Four college fishing teams from Lander University are hauling their boats across the state line and traveling to Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee in hopes of reeling in prize money to support their student organization.
Eight members of Lander's Bass Fishing Club are registered to compete in this weekend's Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) bass fishing tournament. About 300 college anglers from across the Southeast are heading to the Tennessee reservoir for a chance to win $2,000, bragging rights and a place in the FLW College Fishing National Championship.
Part of the team's strategy to weigh-in the biggest catch is to spend a few days on the waters of Chickamauga Lake. "We will leave a few days earlier so that we can use that time to research and learn the layout of the lake," said Stewart.
With two fishermen per boat, these Lander students plan to use the tournament as a means of representing the university and growing the program for future enthusiasts. "We will be fishing against 150 other teams," noted Trevor Stewart of Lander's Bass Fishing Club, "and will probably need at least 21 pounds of largemouth to win the tournament."
The FLW bass fishing tournament kicks off early Saturday morning (Sept. 24).