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The 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Tour schedule kicks off this week at famed Toledo Bend Reservoir in Many, Louisiana.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Toledo Bend County is the host and has been more than helpful with anything anglers and staff needed at the meeting venue on Wednesday.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Teams funneled through the line and got numerous coupons and plenty of goodies prior to the event.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Carhartt is entering it's 7th season as the title sponsor of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Teams came through and chose the size and color they desired.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Colors and sizes for all anglers as long as you registered on time.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Jon James with Dynamic Sponsorships has a talk with some of the Iowa State teams.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
And then explains the Toyota Bonus Bucks program. The Bonus Bucks program has made its way through every series and also gives college anglers incentive to run any kind of Toyota tow vehicle.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Bill Carson with Johnson Outdoors was there with Minn Kota gear as well as a Humminbird Solix unit. The unit showcased the map card for Toledo Bend and shows the detail incorporated.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Berkley sent two sizes and colors of lipless crankbaits, which are usually a great bait especially in the winter months. They had 3/4 oz and 1/2 oz sizes in their War Pig.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Those two colors are staples early in the year and especially in Louisiana and Texas.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
The record-setting field is battling for multiple things this week. 1st place will take home some money and hardware as well as 2nd and 3rd place. Big Bass will win a prize and teams will punch their ticket to the National Championship.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Abu Garcia also sent some hats in both visor and regular form.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Mossy Oak is a new sponsor of Bassmaster in 2018 and they sent koozies for anglers.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
After teams received the free gifts they lined up to present their fishing licenses and other important paperwork.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Nolan Minor and Casey Lanier of West Virginia sign the proper paperwork.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Every team was presented the official rules to look over and keep handy for rule clarity.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Over 270 teams pre-registered and roughly 240+ boats did indeed show up to compete this week.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Cole Burdeshaw is all smiles this week for Auburn University.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Tyler Anderson of Texas A&M has a famous YouTube channel called TylersReelFishing and is documenting his week for content.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
The 2017 Championship host school Bemidji State brought 4 teams from Minnesota to south Louisiana for the event.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Clemson came from South Carolina.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
And North Alabama made the drive across a few states as well.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
The reigning National Champions Jacob Foutz and Jake Lee showed up for this event with Bryan College. Foutz is fishing the Opens as well this year and will also make an appearance at the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods in March at Lake Hartwell.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Jerris Bush and Matt Pastino from my alma mater East Carolina showed up from 17 hours away.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Calhoun Community College is one of the better community colleges that competes in the College Series. They showed up from Alabama.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Meanwhile Central Florida had already registered and was taking a moment to shoot some pool while they waited.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
The meeting room filled up fast and eventually was standing room only.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Toledo Bend's host this week was more than gracious to the anglers and offered up some food incentives, which every college angler loves.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Hank Weldon proceeded with the meeting and went over rules, the launch process and how the event is formatted.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
One of the local schools, Northwestern State University was all ears.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
Three of the four teams that fished the College Classic Bracket last summer are in attendance, including Cole Floyd and Carter McNeil of Bethel University. Takeoff begins at 7 a.m. CT from Cypress Bend Park on Thursday through Saturday.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
