Lake Murray site of new collegiate fishing tournament

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Lake Murray will host competitive collegiate fishermen this summer in a new event organized by the Association of Collegiate Anglers and Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series.

The two-day fishing tournament will be held June 11-12, according to a news release from the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series.

Dreher Island State Park will be the site of tournament boat launches and weigh-ins.

The two-day big bass format event will count toward the 2020-2021 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year. Competing anglers will have several opportunities throughout the tournament to win a share of more than $15,000 in prizes and contingencies.

One of the longtime partners of the series, Pure Fishing, is headquartered in Columbia and offers a range of fishing-related products under several global brand names. Pure Fishing and its brands Berkley and Abu Garcia will be involved in the event and offer prizes to competitors.

“This is a very exciting time to be a part of college fishing, and this event on Lake Murray in South Carolina will add to our series of major events that we operate,” Wade Middleton, Association of Collegiate Anglers director, said in the release.

The ACA said it will be releasing additional information regarding the event in the coming months.

“Our community is uniquely qualified to host these events at our world-class fishery. It is vital to the future of the fishing industry and to outdoor recreation to offer these types of events to students to ensure the growth of the industry,” said Miriam Atria, president and CEO of Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

The Association of Collegiate Anglers is a tournament organization designed to develop and grow competitive bass fishing. Founded 15 years ago, the ACA evolved into the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series and is now the longest-running collegiate bass fishing series in existence, according to its website.