For the third consecutive year the title sponsor of the Bassmaster College Series, Carhartt, extended a video contest exclusive to college anglers. Four Carhartt fishing apparel bundles were available as prizes, with the grand prize being an all-inclusive fishing trip with Carhartt sponsored pros Matt and Jordan Lee on Georgia’s beautiful Lake Chatuge.
Editor’s note: See photos from two days of fishing.
The ask was simple: Carhartt wanted college anglers to put together short videos showcasing college fishing, as well as demonstrating how Carhartt has them covered 24/7. Whether they are on the water, hard at work, in class or at home.
Josh Worth, a senior majoring in environmental science and technology at Colorado Mesa University took the grand prize honors with a short but impactful video. Check it out here:
The esteemed panel of judges was made up of pros Jordan Lee, Matt Lee, Terry Scroggins – as well as the one and only Mark Zona. The same group of judges nearly chose Josh’s 2017 video submission as the overall winner last year. Ultimately Worth’s 2017 video was chosen as a Carhartt apparel package winner, leaving his fire burning to win the grand prize.
This year’s runner-up winners were Gunnar Stanton (Northern Arizona University), Alex Johnson (Ramapo College of New Jersey), Logan Parks (Auburn University) and 2016 overall winner Tucker Hill (Georgia Southern University). Each of these anglers received a prize package valued around $750 of brand new Carhartt fishing gear. Carhartt gives a lot of backing to competitive fishing of all levels, but especially to the college ranks. Carhartt’s far-reaching support isn’t lost on the 2018 winner Josh Worth.
“All college tournaments are great but Carhartt College Bassmaster tournaments are truly special,” Worth said. “Because of companies like Carhartt and Toyota supporting the trail we get the chance to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Opens. It ups the prestige of the tournaments and makes everything more competitive. Honestly competing in College Bassmaster events is what made me want to try and fish for a living.”
The Colorado native was extremely excited to get out to Lake Chatuge and fish with Carhartt College Bassmaster graduates Matt and Jordan Lee. Worth brought along good friend and fishing buddy Austin Miles. Austin played football and fished for Colorado State University-Pueblo and was thrilled to accompany Worth on his first trip to Georgia.
The duo was given “backstage passes” for the final day of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Lake Chatuge before taking to Chatuge with the Lee brothers on Monday and Tuesday following the event. Miles and Worth took full advantage of mingling with B.A.S.S. personnel, professional anglers and industry employees on Sunday of the AOY Championship. Using college fishing as a springboard like many in the fishing industry, Worth plans to pursue a career fishing professionally.
“This trip came at a really good time for me,” said Worth, the soon-to-be Colorado Mesa graduate. “It was an incredible opportunity to talk with folks from the industry, see how pros interacted with each other, and just get a behind the scenes look at how an Elite Series event is run. If that wasn’t enough, fishing with Matt and Jordan really fueled my fire to make it to the professional level one day.”
Miles, too, plans to fish Bassmaster Opens over the next few years in hopes of qualifying to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series. Both young men are extremely respectful, excelled at the college fishing level and have a good educations behind them – I have a feeling we’ll be seeing them climb the professional ranks in the next few years.
“Seeing anglers come from college fishing and do well on the professional level makes it more attainable for guys like me,” Miles said. “Anglers like Jordan and Matt Lee, Dustin Connell and Brandon Card cut their teeth in college fishing and have excelled on the Bassmaster Elite Series. It’s cool to see and super inspiring.”
The Lake Chatuge spotted bass were a little stingy after getting pounded by the top 50 anglers in the world for six days. Fortunately, the Lee brothers got Josh and Austin around fish and were able to give them a master class in catching clear water spotted bass on topwaters. Through sunshine, wind and rain the anglers worked for their bites and caught lots of fish. All the while catching just as many smiles and laughs.
The Carhartt College Bassmaster Series continues to set the bar for fishing at the college level. Not just in the tournaments they run, but also in the manner that they prepare anglers to compete/succeed after they graduate. From anglers like back-to-back Bassmaster Classic champion Jordan Lee, to industry professionals like Ronnie Moore, the blueprint to success is out there. If you want to work in the bass fishing industry in any capacity, the Carhartt College Bassmaster Series is a good place to start. And with anglers like Josh Worth and Austin Miles coming up the ranks, it’s safe to say the future continues to look bright.
