The Collegiate Bass Anglers Association (CBAA), the governing body for collegiate bass fishing, has announced its first sanctioned tournament program and has formally recognized the official national championship event.
Getting the non-profit organization's nod of approval is the Fox College Sports National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship (NCBFC).
"We have reviewed the NCBFC program and are satisfied it meets our standards for a quality collegiate bass fishing program,"said Troy Heckaman, CBAA commissioner. "We are also naming its championship tournament as the nation's premiere event for determining the top college fishing team in the country each year."
The announcement is good news for the NCBFC program because the tournament's organizers have already committed to a second championship date and location, a number of regional tournaments leading up to it, and an extended television broadcast schedule for college bass fishing in 2007 with the Fox College Sports network.
"We've been around tournament anglers and fishing TV programs for many years now," said Wade Middleton, host of the NCBFC television series that is in its fifth week of airing. "But I can't think of any group of anglers that has been more fun to work with or more excited about the sport than these young men and women. They are bright, polite and well-spoken, serving as great role models for fishing and America's youth."
The current 2007 television series features the 24 schools and 41 teams that competed in last year's national championship event held on Lake Lewisville near Ft. Worth, Texas. The 2007 championship returns to the same lake, Sept. 27 - 29, with Sneaky Pete's Marina serving as the launch and weigh-in site. The 2007 championship field is expected to number 100 two person teams from 40 schools nationwide.
Prior to the championship, several tournaments affiliated with the NCBFC are being held across the country and will be filmed for next year's television series. Included among them are the North Carolina State Invitational and the Big Ten Classic in March, and the Alabama Invitational in April. For entry information on each, and to learn about additional tournaments on the calendar, visit collegiatebass.org.
Other colleges and universities interested in hosting a bass tournament this year and having it filmed as part of the NCBFC series are invited to contact Careco MultiMedia by calling (210) 697-8081.
Participation in the 2007 championship is open to college students who are currently enrolled in a school-recognized fishing team or club. A school may send up to three teams of two contestants each. Registration starts on March 15, 2007, and the first 100 eligible teams will be accepted. Registration can be completed online at www.foxcollegesports.com, under the bass fishing section.
The NCBFC television series can be seen on Fox College Sports network each Wednesday at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern times. Shows that have already aired can be viewed any time at OutdoorAction.com
The Fox College Sports NCBFC series is made possible by a number of national sponsors, including: BoatUS, Ranger Boats, Garmin, Evinrude, Cabela's, Minn Kota, Costa Del Mar, Anglers' Legacy, American Rodsmiths, Keelshield, Nemire Lures, Sebile, and Yozuri.