Carson-Newman hosts Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Eastern Regional

(May 9, 2017) – Carson-Newman University and the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County will co-host with B.A.S.S., the world’s largest fishing organization, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Eastern Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops, May 11-13, on Cherokee Lake.

Presented by Bass Pro Shops, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series pits teams of college anglers against one another for cash and prizes. The winner also earns an invitation to compete with professional fishers in the $1 million GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

The College Series consists of regional tournaments in five conferences: Southern, Eastern, Midwestern, Western and Central. More than 150 boats are expected to compete in the College Series Eastern Regional this weekend.

Carson-Newman will field a team from its recently University chartered club. Sophomores Tristan Stalsworth and Hunter Sales, both of whom fished competitively as Grainger County High School students, will be included in the weekend contest.

In the qualifying event, two-person teams will try to catch the heaviest five-bass limits on each of the three competition days. The top 21 teams advance to the College Series National Championship. From there, the top four teams from the National Championship will qualify for the Classic Bracket event, where each angler competes individually for a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.

The College Series has become proving grounds for future Elite Series pros, including Dustin Connell, who recently posted his first championship win, and brothers Matt and Jordan Lee.

Connell says his Bassmaster College Series was invaluable.

“Having the opportunity to grow and test my tournament prowess at the college level was essential to preparing to fish fulltime at the top level,” Connell said. “I’d say to every college angler out there that ‘You can do this, also. If you have a dream to be a professional bass angler, it starts with entering tournaments at the high school level, and continuing on in the Bassmaster College Series.’”

Boats launch from the TVA Boat Ramp near Cherokee Lake Dam Thursday to Saturday at 6:30 a.m. The final weigh-in at Carson-Newman University is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. All activities and venues are free and open to the public.

A schedule of activities planned throughout the weekend at the Bassmaster College Series Eastern Regional include:

Schedule of Events
*All times are tentative

Thursday, May 11

• 6:30 a.m. Anglers launch on Cherokee Lake. Public launch viewing is available each day from the Cherokee Lake Dam and TVA Boat Ramp (28095 North Hwy. 92, Jefferson City, Tennessee).

• 2:30 p.m. Official weigh-in takes place at the Cherokee Lake Dam and TVA Boat Ramp.

Friday, May 12

• 6:30 a.m. Anglers take off from the Cherokee Lake Dam and TVA Boat Ramp.

• 2:30 p.m. Official weigh-in takes place at the Cherokee Lake Dam and TVA Boat Ramp.

Saturday, May 13

• 6:30 a.m. The final take off will take place at the Cherokee Lake Dam and TVA Boat Ramp.

• 3:30 p.m. Final official weigh-in takes place on the campus of Carson-Newman University, at the intersection of George Avenue and Ken Sparks Way.