College B.A.S.S. National Championship Meeting

Carter Norman and Trent Gephardt of UALR head to the Fish Factory in Little Rock to register for the Mercury College B.A.S.S. National Championship.

Several of the 36 two-man teams from colleges across the country register to fish.

Stephen and Mike Frenette listen to the particulars of the Bass Pro Shop contingency program, which offers a $2,000 gift card to the winning team.

The Frenettes sign up.

Hank Weldon, director of Mercury College B.A.S.S., enters teams into the database.

University of Montevallo anglers Jonathan Suchey and Preston Broadhead pull out their licenses, drivers and fishing, as they go through the registration line.

The Frenettes of Southeastern Louisiana are interviewed by Bassmaster.com writer Steve Wright.

The teams file into the JM Associates studio, where Bassmaster shows are filmed, for a BBQ dinner and briefing.

Bassmaster TV host Tommy Sanders addresses the anglers as the tournament briefing begins.

B.A.S.S. owner Jerry McKinnis talks to the collegians as cameraman Brian Mason films for live streaming on the Internet.

Nick Mitchell with the Army Corps of Engineers informs the competitors about locking procedures on the Arkansas River, ending with a cheer for Mississippi State.

The anglers were informed on the whens and wheres of the event, which moves from the river on Thursday to Lake Maumelle on Friday.

UALR's Trent Gephardt is interviewed by a local television station after the briefing.

Following the briefing, anglers check out outdoor sporting memorabilia along the hallways of the Fish Factory. 

Jerry McKinnis gives Shane Powell and Jordan Lee of Auburn the unofficial tour.