College Bass Tournament Season Destinations Announced by ACA

The Association of Collegiate Anglers, in conjunction with the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2020-2021 season which features an added regular-season event and a new location for the 2021 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Here is the full schedule:

Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley - September 19-20, 2020: Kentucky Lake – Paris, TN

AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open - October 10-11, 2020: Lake Dardanelle – Russellville, AR

Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley - March 13-14, 2021: Kentucky Lake – Paris, TN

Pickwick Slam - April 10-11, 2021: Pickwick Lake – Florence, AL

BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops - May 26-27, 2021: Lake Murray – South Carolina

The fall portion of the 2020-2021 schedule will consist of the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley and the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.  Each of these two events have been staples on the Bass Pro shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series for many years.  Both fisheries, Kentucky Lake & Lake Dardanelle, provide an elite playing field for college fishing’s best anglers to duel it out for valuable points towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the year presented by Abu Garcia.  Registration for both the Big Bass Bash and AFTCO Open is now open.  Click here to register!

Spring of 2021 will feature two regular-season events before the year-end Championship in May.  The 2021 Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley is scheduled to take place March 13-14 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, TN.  Following its annual format, the Big Bass Bash will be a two-day, big bass format event consisting of four weigh-in sessions every two hours for both days of competition.

Leading up to the conclusion of the season in May, the Pickwick Slam will be the final regular-season event on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series for the 2020-2021 season.  This double points-earning event will be held on Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL April 10-11, 2021.  The 2021 Pickwick Slam will mark the first time in approximately 10 years that the ACA has fished this particular body of water during the spring months.  April should provide prime fish-catching conditions for anglers to bring plenty of 20+ pound limits to the stage at McFarland Park in Florence.

To round out the year, the ACA will head to Lake Murray in South Carolina to conclude the season with the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.  A National Champion will be crowned, and the ACA will award the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia following the final day of tournament competition.  Lake Murray will offer a new backdrop for college fishing’s most prestigious event of the year.  Blue herring, clear water, and spotted bass will greet the anglers when they pull up to the shores of Lake Murray.  Look for the 2021 Championship to be an exciting end to the 2020-2021 season!

Championship qualification criteria will follow the same outline from previous seasons.  For each ACA event a given school competes in, they will receive one (1) boat entry into the 2021 Championship, up to a maximum of three (3) boats from a total of three ACA events fished.  All teams ranked in the Top 25 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia will earn a total of four (4) entries into the Championship at Lake Murray.  Additional qualification criteria will include the Top 5 bonus entry.  For any two-person or single angler team from a school that finishes in the Top 5 at the AFTCO Open or Pickwick Slam, that exact team will qualify for the 2021 Championship, and will not count against their school’s overall total.