FLW College fishing is coming to Sam Rayburn, Jan 24, 2015. The Rayburn tournament is just one of 21 different bass tournaments held at different places through the year across the U.S. Participating schools are grouped together by areas. For example the Sam Rayburn Tournament is in the Southern Conference. Other FLW tournaments in the Southern Conference include Lake Texoma, Red River and the Conference Championship at Grand Lake, Oklahoma.
To better accommodate growing demand, FLW will no longer restrict field sizes at qualifying events. Participation is also being opened to full-time graduate students at four-year colleges and full-time undergraduate students at community colleges. Previously participation was limited to full-time undergraduate students at four-year colleges and fields were limited to 50 boats.
Each FLW College Fishing conference will host three qualifying tournaments and a Conference Championship (previously called an Invitational), except for the Western Conference, which will host two qualifying tournaments and a Conference Championship in 2015.
“This change, along with opening the fields, is intended to help cut travel costs for Western Conference teams, many of which have to travel substantially more miles than teams in other divisions to have representation in three tournaments,” said Kevin Hunt, FLW College Fishing Tournament Director.
The top 15 teams from each qualifier will advance to a Conference Championship. From there the top 10 teams will advance to the 2016 FLW College Fishing National Championship, and one member of the national championship team will ultimately advance to the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup for a shot at winning $500,000 – the biggest payday in bass fishing. To determine who punches his or her ticket to the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup, the national champions will fish head-to-head on an undisclosed body of water the day after the 2016 National Championship is complete. They will switch from teammates to opponents for a final winner-take-all showdown that pays a minimum of $10,000 as a Forrest Wood Cup qualifier.
In a move that mirrors recent changes on the Walmart FLW Tour, FLW College Fishing anglers will wear their own jerseys at the 2015 National Championship and going forward, greatly enhancing the value that each team’s local sponsors receive.
Registration for the 2015 season opens Dec. 15, 2014, for teams from clubs represented in the 2014 FLW College Fishing National Championship. All other teams may register beginning Dec. 16, 2014. Teams can register at CollegeFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000. Teams fishing the 2015 FLW College Fishing National Championship will receive a travel allowance based on the distance traveled to the event, but all other travel allowances have been discontinued. There are no entry fees in FLW College Fishing tournaments. Phones are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday.
College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or university and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.
Visit CollegeFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.