FLW College Fishing Tourney in Hartwell Saturday
It should be perfect weather for this weekend’s college fishing tournament in Hartwell.
FLW College Fishing is headed to Lake Hartwell Saturday for the third and final regular-season stop in the Southeastern Conference.
Over 100 college students from 45 colleges and universities across the South will be competing in teams of two.
Locally, Ross Dove of Royston and Richie Young of Dallas, Ga will compete for Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs.
Teams will be competing for a top award of $2,000 and a berth in the Southeastern Conference Championship tournament.
“There’s going to be a few different options for anglers on Lake Hartwell this time of year,” said Walmart FLW Tour pro and reigning Forrest Wood Cup champion Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, South Carolina. “That’s what makes tournaments in early summer like this so exciting.”
“The post spawn bite will be the strongest, but I’ve seen late spawners up shallow on the lower end of the lake in the past,” continued Gagliardi. “I think the post spawn fish will be feeding on herring and offshore fishing is going to play a major role in this tournament. Anglers will also find some fish up shallow around docks that haven’t moved out deep yet. Drop-shotting points and using Carolina-rigs on the main lake will be very popular as well.”
“As for baits, I see competitors using green-pumpkin-colored Zoom Finesse Worms, six-inch Zoom Trick Worms and possibly even football-head jigs,” said Gagliardi. “Topwater baits and Zoom Super Flukes will do well with the offshore fish that are feeding. I’ve done well in the past with natural colors and slightly darker colors like watermelon seed.”
Anglers will take off from the Gum Branch Park mega ramp at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the mega ramp in Hartwell beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.
Schools are allowed to register up until the morning of the tournament. Entries may be made either by phone or at www.CollegeFishing.com.