RUSSELLVILLE, AR (October 13, 2024) – Tournament competition has concluded at Lake Dardanelle for the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.  The second stop of the 2024-25 season for the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, the Association of Collegiate Anglers’ historic 20th season, saw 262 boats travel to Russellville, AR to compete in the nationally televised, no-entry-fee, double points event that awarded over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies.

Tripp Berlinsky and Bryce Dimauro from 8th ranked University of North Alabama won the major event with a two-day total of 30.96 pounds. The duo entered today in 4th place, roughly 1.50 pounds behind the 1st place team going into today from Murray State College.

By finishing in 1st place Berlinsky and Dimauro earn a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, $1,000 Garmin credit, $500 AFTCO gift card, Rapala tackle package, 2 pairs of Bajio Sunglasses, 2 Turtlebox speakers, and 2 Trailer Valet hitches.  The pair also claimed the $500 ACA logo contingency.  All total, the 1st place victory pays the UNA anglers close to $5,000 in prizes and contingencies.  The tournament victory also earns UNA 1,750 points towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Finishing in second place were Cade Lipham and Caleb Coleman from 9th ranked Drury University.  The anglers representing the team from Springfield, MO weighed in 14.50 pounds of Lake Dardanelle bass on Day 2 to move up 10 spots from 12th on Day 1.  By finishing in 2nd with a two-day total of 29.60 pounds, Lipham and Coleman earn a $700 Bass Pro Shops gift card, $300 AFTCO gift card, Rapala tackle package, 2 pairs of Bajio Sunglasses, and 2 Trailer Valet hitches.  The duo also claimed the $200 G2 Gemini Jersey Contingency Bonus, as being the highest-placing jersey wearer.

Rounding out the Top 3 are Miles Smith and Levi Thibodaux from 3rd ranked LSU-Shreveport.  With a two-day total of 28.66 pounds, the Montevallo anglers earned a $550 Bass Pro Shops gift card, $200 AFTCO gift card, Rapala tackle package, two pairs of Bajio Sunglasses, and two Trailer Valet hitches.  Miles claimed both Garmin Tournament Rewards Contingencies, paying out a total of $500 for being both the highest-placing Force Trolling Motor user, as well as the Garmin exclusive bonus.

View the final tournament results here.

The field of elite anglers found great success out on Lake Dardanelle throughout both days of tournament competition at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.  Over two days, 249 of the 262 teams weighed in fish.  The bass were biting well with warm early fall conditions.  The weights were also very strong, as this year’s winning weight was the highest of any event the ACA has contested here during the fall.

The AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open was the second ACA double points event of the season to count towards the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  As referenced earlier, the winning team received 1,750 points, and schools were eligible to receive points for the their two highest-finishing teams inside of the Top 150 of the final tournament standings.  8th ranked UNA placed two teams in the Top 10 (1st, 9th), and so too did 7th ranked University of Montevallo (5th, 6th)  Later this week, the ACA will release the latest points update for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Parker Brown from Southern Methodist University claims Overall Big Bass with a fish weighing 5.99 pounds.  That big fish pays out a new Power-Pole.

The Top 10 finishing teams in the final tournament standings receive automatic qualification into the 2025 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

The ACA would like to thank the Russellville Tourism and Visitors Center for their hospitality this week in hosting all of these college anglers, and to the staff at Lake Dardanelle State Park for their assistance as well.  This event marks over 10 years of which the ACA has been hosting major college events on Lake Dardanelle.