|
Fishing News
Archives
Back To
Back To
Back To
Contact Us
Zeiners
Angler Supply
Kansas Angler
Swim
Tail Lures
|
|
sponsored by
Zeiner's Angler Supply
The Kansas Angler Online
and Swim Tail Lures |
Razorbacks take coveted national
collegiate bass fishing title
LEWISVILLE, Texas (Sept. 20, 2008) - When
the day began, it was a University of Arkansas team positioned
to be the lone spoiler among the five finalists capable of keeping
a Texas school from again taking home the BoatU.S. National Collegiate
Bass Fishing Championship trophy. Included in the final-day shootout
were Arkansas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A&M-Kingsville and
defending champion Texas A&M.
All teams started the day with a score of zero
and the equal beginning seemed to keep the anglers patient, focused
and fishing to their strengths. By weigh-in, several keeper bass
had found the way to livewells and the stage at Sneaky Pete's
Marina. The crowd of fans and onlookers that had gathered were
wowed once more by impressive catches that have become the norm
for the week.
The Arkansas team did outlast the Texas finalists,
with Kazuki Kitajima and Bodie Drake claiming the championship
for the Razorbacks with five bass weighing 17.37 pounds, anchored
by two near 4-pounders.
"We chased shad the whole time and were fishing a depth
range of 5-14 feet," said Kitajima. "We concentrated
on a short point with some foundations and rock that had a subtle
break. Our key bait was a Berkley Power Finesse Worm in blue
flake. We also caught a couple on a War Eagle jig, some on a
deep crankbait, but caught most of our fish on a shakey head.
To win this one means a lot."
"We have a strong fishing club at the University,
and this win is great for our school and the club," said
partner Drake. "It's been a great experience for both of
us."
The Arkansas team's total was just enough to hold
off last year's winner Justin Rackley and new partner Andy Shafer,
from Texas A&M. They had five bass totaling 16 pounds.
Rounding out the top five teams who advanced to
the third and final day of the championship were: 3rd place -
Texas Tech's Ryan Dupriest and Laramie Coggan with five fish
weighing 11.98 pounds; 4th place - Texas A&M-Kingsville's
Jerod Hawkes and Daniel Brock with 5 bass weighing 11.17 pounds;
and 5th place - Baylor's Jay Holland and Chris Gass with two
bass totaling 3.34 pounds.
The Arkansas team takes home a $14,000 scholarship
check to their fishing club. Texas A&M was awarded $8,000,
Texas Tech received $5,000, Texas A&M Kingsville took $3,000
and Baylor won $2,000.
The five, all fishing from tournament-provided
Ranger boats equally equipped with Yamaha outboards, Garmin electronics
and MotorGuide trolling motors, had advanced to the championship
round by being the top five among all 194 anglers competed during
the previous two days. The full field represented 23 states and
51 schools of all sizes and conferences.
Finishing in the top 10 for the tournament and
also receiving scholarship cash prizes for their respective school
fishing clubs are: 6th place - Faulkner University (Ala.), Kyle
Tindol and Michael Eubanks, $1,000; 7th place - Northwestern
State University (La.), Zack Gagnard and Paul Rini, $700; 8th
place - Murray State University (Ky.), Dan Langton and Cory Carr,
$600; 9th place - Stephen F. Austin (Texas), Ryan Watkins and
Andrew Upshaw, $400; and 10th place - University of Alabama-Birmingham,
Tim Waits and Braxton Setzer, $300.
Of the daily incentive awards, Texas Tech's Coggan
received the daily Abu Garcia Big Bass $1,000 scholarship for
his 4.29 pounder. Arkansas' Kitajima and Drake were awarded the
Berkley Big Bag award receiving $1,500 in merchandise for today's
heaviest total catch.
For the heaviest bag of the entire tournament,
the American Rodsmiths Big Bag award of $500 went to Baylor for
Holland and Gass' 22.05-pound bag from yesterday.
Throughout the tournament the entire group of talented
anglers smashed all previous NCBFC records for numbers of fish
caught, heaviest limits and total weight. There were 622 bass
caught, including 69 limits, totaling 1,455.36 pounds.
The tournament was filmed extensively throughout
the week as part of the BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing
Championship television series that will air on Fox College Sports
and affiliated networks beginning in October. Check local listings
for air times.
The 2008 BoatU.S. NCBFC is sponsored by BoatU.S.,
BoatU.S. Angler, Ranger Boats, Cabela's, American Rodsmiths,
Anglers' Legacy, Abu Garcia, Aviva Fishin' Buddy, Berkley, Costa
Del Mar, EPIC Sports Video Cam, Falcon FTO tackle organizers,
Fenwick, Frogg Toggs, Garmin, Gemini Sport Marketing, Lago Vista
Lodge, Gene Larew Lures, MotorGuide, Power-Pole, Rapala's Fishing
Frenzy, Sebile, Sperry Top-Sider, Stearns, TruckVault, Witz Sportcases,
Yamaha, City of Lewisville, Sneaky Pete's Marina and Fox College
Sports.
Back to
Zeiner's Angler Supply | Kansas
Angler Online |
Swim Tail Lures
|
|
|