College: Yamaha Pro Night

Tuesday evening ended with a fun night for the 2017 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship participants. After the rules meeting, anglers were able to meet multiple Elite Series pros at the Yamaha Pro Night.

Before the fun festivities, anglers were briefed of the rules and regulations this week on Bemidji Lake.

After that competitors moved over to Paul Bunyan park, where the Yamaha Pro Night got started.

There were multiple stations where pros gave advice and answered questions from the college participants.

Dustin Connell, Elite Series Champion and former college angler at Alabama, talked to teams about how important it is to learn to catch bass. Not just asking for information or getting spots, but rather learning how a fishery sets up.

“Putting in the time will yield you more benefits than a quick phone call to a buddy or a local angler.”

Minnesota native Seth Feider had a group around him as well. Groups would rotate every 10 minutes. Feider just finished up with a 2nd place finish at Lake Champlain.

Feider offered insight on techniques and explained how good the fishing was in this state. With smallmouth and largemouth in Minnesota, their fisheries are often diverse.

Carhartt had a booth with clothing set up.

And they also brought in a special guest.

2017 Geico Bassmaster Classic Champion Jordan Lee talked to anglers about how he was in their shoes not long ago, but after winning the bracket he was able to quickly turn it into a pro career.

And only 3 years into his Elite Series career he hoisted the best trophy in the sport of bass fishing.

Jared Rascoe and Logan Laprarie, two Louisiana anglers survived the trek to the North Country and are looking for good finishes this week.

Minnesota native and Opens pro Josh Douglas hangs out at the Phoenix booth.

He carries a lot of knowledge of the steps needed to make the Elite Series. He has been close numerous times and has two Top 12’s this year in the Opens.

Shimano had a casting competition set up for the anglers.

They recorded the best times and the winner would receive a Shimano rod and reel combo.

Anglers from the south were feeling right at home.

It’s fitting that Yamaha had a booth going as they sponsored the awesome night that was full of seminars.

They had their outboards on display.

Boat maintenance was certainly on the docket at this station.

Josh Bertrand was hanging at the Berkley trailer and taught teams how he drop shots.

He’s one of the best anglers with that technique on the Elite Series so college anglers were listening closely.

Justin Lucas was hanging out around the Abu Garcia trailer and spoke about equipment.

It’s not all about the fanciest equipment, but rather what you can afford and learn with.

He asked the group how many wanted to fish professionally and then he told stories about how he started as a co-angler.

Bill Carson with Humminbird explain LakeMaster mapping and the new units.

Specifically the Solix units.

St. Croix also had a seminar ready for college anglers.

They’ve stepped up and created a scholar program to reward college teams and anglers.

The Top 89 teams in the nation will battle for the National Championship and bracket positioning, but first the final day of practice will take place on Wednesday.