North Alabama Knows the Importance of the Collegiate Big Bass Bash

By Cody Levy

The University of North Alabama Bass Team is no stranger to hard work and success in the world of college fishing. Standing as the reigning two-time Cabela’s School of the Year, the UNA Lions are once again on the hunt for their third consecutive Cabela’s School of the Year title, and they know exactly how they plan to get it.

The 2016 Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash Presented by Berkley is the first of three Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series events and are the only events throughout the season that count for double points towards the Cabela’s School of the Year. UNA Senior and Team Vice President, Andrew Tate shed a little light on how he and the rest of the team plan to once again gain control of this year’s Cabela’s School of the Year rankings.

“We’re definitely going to be sending a lot of teams to the Big Bass Bash this year. It’s important to do well at the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series events to stay in the hunt for the Cabela’s School of the Year. The points you can gain at these events are crucial and especially at the Big Bass Bash. This is the season opener and it’s important to start it off right,” said Tate.

The Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash Presented by Berkley offers anglers a different style tournament that focuses on one big bite rather than five and mental strategy, which the UNA Senior can only enjoy at this event.

“I like that there’s no pressure to have five quality bites,” said Tate. “It’s different in that you can kind of relax in this format and there seems to be less pressure. I can slow down and focus on getting one big bite and I really like this style format. It’s nothing but strategy and you can win just off of beating somebody else’s strategy.”

This is a year that UNA looks forward to, not only in tournaments and events, but within the club as well. Leaving a legacy for future generation club members has been a key moral that the upperclassmen of the team have wanted to instill and this year, they feel as though their plan is gaining traction.

“We’re pumped about this season. We have a lot of new young guys that are excited, smart, and eager to learn,” said Tate. “Not a lot of guys say they want to get beat by freshmen, but personally I wouldn’t hate to see any of these guys beat me just to know that once I leave from the club, it will be in good hands.”

When asked about the team’s preparation and enthusiasm for the 2016 Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash Presented by Berkley, Tate stated that “our whole team looks forward to this event. Some teams look forward to a certain circuit or event, but I think that the whole team really looks forward to the Big Bass Bash every year and Paris, Tennessee and the hospitality that we find at this event just makes us keep coming back every year.”

To register for the 2016 Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash Presented by Berkley and to get in on the opportunity to win hundreds of Cabela’s School of the Year points, click HERE.

About the ACA

The Association of Collegiate Anglers, a division of Careco TV, is a sanctioning body developed to facilitate growth, development, and structure within competitive collegiate bass fishing. The ACA provides support to dozens of school operated regional events nationwide and owns the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, the largest participatory collegiate tournament circuit in the country. With dedicated collegiate fishing programming on several television networks, three nationally televised collegiate bass fishing events, and thousands of members, the ACA is the leader in competitive collegiate bass fishing. For more information on the ACA, or the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com. For more information on Cabela’s visit Cabelas.com, for more information on CarecoTV, visit www.carecotv.com.