26-Week Series to Air on Fox College Sports Starting January 2008
Over 100 Teams and Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC Conferences Represented
Collegiate Bass Fishing Grows at Rapid Pace

The nation’s largest consumer boating group, BoatUS, is going fishing again with the nation’s top collegiate anglers at the 2007 BoatUS National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, to be held this September 24-29 at Lake Lewisville, Texas. The three-day tournament, which draws teams from over 100 colleges and universities, is sponsored for a second year in a row by BoatUS Angler, a fishing safety, consumer advocacy and services program for freshwater, trailer-boat anglers. Fox College Sports will be sending a large production contingent with eight TV cameras to capture the event and is slated to air the 26-week series starting in January 2008.

The Championship is unique in the emerging field of televised college fishing tournaments because of its “open” format: every college or university that has a recognized fishing program is allowed to send up to two teams. According to the Collegiate Bass Anglers Association (CBAA), of all the schools that qualified for participation in this year’s event, 25 had started new fishing clubs since the televised airing of inaugural 2006 championship earlier this year. The CBAA sanctions the event as the “the sport's premier event for determining the national collegiate fishing champion.”

There is no entry fee for qualifying student athletes, and an on-site coaching team made up of top FLW and BASS touring pros is available to help the anglers with tips and advice. There is $35,000 in scholarship money is at stake and registration at http://www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com remains open until September 15, 2007.

“The championship’s open format epitomizes what college sports should be all about,” said Mike Pellerin, director of BoatUS Angler, “It’s truly the last competition where just about anyone has a chance to win.” For a list of participating schools, go to http://www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com/Schools.htm

Capt. Jay Nunnally, a TowBoatUS responder on Lake Lewisville, will offer on-the-water towing services throughout the event. Nunnally’s operation is part of the largest network of on-the-water towing services in the country, TowBoatUS, and is just one of the valuable services included with BoatUS Angler.

“At last year’s event just minutes into the start on day one we towed a fishing rig safely back to the ramp for a haul out to make repairs on a small hull leak,” said Pellerin. “They quickly got back in the action. We’ll be ready again this year if any team needs assistance,” he added.

Each college team of two students fishes with their own rig for the first two days, using their own gear. On the final day each team will compete using a fully rigged Ranger Boats Z-19 bass boat stocked with equipment from tournament sponsors. The tournament’s base is Sneaky Pete’s Marina.

BoatUS Angler is service of the nation’s largest association of recreational boaters whose mission is to protect the interests of boat-owning freshwater anglers, increase boating safety, provide consumer assistance and ensure fishing remains worry-free. For more information, go to http://www.BoatUSAngler.com or call (866) 906-0013.