be provided by NBC Sports Outdoors, the ACA television partner, and will feature a keynote address by reigning Forrest Wood Cup champion Scott Martin.

 

On the two competition days, the anglers will be provided with breakfast and lunch, courtesy of the ACA. At the end of the day on Thursday there will be a cookout donated by Costa Del Mar, as well as a guest appearance by Costa Pro, Casey Ashley. Friday’s dinner will come from the ACA. If anyone goes hungry next week, they have no excuse.

 

In addition to the pros listed above, many other national touring pros will be on hand to offer advice and encouragement, including Jeff Kriet, Mike McClelland, Brandon Card, Clark Wendlandt and Jeff Reynolds.