SENECA, S.C. (Feb. 20, 2026) – Third graders at Ravenel Elementary School got an early taste of Bass Pro Tour (BPT) excitement Wednesday morning as Major League Fishing (MLF) launched O’Reilly Auto Parts Stage 2 at Lake Hartwell Presented by Lowrance with an interactive school visit centered on conservation, outdoor stewardship and careers in professional fishing.
Bass Pro Tour standouts Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, and Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, joined MLF Competition Officials Butch Lansford and Brian Poppe and MLF Sr. Manager of PR and Communications Charity Muehlenweg for an interactive program that connected the fast-paced action of the sport with lessons in environmental stewardship and future opportunities in the fishing industry.
Photos from the Ravenel Elementary School visit can be found here .
Students got a front-row look at how the sport’s most advanced format works, watching demonstrations of the catch, weigh and immediate-release system used on the BPT. With an MLF Competition Official serving as the on-the-water referee, the group showed how every bass is carefully handled, weighed and returned to its habitat, reinforcing the idea that protecting the resource is just as important as catching the fish.
The message quickly turned from the pros’ responsibilities to the students’ role in caring for their own lakes and waterways, highlighting MLF’s Fisheries Management Division initiatives and the simple, real-world actions – from recycling used fishing line and picking up litter to practicing proper fish-handling techniques – that show how even young anglers can make a lasting difference.
Becker told the students that the habits they form now can shape the future of the outdoors.
“Conservation isn’t something you have to wait until you’re older to care about,” Becker explained. “You can start right now – the next time you’re at the lake, the next time you see a piece of trash, the next time you go fishing. And the same goes for your dreams. If you love being outside, there are so many ways that passion can become part of your life, whether that’s fishing, making videos, designing equipment, working in events or helping protect our fisheries. It all starts with learning and getting involved at your age.”
Along with conservation, the program introduced students to the many moving parts behind a professional fishing event. Through photos and behind-the-scenes examples, they learned how careers in media, marketing, tournament operations, officiating and content creation all play a role in bringing the Bass Pro Tour to fans around the world.
The gymnasium turned into a competition arena during a fast-paced casting challenge, with students divided into teams to cheer on their favorite angler. A trivia session and open Q&A gave the third graders the chance to show off what they had learned and walk away with MLF gear, while also giving the pros a glimpse of the sport’s next generation of fans.
The school visit served as an early kickoff to a week that will bring the sport’s top anglers and a national television audience to Oconee County.
Competition at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Stage 2 at Lake Hartwell Presented by Lowrance began Thursday, Feb. 19, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 22. The four-day event, hosted by Visit Oconee SC , features 51 of the world’s best professional anglers competing for a top prize of $125,000 and critical Angler of the Year points.
Fans can watch the action live all four days of competition on MLFNOW! at MajorLeagueFishing.com and on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.