Selecting the right university can be stressful as your choice will profoundly affect your adult life, especially when you enter the job market.
While academic reputation, campus life, and career preparation are essential factors to consider, did you know that many colleges and universities have fishing teams?
These educational institutions are perfect for hardcore anglers. Many offer scholarships to anglers and allow them to participate in collegiate competitions, paving the way to becoming professional anglers.
Here are the top 25 colleges with fishing teams that you should know
1. University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL
The University of Montevallo was ranked number in collegiate fishing programs. The team honed its skills at the University of Montevallo Lake, which is near Calera. This freshwater lake is popular for largemouth bass and redear sunfish fishing. So, if you want to become a pro angler, this should be your university of choice.
2. Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Auburn University has a bass fishing team that won the Major League Fishing’s Southeastern Conference School of the Year. It defeated the University of Montevallo by five points to win this coveted title.
3. McKendree University, Lebanon, IL
Located in Lebanon, McKendree University is merely 30 minutes from St. Louis, MO. It provides interested students with bass fishing opportunities and also has scholarships for deserving students. The scholarship amount ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 annually. The university covers all the expenses when students go for angling competitions, including hotel stays and meals.
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4. Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, TN
Carson-Newman University’s home lake is Carlyle Lake. The university has its own angling team that often takes part in invitationals hosted by other universities across the Midwest. The university’s fishing program ensures that every angler on the team participates in at least five tournaments annually. Each angler recruited by the university is eligible to receive a fishing scholarship of up to $3,000.
5. Adrian College, Adrian, MI
In August 2021, Adrian College claimed a national championship for bass fishing. The competition was held at St. Lawrence River. It has a full-fledged fishing team and comprises several anglers. The university offers fishing scholarships to recruited students.
6. Drury University, Springfield, MO
In March 2021, the Drury University’s fishing team won the Abu Garcia College Fishing at Grand Lake. The bass fishing team of the college won this tournament for the first time. It made them eligible to compete as pros for the 2021 Toyota Series Championship. The home lake of the team is the Lake of the Ozarks, which is renowned for its bass fishing opportunities.
7. Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, TX
The Dallas Baptist University’s fishing team won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing tournament at Lake Havasu in March 2022. It earned the team $2,000 as well as a place in the MLF College Fishing National Championship that is due to take place in 2023. The fishing team participates in all three collegiate bass fishing circuits, like the Boat US Association of College Anglers, FLW, and the College Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
8. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
The bass fishing team at the University of Tennessee is one of the top collegiate teams in the country. Since the Association of Collegiate Anglers has been awarding colleges points for competing in different qualifying events, the University of Tennessee has been among the top 25. That should give you an indication of how good the fishing team is.
9. Murray State University, Murray, KY
At Murray State University, there are numerous fishing opportunities that will have avid anglers running outside. Anglers can go fishing at The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Also, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are merely 30 minutes drive from the campus.
10. Blue Mountain College, Blue Mountain, MS
In May 2020, Blue Mountain College bass fishing team was ranked 11th for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year, which was presented by Abu Garcia. The fishing team has not been around for very long but it has already established a reputation of being among the top-performing teams.
11. East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, TX
East Texas Baptist University bass fishing team won the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic held at Eagle Mountain Lake in June 2021. In 2019, the team was named Southern Conference School of the Year. In December 2020, the team made history when it won the FLW Tackle Warehouse School of the Year.
12. Tarleton State, Stephenville, TX
In 2019, the Tarleton State bass fishing team was ranked first in Texas and 15th in the country. In October 2020, the team participated in the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open. It was ranked first in the competition. It was one of the highest-ranking bass fishing clubs in 2020-2021 in the Association of Collegiate Anglers Bass Pro Shops School of the Year. In April 2021, it was the second-ranked club in Texas.
13. University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
The University of Alabama bass fishing participates in most major competitions, such as Cartharrt Bassmaster College Series, B.A.S.S. Nation Alabama College Series, and MLF Abu Garcia College Series. In March 2019, the club won the YETI FLW College Fishing tournament held on Lake Guntersville and won a place in the FLW College Fishing National Championship in 2020.
14. Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, GA
Emmanuel College bass fishing team was among the top 20 teams at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship held in August 2021. The team won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing in January 2022 and this won it $2,000 and a place in the MLF College Fishing National Championship in 2023.
