Association of Collegiate Anglers Set for its 22nd Season in 2027
SAN ANTONIO, TX (November 3, 2026) – 2027 will mark the Association of Collegiate Anglers’ 22nd season of contesting major college fishing events, supporting the growth of college fishing and working with schools and companies nationwide to grow the sport of fishing. The Association of Collegiate Anglers remains committed to hosting no-entry-fee, no membership fee events, and creating programs to help college anglers while also providing nationally televised and live streamed coverage of the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series.
The ACA feels this provides college student anglers with a platform to compete in national level events, network, grow their careers, and participate in valuable discount and incentive programs offered by series partners. In 2027, the ACA will contest a total of four major televised, live-streamed events on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. In addition, the ACA will oversee the Bass Pro Shops School of The Year presented by Abu Garcia, as well as provide support to over 40 other school-run events. The ACA’s 2027 major events are listed below.
CrushCity Hartwell Slam presented by 13 Fishing
April 3-4, 2027 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC
Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops
May 27-28, 2027 at Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL
Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley
September 18-19, 2027, at Kentucky Lake in Paris, TN
AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open
October 9-10, 2027, at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR
As part of its ongoing commitment to grow and monitor the sport of college fishing, the ACA has updated its official rules document.
These updates include new guidelines for participation and eligibility, among several other items. It is the responsibility of each angler, coach/advisor, and school bass fishing club to ensure they are fully compliant with the ACA official rules. View the latest rules here.
Each no-entry-fee ACA major event awards numerous prizes and contingencies to event participants. Along with those prizes, valuable points towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia are on the line too. Each ACA major, regular season tournament is worth double points, and the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops is triple points. Automatic qualifications into that year-end ACA National Championship can also be earned at each ACA major, regular season tournament. Both fall events award automatic qualification to the Top 10, and the Top 15 at the CrushCity Hartwell Slam presented by 13 Fishing will earn automatic qualification.
At the first of the new year, early in January 2027, the ACA will open event registration for each of its two spring events. Those details will be shared on the ACA website, as well as across social media and through email e-blast.
View all discount and contingency programs available to college anglers at this link.
