Howell & Ellis from 17th Ranked Blue Mountain Christian University Win the Pickwick Slam

Paxton & Jerry from 12th ranked Adrian College take 2nd, and Zion & Brady with Purdue University finish in 3rd

Florence, AL (April 5, 2025) – Competition is complete at the third stop of the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, the Association of Collegiate Anglers’ historic 20th season.  270 plus teams competed in the no-entry-fee, nationally televised Pickwick Slam on Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL, which awarded over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Following close monitoring of the conditions and reports from both the National Weather Service and TVA, the ACA made the decision to cancel Day 2 of tournament competition at the Pickwick Slam, due to weather and current conditions projected to impact the area.  The Pickwick Slam was then shortened to a one-day event.

Chandler Hall & Clayton Ellis from 17th ranked Blue Mountain Christian University win the Pickwick Slam with a one-day weight of 25.54 pounds.  For winning the event, Chandler & Clayton earn a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, two Turtlebox Speakers, two Bajio Sunglasses, two Trailer Valet hitches, two 13 Fishing reels, $50 AFTCO gift card, and a Rapala tackle package.  The pair also claimed the ACA logo contingency, and T-H Marine Atlas Awards.  The first place finish also earns Blue Mountain Christian 1,750 points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Blue Mountain Christian University placed two teams in the Top 5 of the final tournament standings.  Those two top finishes earned them valuable points, the most of any school to compete in the Pickwick Slam, to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

View the final tournament standings.

Finishing the event in 2nd are Paxton Giem & Jerry Brumbaugh from 12th ranked Adrian College.  The duo weighed in 24.77 pounds to finish runner-up out of the more than 270 boat field.  By finishing in 2nd, Paxton & Jerry earn a $800 Bass Pro Shops gift card, two Bajio Sunglasses, two 13 Fishing reels, $50 AFTCO gift cards, and a Rapala tackle package.  The 2nd place pairing from Adrian College was the highest finishing G2 Gemini jersey wearing team, earning them that contingency bonus.

Like Blue Mountain Christian, Adrian College also placed two teams in the Top 5 at the Pickwick Slam.  They too will earn a large amount of points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Rounding out the Top 3 are Zion Dunaway & Brady Metzger from Purdue University.  They weighed in a five bass limit for 24.40 pounds. 3rd place received a $600 Bass Pro Shops gift card, two Bajio Sunglasses, two 13 Fishing reels, $50 AFTCO gift cards, and a Rapala tackle package.

The field of 270 plus teams found great success out on Pickwick Lake today.  Anglers reported the bass being in all three phases of the spawn.  Fish were caught along the main river channel, even to the backs of the creeks.  Pickwick Lake continued to produce quality weights, as a total of 22 limits over 20 pounds were brought to the scales.

Stay tuned to the ACA website, and social media pages, for in-depth breakdowns, feature articles, and video footage of the Pickwick Slam.  The ACA will update the points standings for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia this upcoming week, to include complete analysis of the newest rankings.

The ACA would like to thank the team at Visit the Shoals and Florence, AL for their assistance with the event this weekend, and great hospitality as a host site.