More than 550 collegiate anglers compete at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Officials with the Arkansas Tech University announced more than 550 collegiate anglers competed in the 2025 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open at Lake Dardanelle.

According to a spokesperson, Arkansas Tech University fishing club members John Foster Case of Clarksville and Mat Higby of Lamar finished 15th among 284 teams with a two-day total of 26.93 pounds of bass.

Case and Higby weighed in 19.87 pounds on day one, placing first at the midpoint, and 7.06 pounds on Sunday, officials said. 

University of North Alabama anglers Bryce DiMauro and Tripp Berlinsky won the tournament with 33.77 pounds, officials said.

A total of 10 ATU teams competed, including Remington Lawrence and 53-year-old Jade Craft, who finished 53rd with 20.79 pounds, and other teams who placed from 118th to tied for 271st, officials said.

The tournament, part of the Association of Collegiate Anglers and Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, has been hosted at Lake Dardanelle since 2016, officials said.

According to the Russellville Advertising and Promotion Commission, the 2025 event had an estimated economic impact of $573,000 on the Arkansas River Valley.