RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (March 24, 2008)--Twenty-one college fishing teams from around the United States will be at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville March 27-29 for the 2008 Arkansas Tech Invitational hosted by the Tech Fishing Club.
A total of 56 boats will compete in the tournament, which will begin with an opening banquet and pre-fish meeting on Thursday, March 27. The boats will launch at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, with weigh-in scheduled for 3 p.m. both days at Lake Dardanelle State Park.
“We’d like to invite the whole community to come out and support the Arkansas Tech anglers and the other college anglers from across the United States,” said Christy Austin, advisor to the Arkansas Tech Fishing Club. “The anglers have been looking forward to this tournament for months and our club is honored to host this great event. The community support is why teams from around the country come back year after year. The out-of-town and out-of-state anglers love coming to this community and fishing this lake because of the hospitality of the hometown people and the great fishery we have here.”
Fans attending the event will be treated to a Kid Fest from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at the Lake Dardanelle State Park weigh-in pavilion. The Arkansas Tech ROTC and National Guard will present a rock-climbing wall, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will display its 1,000-gallon mobile aquarium.
“It’s an exciting time for all of us in the Tech Fishing Club,” said senior Joey Potts of Pottsville, president of the organization. “It’s great competition. These anglers are some of the best in the college series, so there will be many contenders for the top places. We’d love to see the community come out and watch the weigh-ins. They will get to see the future generation of bass fishing.”
