FLORENCE, AL – 2022 will mark the 17th edition of the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The Association of Collegiate Anglers’ annual National Championship will take place on May 26th – 27th at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama. A two-day, traditional five-bass limit event, this tournament will award $30,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as crown the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
Tournament takeoff will start at 6:00 AM each morning from McFarland Park, with tournament weigh-in beginning each afternoon at 2:00 PM. Weigh-in can be streamed live on outdooraction.com.
Pickwick and Wilson Lakes are the playing field for this week’s tournament. Each lake offers a little bit of something for everybody. Down on Pickwick Lake, anglers will be fishing offshore ledges and structure spots with big baits in search of a 20 pound limit that will have them in contention to win the event. Wilson Lake offers a little different variety for those that aren’t as comfortable out on the ledges. Up on Wilson there is abundant shoreline cover and docks for anglers to target with shallow topwaters, crankbaits, and soft plastics.
On the line this week are two of the most prestigious titles in collegiate bass fishing. A National Champion will be crowned for the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, and school will be named the number one team in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
College fishing’s longest-running National Championship will pay out the Top 40 places in the overall standings, as well as numerous exact place finishes. The total payout for this no-entry-fee event will total close to $30,000. Overall big bass for the tournament will earn a new Power-Pole unit.
Along with the valuable prizes and contingencies on the line, schools will earn double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. First place in this event will receive 1,500 points, with points being awarded down to 125th place. With schools being able to earn points for their two highest finishing teams inside of the Top 125, the total maximum points one school can earn is 2,980.
Tournament coverage will begin bright and early tomorrow morning with the Live Blog starting prior to official takeoff. Takeoff will be streamed beginning at 6:00 AM, and official weigh-in will be covered live on the Outdoor Action TV app starting at 2:00 PM.
