LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama fishing team will put its roster to the test this weekend at Kentucky Lake, where anglers will compete individually in a big bass format. Unlike team-based tournaments that reward total weight, this event crowns a winner based on a single measure: the heaviest bass weighed in by any one angler over the course of the tournament.
Fifty-six of the program's fifty-nine anglers will be competing this weekend.
Kentucky Lake presents a unique set of variables at this point in the season, and head coach William Crawford said the team is treating that uncertainty as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
"We're really looking forward to Kentucky Lake this week," Crawford said. "It's a big lake, and the fish are in a transition period as we move from summer toward fall. We expect there to be opportunities both shallow and offshore."
That transitional window means fish could be holding tight to shallow cover one day and pushed out to deeper structure the next, a wrinkle that will force competitors to think on their feet rather than lean on a single game plan.
"For us, the key will be staying flexible and making adjustments throughout the tournament," Crawford stated.
On the final day of competition, every angler will be required to throw some form of Berkley bait, a nod to the brand's ongoing partnership with the program. Berkley is a proud supporter and sponsor of UWA fishing, and the final-day requirement adds an added layer of strategy as competitors adjust their approach to fit the mandate.
Despite the challenges posed by the lake's seasonal shift and the tournament's win-or-go-home individual format, Crawford said the team's preparation gives him confidence heading into the weekend.
"Our guys have put in a lot of work, and we're confident in their preparation," Crawford continued. "We're going into Kentucky Lake with the goal of competing for the top spot and continuing to build on the momentum of our program."
With 56 anglers competing for a single title on one of the region's most storied fisheries, UWA will look to translate that preparation into results and add another chapter to a program on the rise.
