National Championship Banquet

The banquet gets underway as Day 1 nears for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

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The banquet gets underway as Day 1 nears for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. But first, time to look at the goods all the College Series anglers will walk away with tonight.
The banquet gets underway as Day 1 nears for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. But first, time to look at the goods all the College Series anglers will walk away with tonight.
Carhartt has all sorts of gear here for the anglers.
Carhartt has all sorts of gear here for the anglers.
A little sun protection.
A little sun protection.
Carhartt really rolled out the red carpet this week.
Carhartt really rolled out the red carpet this week.
A full spread including...
A full spread including…
some stylish new Carhartt Force tees and...
some stylish new Carhartt Force tees and…
the Carhartt Mandan, perfect for on the water.
the Carhartt Mandan, perfect for on the water.
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Another look at the brand new Force tees.
Another look at the brand new Force tees.
Styling a brand new Carhartt logo. These will be available for purchase soon on Carhartt's site.
Styling a brand new Carhartt logo. These will be available for purchase soon on Carhartt’s site.
Anglers will also walk away with Carhartt shorts.
Anglers will also walk away with Carhartt shorts.
A little Toyota swag.
A little Toyota swag.
Nice hats...
Nice hats…
and always remember, it pays to pull your boat to local tournament with a Toyota.
and always remember, it pays to pull your boat to local tournament with a Toyota.
Yamaha also handing out gear to the anglers...
Yamaha also handing out gear to the anglers…
and making sure we are all aware of conservation efforts.
and making sure we are all aware of conservation efforts.
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Sign up to do your part.
Sign up to do your part.
More info on conservation efforts.
More info on conservation efforts.
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Minn Kota with a Talon on display.
Minn Kota with a Talon on display.
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Several other products and accessories from Minn Kota and Humminbird.
Several other products and accessories from Minn Kota and Humminbird.
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One of the new Onix units from Humminbird on display. Humminbird had a Lake Master chart built specifically for this event after finding out there was a shortage of mapping for Lake DuBay.
One of the new Onix units from Humminbird on display. Humminbird had a Lake Master chart built specifically for this event after finding out there was a shortage of mapping for Lake DuBay.
And the tech guru Bill Carson here to show the anglers how to operate the Onix.
And the tech guru Bill Carson here to show the anglers how to operate the Onix.
Pure Fishing also on hand to supply anglers with all they'll need on the water.
Pure Fishing also on hand to supply anglers with all they’ll need on the water.
Berkley Havoc baits available for the collegiate teams.
Berkley Havoc baits available for the collegiate teams.
Abu Garcia has both baitcasters...
Abu Garcia has both baitcasters…
and spinning reels on display.
and spinning reels on display.
Iron Silk goes out to all anglers as well.
Iron Silk goes out to all anglers as well.
Costa on hand.
Costa on hand.
Costa decals...
Costa decals…
and accessories for everyone.
and accessories for everyone.
Lowrance has their Insight Genesis program open to the anglers.
Lowrance has their Insight Genesis program open to the anglers.
To help the competitors catch more and bigger fish this week, Lowrance users in Wisconsin used GoFree’s Insight Genesis lake-mapping service to community-source a high-definition chart of Lake Du Bay, with contours down to one foot. The red lines you see overlaid on the map show the hundreds of individual trails local anglers made while recording the sonar data that was aggregated with Insight Genesis to create the map.
To help the competitors catch more and bigger fish this week, Lowrance users in Wisconsin used GoFree’s Insight Genesis lake-mapping service to community-source a high-definition chart of Lake Du Bay, with contours down to one foot. The red lines you see overlaid on the map show the hundreds of individual trails local anglers made while recording the sonar data that was aggregated with Insight Genesis to create the map.
Lowrance with a full spread this week.
Lowrance with a full spread this week.
Several units on display.
Several units on display.
Provided by Lowrance to all National Championship competitors who requested it, the Premium Insight Genesis map of Lake DuBay features both a bottom-hardness layer (pictured) and a submerged vegetation-location layer. The bottom-hardness layer shows anglers the location, size and shape of fish-holding hard-bottom to soft-bottom transition areas – dark red areas are the hardest bottom; the orange area indicates the next hardest bottom; tan is the next hardest bottom; and pale yellow shows the softest-bottom areas.
Provided by Lowrance to all National Championship competitors who requested it, the Premium Insight Genesis map of Lake DuBay features both a bottom-hardness layer (pictured) and a submerged vegetation-location layer. The bottom-hardness layer shows anglers the location, size and shape of fish-holding hard-bottom to soft-bottom transition areas – dark red areas are the hardest bottom; the orange area indicates the next hardest bottom; tan is the next hardest bottom; and pale yellow shows the softest-bottom areas.
The Premium Insight Genesis map of Lake DuBay features both a vegetation-location layer (pictured) and a bottom-hardness layer. The vegetation layer shows where the lake’s submerged vegetation is growing, making it easy for anglers to locate deep weedlines and grass on flats and humps.
The Premium Insight Genesis map of Lake DuBay features both a vegetation-location layer (pictured) and a bottom-hardness layer. The vegetation layer shows where the lake’s submerged vegetation is growing, making it easy for anglers to locate deep weedlines and grass on flats and humps.
Submerged vegetation is mapped out in green (of course) and overlaid on top of the map's one-foot, blue-scaled depth contours — light blue indicates shallower water; dark blue, deeper water.
Submerged vegetation is mapped out in green (of course) and overlaid on top of the map’s one-foot, blue-scaled depth contours — light blue indicates shallower water; dark blue, deeper water.
Always cool to see these flags made for the National Championship.
Always cool to see these flags made for the National Championship.
Special thanks to all the fine partners who make college fishing what it is today.
Special thanks to all the fine partners who make college fishing what it is today.
