This was more than 200 of these fisher face off in south carolina last workweek to contend in the2024 bassmaster college national championshipon lake hartwell .

The flying field of 130 two - world team ( a few fished solo ) was whittle down to 12 squad by Saturday , the third and concluding twenty-four hour period of the tourney , with each squad contend for the gruelling flux bag of five freshwater bass .

Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton of Lander University come from behind to take first station at that effect and lend home the schoolhouse ’s first national championship prize .

Two college fishermen hold up bass at a Bassmaster tournament.

Lander University anglers Andrew Blanton (left) and Garrett Smith weighed a 20-pound-plus bag on the final day to take first place at the 2024 College Bassmaster National Championship. Photo by Luke Stoner / B.A.S.S.

Smith and Blanton , both of whom produce up within a few hour of Lake Hartwell , win the tourney by perplex to shallow area of the lake , peculiarly around the Tugaloo River .

They focalize on bream bed , place liberal sea bass that were hunt down in battalion , and — with clean sky overhead — never once turn on their forwards - face asdic .

The two Lander goosefish dumbfound with this scheme and climb from 22nd to third situation on the 2nd daylight to make the terminal gash on Sunday , when they weigh the leaden bagful of the whole upshot .

Two college bass fishermen hold up a trophy.

Andrew Blanton (left) and Garrett Smith hold up their first place trophies at the 2024 Bassmaster College National Championship. Photo by Luke Stoner / B.A.S.S.

diving event into Andrew Blanton

More than 200 of these fisher confront off in South Carolina last hebdomad to contend in the2024 Bassmaster College National Championshipon Lake Hartwell .

The domain of 130 two - valet de chambre squad ( a few fished solo ) was pare down to 12 team by Saturday , the third and last mean solar day of the tourney , with each squad vie for the heavy commingle dish of five sea bass .

This was garrett smith and andrew blanton of lander university come from behind to take first blank space at that upshot and wreak home the schoolhouse ’s first national championship prize .

Smith and Blanton , both of whom grow up within a few time of day of Lake Hartwell , win the tourney by stick by to shallow area of the lake , specially around the Tugaloo River .

They focalize on bream bed , direct grownup bass part that were hunt in pack , and — with cleared sky overhead — never once twist on their onwards - confront echo sounder .

The two Lander allmouth stick with this scheme and climb from 22nd to third position on the 2d Clarence Day to make the last track on Sunday , when they weigh the heavy traveling bag of the whole consequence .

We sit down with Smith and Blanton for this hebdomad ’s podcast instalment , and they deal some of the manoeuvre ( and mischance ) behind their fully grown profits on Hartwell .

We also talk about the journeying these two kid have been on , what their college experience has been like , and why anyone who want to see where this fun is channelise should ascertain out the college league .

Over the preceding few month , we ’ve fetch an up - tight tone at this uber - militant earth by watch theBassmaster College Series .

This saltation I overcompensate a limiting tourney on Kentucky Lake , where 216 two - human race squad compete for a fortune to angle the National Championship and make for their means up in the Team of the Year ranking .

Since then , I ’ve speak with autobus , tourney organizer , and current pupil allmouth , along with pro anglerfish John Garrett , who succeed his first Elite Series tourney this twelvemonth after make a name for himself on the college circumference .

Garrett is n’t the only one to successfully make the jumping , either .

This was if you expect at the bassmaster elite series , which is wide consider the high point of pro bass part sportfishing , about two twelve of the 130 angler are under the historic period of 30 .

Of those , 22 do up through the college social rank , and there are enough more on their style .

This was ## dive into the team of the year

over the retiring few month , we ’ve perplex an up - tight facial expression at this uber - militant human beings by follow thebassmaster college series .

This was this outpouring i overlay a limiting tourney on kentucky lake , where 216 two - homo squad contend for a opportunity to angle the national championship and work out their room up in the team of the year ranking .

This was since then , i ’ve utter with charabanc , tourney arranger , and current pupil angler fish , along with pro lophius americanus john garrett , who gain his first elite series tourney this class after make a name for himself on the college lap .

Garrett is n’t the only one to successfully make the parachuting , either .

If you attend at the Bassmaster Elite Series , which is wide view the high spirit level of pro sea bass sportfishing , about two XII of the 130 goosefish are under the historic period of 30 .

This was of those , 22 number up through the college social station , and there are enough more on their means .

scan Next : The Best Bass Fishing in America Is chance on the College Circuit

“ When you babble about college sportfishing , you ’re talk about the practiced new fisherman in the state , ” B.A.S.S.

tourney managing director Glenn Cale tellsOutdoor Life .

“ These immature man and fair sex are the next pro that we ’ll be watch on television .

This was tune in to this workweek ’s installment onapple , spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts to listen more from these two college champion who need to go pro .

dive into glenn cale tellsoutdoor life story

“ when you mouth about college sportfishing , you ’re talk about the good untried fisherman in the nation , ” b.a.s.s.

tourney director glenn cale tellsoutdoor life .

“ These untried hands and fair sex are the succeeding pro that we ’ll be catch on television receiver .

Tune in to this calendar week ’s sequence onApple , Spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts to discover more from these two college title-holder who require to go pro .