May 19, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that 100 high school anglers will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of colleges during the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine, which is set to debut October 15-17 on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala.

“This is something we have dreamed of for years,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the B.A.S.S. College and High School program. “B.A.S.S. is constantly looking for ways to grow the High School and College platforms and give young anglers opportunities to excel not only in the sport but also in the industry. What better way than to give college coaches a chance to see all of the skills these high school anglers possess and possibly award scholarships?”

The Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine will be a three-day event where anglers will perform multiple tasks to show their skillset not only on the water but also display their knowledge of the sport as a whole. After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.

The following 16 colleges have already signed up to participate in this inaugural event:

Adrian College
Bethel University
Blue Mountain College
Bryan College
Campbellsville University
Carson-Newman University
Dallas Baptist University
Drury University
Emmanuel College
Faulkner University
Florida Gateway College
Kentucky Christian University
University of Kentucky
University of Montevallo
University of North Alabama
Wabash Valley College

“Decatur Morgan County Tourism is very proud to host the Bassmaster High School Combine. This is an incredible opportunity for The City of Decatur,” said Don Dukemineer, Director of Sports Development for Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “We are always proud to showcase the beautiful Tennessee River. We will work diligently to create a fantastic experience for all of the participants. We always enjoy working with this wonderful organization and look forward to our continued partnership.”

Registration for the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine will open at 8 a.m. CT on June 1 at Bassmaster.com/high-school and remain open until 100 participants have registered. The $500 registration fee includes accommodations for two nights and all meals for the weekend.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/high-school.