The 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Tour schedule kicks off this week at famed Toledo Bend Reservoir in Many, Louisiana.
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Toledo Bend County is the host and has been more than helpful with anything anglers and staff needed at the meeting venue on Wednesday.
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Teams funneled through the line and got numerous coupons and plenty of goodies prior to the event.
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Carhartt is entering it's 7th season as the title sponsor of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.
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Teams came through and chose the size and color they desired.
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Colors and sizes for all anglers as long as you registered on time.
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Jon James with Dynamic Sponsorships has a talk with some of the Iowa State teams.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Those two colors are staples early in the year and especially in Louisiana and Texas.
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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.
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Abu Garcia also sent some hats in both visor and regular form.
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Mossy Oak is a new sponsor of Bassmaster in 2018 and they sent koozies for anglers.
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After teams received the free gifts they lined up to present their fishing licenses and other important paperwork.
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Nolan Minor and Casey Lanier of West Virginia sign the proper paperwork.
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Every team was presented the official rules to look over and keep handy for rule clarity.
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Over 270 teams pre-registered and roughly 240+ boats did indeed show up to compete this week.
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Cole Burdeshaw is all smiles this week for Auburn University.
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Tyler Anderson of Texas A&M has a famous YouTube channel called TylersReelFishing and is documenting his week for content.
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The 2017 Championship host school Bemidji State brought 4 teams from Minnesota to south Louisiana for the event.
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Clemson came from South Carolina.
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And North Alabama made the drive across a few states as well.
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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.
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Jerris Bush and Matt Pastino from my alma mater East Carolina showed up from 17 hours away.
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Calhoun Community College is one of the better community colleges that competes in the College Series. They showed up from Alabama.
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Meanwhile Central Florida had already registered and was taking a moment to shoot some pool while they waited.
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The meeting room filled up fast and eventually was standing room only.
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Toledo Bend's host this week was more than gracious to the anglers and offered up some food incentives, which every college angler loves.
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Hank Weldon proceeded with the meeting and went over rules, the launch process and how the event is formatted.
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One of the local schools, Northwestern State University was all ears.
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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.
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