Hickory, N.C .— The Red Hawks Bass Fishing Team is set to kick off its 2025-26 season at the Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley.
Taking place September 20–21 on Kentucky Lake in Henry County and Paris, Tennessee, this nationally televised, double-points tournament will feature over 630 collegiate anglers, including 22 of the Top 25 teams in the ACA Pre-Season Poll. The Red Hawks enter the tournament ranked 12th in the nation, a strong position that reflects the program’s continued rise in collegiate fishing.
"We are looking forward to the first major tournament of the fall. We have some really strong anglers returning and a great freshman class!” said Head Coach Angela Mayo. “This tournament is a little different than a traditional five fish tournament but it is a great way to start the year. Someone always finds the big fish. Hopefully, this year, one of our teams will find the big one. We have had a decent practice so far, now we just have to wait to see what happens on tournament day! "
The Big Bass Bash is a unique format where each angler may weigh only one fish per weigh-in session, with seven weigh-ins spread across two days. If an angler catches multiple big fish, they can weigh them separately at different times. On Day Two, anglers are required to use Berkley baits exclusively, adding a strategic layer to the competition.
The Red Hawks will be represented by four teams:
- Isaac Patrick with Hunter Barrow
- Mason Sills with Grayson Webb
- Ryan Seitz with Grant Wells
- Troy Watson with Clay Smith
With over $40,000 in prizes and contingencies and double team points contributing to the ACA School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia, the tournament promises high stakes and high visibility. Coverage will span multiple streaming platforms, social media channels, and national television networks.
The ACA will provide live coverage of the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley at Kentucky Lake in Paris, TN. Live weigh-in, for both days of tournament competition, will be streamed on the ACA website. The tournament live blog will begin on Friday with the final day of Official Practice and run through the conclusion of Day 2 of tournament competition. The live blog, along with live weigh-in, a live leaderboard, recap articles, photos and more can be found on the ACA website