TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 6, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the addition of a tournament on Lake Champlain, June 25, in Plattsburgh, New York, to the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI schedule. The additional event now provides College Fishing anglers nine opportunities to qualify for the MLF College Fishing National Championship, and advancement opportunities to compete in the 2023 Toyota Series Championship and against the world’s best pros at REDCREST 2024 for a top prize of $300,000.
“I am happy to announce that we are adding an event at Lake Champlain for our loyal college anglers in the northern part of the country,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations, College and High School. “It’s a bucket-list destination that will be attractive to College Fishing anglers from the south and Midwest as well. We’re excited to see a highly competitive 2023 season based on our new national schedule.”
*Updated* 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI Schedule:
Jan. 20* Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla.
Feb. 4 Lake Havasu Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
March 17* Lake of the Ozarks Osage Beach, Mo.
March 18 California Delta** Oakley, Calif.
April 22 California Delta** Oakley, Calif.
April 28* Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala.
June 25 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sept. 8* Sam Rayburn Reservoir Brookeland, Texas
Oct. 27 Lake Hartwell Anderson, S.C.
TBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TBA
* Includes Wiley X College Faceoff
** Subject to California DNR approval.
The winning team at the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship Presented by Lowrance will receive $43,500, including a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury and $10,000. The winning team also advances to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship advances to REDCREST 2024. The runner-up at the 2023 College Fishing National Championship will receive a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by Mercury. The team will also advance to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. Third place at the 2023 National Championship will receive $4,000 and advance to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for the chance to win a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury. Fourth and fifth place will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, with sixth through 10th receiving $1,000 each.
Additionally, each angler finishing in the top 10 at the 2023 College Fishing National Championship will receive priority entry into the 2024 Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Invitationals and the Bass Pro Tour. Every tournament will feature live weigh-in coverage on MLF NOW!, and the National Championship will receive national television coverage on CBS Sports.
MLF will recognize the top performing school with the Tackle Warehouse School of the Year Presented by QuikTrip title, which includes a $10,000 award. Each school receives the total points earned by its top two teams in each tournament. School of the Year is awarded to the school with the highest point total from its three best tournaments.
MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing teams can compete in up to nine qualifying tournaments around the country. The top 12 percent of teams from each event will advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship.
Registration for the 2023 season opens at 8 a.m. CT on Dec. 12, 2022, for teams from school clubs represented in the 2022 College Fishing National Championship. All other teams may enter beginning Dec. 13. Fields are capped at 250 boats per tournament, so teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000. The entry fee is $100 per team.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.