ACA Bass Fishing Championship Ready to Cast Off at Piuckwick Lake

220 of college fishing’s most elite teams will begin tournament competition for the 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The 21st Association of Collegiate Anglers’ National Championship event will take place at Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL. 
 

Pickwick Lake is located along the Tennessee River in Florence, AL. The lake runs 50 miles from the Wilson Dam to the Pickwick Dam. Boasting 47,500 acres of water surface, Pickwick Lake provides 490 miles of winding shoreline. The fishery boasts a healthy population of largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass.
 

The Tennessee River impoundment is loaded with plenty of great fish holding structure for those fish to hide out in. This includes shallow cover, vegetation, offshore structure, and more.
 

Chandler Howell and Clayton Ellis were the latest guests on the Rapala #WeAreCollegiateBass Podcast. Listen to the conversation with the two anglers from 6th ranked Blue Mountain Christian University here.
 

During this interview the two anglers provide their thoughts on how Pickwick Lake will fish this week. While the lake is known for its great offshore fishing, they believe that a variety of different patterns and locations will play a factor this week. They did mention that the grass and vegetation may be sparser, meaning shallow wood and rock could become more key.
 

The textbook offshore spots will be a good starting point for anglers looking to capitalize on the deep bite. Quality fish will be set up out there. However, with many of the teams set to focus on those areas, anglers will have to look for subtleties to set themselves apart.
 

Back in 2024, Dylan & Carter Nutt did just that, as they ran away with the National Championship title. They bested 2nd place by just over eight pounds. Over the course of two days, they amassed a total weight of 52.36 pounds. The pair representing Top 25 ranked University of North Alabama in Florence also took home Overall Big Bass honors with a bass weighing 8.20 pounds.
 

While being interviewed on EP. 250 of the Rapala #WeAreCollegiateBass Podcast, Chandler and Clayton said they think that if a team can put together a two-day total weight in the upper 30’s…they will have a good shot at finishing in the Top 10.
 

Weather will also play a factor this week at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. If what Chandler and Clayton said about the shallow bite is true, clouds and rain could help to fuel that pattern. There are chances of rain and significant cloud cover during both days of tournament competition. Anglers fishing out deep will have to work each day to pattern the fish and read their reactions to the changing conditions.