215 College Fishing Teams Set to Compete in AFTCO Open at Lake Dardanelle
RUSSELLVILLE, AR (October 8, 2021) – The 2021 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open at Lake Dardanelle is set to begin bright and early tomorrow morning. Over 420 of the nation’s top collegiate anglers will be competing in this no-entry fee event for over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. This weekend’s nationally televised event promises to be a great kickoff to the newest season of the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series.
Tournament Details
When: October 9-10, 2021
Where: Lake Dardanelle-Russellville, AR
Coverage: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Website
Watch: Outdoor Action TV
**Live weigh-in will be streamed each day on Outdoor Action TV
– Saturday, October 9th at 3:00 PM
– Sunday, October 10th at 1:00 PM
Lake Dardanelle is setting up to be in full fall form when competition begins tomorrow. Though temperatures are unseasonably warm for central Arkansas this time of year, the fish are pushed up shallow and feeding up for the upcoming winter months.
Anglers have been reporting catching good numbers of fish across the expansive Arkansas River fishery of Lake Dardanelle. Year in and year out, anglers find success using a variety of baits around the abundant shallow cover that litters the shoreline. Look for crank baits, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and soft plastics to catch a majority of the fish.
The main storyline to keep an eye on will be the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Adrian College enters with a commanding lead, being trailed by Auburn University in 2nd, and McKendree University in 3rd.
The AFTCO Open is the first ACA double points event of the 2021-2022 season. First place will earn 1,250 points, and schools will be awarded points for their highest two finishing teams inside of the Top 125.
9 of the Top 10 and 16 of the Top 25 ranked teams will be competing in the AFTCO Open. Read about the latest School of the Year update.
Live coverage of the event will begin tomorrow morning. Takeoff will be streamed to Facebook as the 200 plus boat field files out onto Lake Dardanelle. The live blog will also begin before sunrise, and run up until weigh-in begins. Weigh-in for each day will be streamed live on Outdoor Action TV, with Saturday beginning at 3:00 PM and Sunday at 1:00 PM.
