Courtesy of Luke Stoner – Dynamic Sponsorships

It was quite the scene this morning at the Carroll Ashmore Marine Complex for the official start of the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The docks were at full capacity with families, friends, coaches, and teammates cheering on qualifying anglers who headed out on Winyah Bay with hopes of being five keeper bass closer to their dreams after the scales close today.

One familiar face in the crowd belonged to Tristan McCormick, the reigning Classic Bracket champion who represented college fishing in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic. Along with a ticket to the Superbowl of bass fishing and paid entry fees to all nine Bassmaster Opens, McCormick won a fully rigged 2022 Toyota Tundra and Nitro Boat wrapped in his alma mater of Bethel University’s colors.

All 250-plus anglers competing in this year’s National Championship hope to follow in McCormick’s footsteps and leave here with a top 3 finish so they can compete in the bracket and fish their way into the 2023 Classic. We caught up with the reigning champ as the ripples dissipated following the day one launch to get his thoughts on Winyah Bay.

Three keys to Success in this tournament

McCormick doesn’t have much experience on Winyah Bay, but he consistently excelled throughout his college career. He knows what it takes to do well and set yourself apart from the pack in a Championship level event. The Lew’s pro offered up some insight that would help tournament anglers of all levels.

“The number one key to success started in practice, and it’s finding a pattern that fits into your fishing strengths. Finding something you are comfortable with,” McCormick said. “I think that’s something a lot of young anglers overlook. We look up to professional fishermen and try to emulate their styles when the best thing you can be is yourself. That’ll be key this week.

“The second thing is to try and not get caught up in the pressure of a big tournament like this. Speaking from experience, there is a lot of pressure on these teams right now, but you gotta remind yourself to have fun. Lastly, I’d tell these anglers to stay focused on every single cast. Any time weights are tight like they will be on Winyah this weekend, you are one big bite away from your whole tournament changing. You gotta grind and stay ready for that bite.”

What McCormick would be throwing on Winyah Bay

Winyah Bay is a tidal fishery and a shallow water, power fisherman’s dream. Anglers will have no shortage of visible structure to throw at and miles of creeks, swamps, and rivers to probe. McCormick loves this style of fishing and suggested a few lures or techniques he’d be employing this weekend.

“Every angler should have a 3/8-ounce Strike King Thunder Cricket tied on this morning to wind around grass, wood, or any other visible cover,” McCormick offered. “I’d absolutely have a 4-inch Rage Bug Texas rigged to a 7-foot 2-inch heavy action Lew’s Signature Series Mark Rose rod for flipping and pitching. Then I’d have a “finessey” flipping setup with a ¼-ounce Texas rigged Rage Twin Tail Menace to milk a few extra bites out of key areas.”

Fortunately for competing anglers, Strike King is the title for the College Series and supplied every angler with a goody bag that included some of these same lures last night at registration. They looked at past tournaments held on this body of water and purposefully picked baits proven to catch ‘em on Winyah Bay.

Three college teams to watch this weekend

“It’s really anyone’s ballgame this week on a massive tidal fishery like Winyah Bay. It’s an extremely even playing field,” McCormick explained. “But if I had to pick three, I would say Levi Mullins and Matthew Cummins from Bethel University, last year’s national champions Hayden and Griffin from Adrian College, and Stevie Mills & Brady Duncan of Carson-Newman. All those guys are shallow water hammers and have what it takes in my opinion.”

While it’s hard to say who might hoist the trophies come Sunday afternoon, it’s a safe bet that the 2023 National Champions will be solid human beings as well as talented anglers. Year after year the college fishing field is comprised of hard-working, respectful, humble, and courteous anglers. If the next generation were to be judged by the individuals competing this weekend, you’d be hard pressed to say the future isn’t bright.