15. Bryan College, Dayton, TN
2022 has been a lucky year for the Bryan College bass fishing team. The team has multiple top 20 finishes in different competitions, including at Lake Guntersville and MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing. In 2020, the fishing club won the Bassmaster National Championship which was a repeat of their feat in 2017.
16. Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR
Arkansas Tech University fishing club started out small but has transformed into a large team of anglers who share the love for angling. In 2019, the club won the YETI FLW College Fishing, and then in November 2020, it participated in the ACS Championship on Millwood Lake along with 27 other teams and won it. It is now among the top 20 collegiate fishing clubs in the US.
17. Wabash Valley College, Mt Carmel, IL
Wabash Valley College has to be commended for its fishing club. While nearly all the other collegiate fishing clubs are into bass fishing, Wabash Valley College fishing club also has a fly fishing club besides the bass fishing club. This has helped the club attract highly talented anglers to its programs.
18. Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA
Angling lovers began to notice the Georgia College & State University fishing club during the 2019-2020 season. Although a young team, it made it to the top 20 bass fishing clubs in the country. It participates in all championship events as well as invitational and qualifying events. It is presently ranked number one team in Georgia.
19. Bethel University, McKenzie, TN
Bethel University has the distinction of being the first university in the US to offer scholarships to students who want to be part of its bass fishing club. Today, the team is among the top 20 bass fishing clubs in the US. The club considers the Kentucky Lake its home lake and this freshwater lake is teeming with largemouth bass, crappie, redear, white bass, catfish, and bluegill.
20. Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY
Campbellsville University has two fishing clubs. One is the bass fishing club and the recently started kayak bass fishing club. Its team has managed to qualify for the MLF National Championship slated for 2023. Renegade Marine & Outdoor Center is the major sponsor of the fishing club.
21. Louisiana State University – Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
Louisiana State University – Shreveport bass fishing club has been around for a long time and has the reputation of having a highly competitive fishing club. LSUS has won most of the major championships at some point or the other and hence, it is always successful in attracting talented anglers to its programs.
22. Stephen F. Austin, Nacogdoches, TX
Stephen F. Austin has the distinction of having 31 lakes within its vicinity. Some of the lakes are merely 30 minutes from the campus. These lakes are replete with white bass, black bass, and catfish. The bass fishing team won the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship in March 2020 after it won the same championship for the first time in 2006.
23. Lander University, Greenwood, SC
Lander University bass fishing club is among the top 25 Abu Garcia’s Bass Pro Shops School of the Year. The club offers scholarships to recruit team members, who are interested in becoming pro anglers. Its bass fishing team has qualified for the 2023 MLF National Championship after it stood 14th out of 219 teams.
24. Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA
Anglers can experience the river, lake, bayou, and gulf fishing when they join the Louisiana Tech University bass fishing club. The team travels for different tournaments, including FLW, Bassmaster, ACA. The fishing club has its own tournaments in lakes and rivers. It welcomes anglers of all experience levels.
25. Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory, NC
Although the bass fishing club is in its infancy, Catawba Valley Community College has been creating waves. The Catawba Valley Community College fishing program is among the top 100 based on the latest ACA rankings. The bass fishing club finished the 2020-21 season among the top 20 ranked clubs in the US.
In Conclusion
These are the top 25 colleges with fishing teams. If you are an avid angler and are also looking for outstanding education, these are the colleges that should be at the top of your list.
You can also check out the complete list of all 188 fishing colleges for the season here. Some of the fishing colleges mentioned in the list are: University of Wisconsin-Madison Fishing Team, Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX), University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC), Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI).
FAQ
Who is the best college fishing team?
This is subjective and can vary based on individual opinions and competition results. However, the University of Montevallo fishing team has a strong reputation and is often considered one of the best college fishing teams.
How long has college fishing been around?
College fishing has been around since the late 1990s, when the first collegiate bass fishing tournament was held. Since then, the sport has continued to grow and has become an officially recognized collegiate sport in many states.
Does LSU have a fishing team?
Yes, LSU has a fishing team that competes in collegiate fishing tournaments. The team is part of the LSU Club Sports program and provides students with an opportunity to participate in a fun and competitive sport.