The mac daddy of them all for college fishing, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Champion's trophy.
The mac daddy of them all for college fishing, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Champion’s trophy.
And then the next step, this plaque goes to the last remaining angler standing at the end of the week. That angler will move on to the Bassmaster Classic.
And then the next step, this plaque goes to the last remaining angler standing at the end of the week. That angler will move on to the Bassmaster Classic.
Dinner will be served shortly.
Dinner will be served shortly.
Quite an impressive setup.
Quite an impressive setup.
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Desert first, the only way to go.
Desert first, the only way to go.
Time to bring the anglers in.
Time to bring the anglers in.
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Yamaha's Dave Ittner chats with anglers as they make their way through.
Yamaha’s Dave Ittner chats with anglers as they make their way through.
Lots of choices.
Lots of choices.
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Loaded down.
Loaded down.
On one side of the table, the collegiate anglers.
On one side of the table, the collegiate anglers.
On the other side, industry leaders. A great opportunity for both sides of the sport to meet and work together to keep moving the industry forward. A few anglers in this room will make their way onto the Elite Series but several more will make an impact by moving to the other side of this table and helping move these great companies forward.
On the other side, industry leaders. A great opportunity for both sides of the sport to meet and work together to keep moving the industry forward. A few anglers in this room will make their way onto the Elite Series but several more will make an impact by moving to the other side of this table and helping move these great companies forward.
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Carhartt gear for all.
Carhartt gear for all.
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The anglers continue through.
The anglers continue through.
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The Pure Fishing booth is visible for a quick pic, but not for long as anglers roll through.
The Pure Fishing booth is visible for a quick pic, but not for long as anglers roll through.
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Time for a little entertainment in the form of last years Carhartt College Series TV shows.
Time for a little entertainment in the form of last years Carhartt College Series TV shows.
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One member of last year's National Championship team, Jake Whitaker, watches the show with a little nostalgia.
One member of last year’s National Championship team, Jake Whitaker, watches the show with a little nostalgia.
One highlight from years passed, the rat bite from 2013 on Lake Chatuge.
One highlight from years passed, the rat bite from 2013 on Lake Chatuge.
That bite won the 2013 National Championship for AUM.
That bite won the 2013 National Championship for AUM.
Anglers take a hard look at the National Championship trophies.
Anglers take a hard look at the National Championship trophies.
The staff go over a few last minute details.
The staff go over a few last minute details.
Time to eat some cheese curds, we are in Wisconsin after all.
Time to eat some cheese curds, we are in Wisconsin after all.
Time to put your head down and eat.
Time to put your head down and eat.
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You got to wear a lot of hats in the college fishing industry.
You got to wear a lot of hats in the college fishing industry.
The crew that makes all this happen.
The crew that makes all this happen.
College fishing isn't just for the boys.
College fishing isn’t just for the boys.
Time for a quick pic.
Time for a quick pic.
Also time to eat.
Also time to eat.
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Tournament Manager Hank Weldon welcomes the anglers.
Tournament Manager Hank Weldon welcomes the anglers.
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Mayor Mike Wiza also welcomes all the anglers.
Mayor Mike Wiza also welcomes all the anglers.
B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Director Jon Stewart speaks to the anglers.
B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Director Jon Stewart speaks to the anglers.
Time to recognize the Regional Champions from this year. First up, Southern Regional Champions from Daytona State, Thomas and James Oltorik.
Time to recognize the Regional Champions from this year. First up, Southern Regional Champions from Daytona State, Thomas and James Oltorik.
John Ledet and Justin Coooper of Northwestern State University won the Central Regional.
John Ledet and Justin Coooper of Northwestern State University won the Central Regional.
Alex Frazier and Austin Neary of Western Carolina University, your Eastern Regional Champs.
Alex Frazier and Austin Neary of Western Carolina University, your Eastern Regional Champs.
Justin Brown and Brandon Bissell of Northern Michigan University, Midwestern Regional Champions.
Justin Brown and Brandon Bissell of Northern Michigan University, Midwestern Regional Champions.
Kyle Sittman and Laj Tripp of Eastern Washington University, Western Regional Champs.
Kyle Sittman and Laj Tripp of Eastern Washington University, Western Regional Champs.
And last but not least, Wallace State's Joshua Butts and Justin Rivers who took the top honors in College Wild Card.
And last but not least, Wallace State’s Joshua Butts and Justin Rivers who took the top honors in College Wild Card.
Also noteworthy, the defending National Champions from UNC Charlotte are back together again. Jake Whitaker and Andrew Helms double qualified for this year's National Championship.
Also noteworthy, the defending National Champions from UNC Charlotte are back together again. Jake Whitaker and Andrew Helms double qualified for this year’s National Championship.
Carhartt's Tim Humes steps to the podium as the nights keynote speaker.
Carhartt’s Tim Humes steps to the podium as the nights keynote speaker.
Humes, the Senior Brand Manager of Strategic Marketing Partnerships, had wise words for all the anglers in attendance.
Humes, the Senior Brand Manager of Strategic Marketing Partnerships, had wise words for all the anglers in attendance.
Humes spoke of the hard work it takes to make it to the top of the Carhartt College Series and the appeal the work ethic needed to succeed has in garnering Carhartt's partnership with B.A.S.S. in support of collegiate fishing. Humes left the anglers with a spin off of the Carhartt slogan, Out Work them All. Wishing the anglers good luck, Humes concluded with
Humes spoke of the hard work it takes to make it to the top of the Carhartt College Series and the appeal the work ethic needed to succeed has in garnering Carhartt’s partnership with B.A.S.S. in support of collegiate fishing. Humes left the anglers with a spin off of the Carhartt slogan, Out Work them All. Wishing the anglers good luck, Humes concluded with “Out fish them all.”