University of Oregon wins CF Western Division on Lake Shasta

The top-five team finishers at the National Guard FLW College Fishing event at Lake Shasta acknowledge the crowd. Photo by Gary Mortenson.

January 15, 2011 • MLF • Abu Garcia College Fishing

REDDING, Calif. – The University of Oregon team of Kyle Schneider and William Crowl, won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Western Division on Lake Shasta Saturday with five bass weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces. The victory earned the team $10,000 to be split between the university and the university’s bass-fishing club; $7,500 for the bass club and $2,500 for their school. The win also helped them advance to the Western Division Regional Championship.

“It was a slow day,” said William Crowl, a junior in business administration. “I think it was our patience and ability to slow down our fishing that made the difference. We were fishing a little shallower than most of the other teams, we were in about 20 to 30 feet of water and unlike most of the teams that were drop-shotting we were using flick shake worms and shaky heads.

“The morning bite seemed to be a bit better; that is when I caught the 21/2- pounder. It was a struggle all day long.”

Midway through the morning the team lost their trolling motor and had to duct tape it together. After that the Ducks held on to keep things together.

“The feeling is so overwhelming, this was the first tournament I have ever fished in and to win…what a way to break into the sport,” added an excited Kyle Schneider, freshman marine biology major. “I was nervous all day. I had two early bites but I think I swung too early and lost them both so I didn’t catch any of the fish, but I was a great net. The nets didn’t make it to the tournament so I got to help haul William’s fish in the boat.”

Rounding out the top five teams and also advancing to the Western Regional Championship are:

2nd: Chico State – Thomas White and Frank Vogt, (five bass, 6-13, $3,000)

3rd: Sacramento State – Kyle Derbish and Greg Taluban, (five bass, 6-10, $2,000)

4th: University of Oregon – Zachary Niesen and Nick Doring, (four bass, 6, $2,000)

5th: Chico State – Bryce Hayes and Lucas Russell, (five bass, 5-13, $2,000)

The top five teams from each tournament will qualify for the regional championship where the first-place team wins $12,500 cash for their school and $12,500 cash and a Ranger 177TR bass boat with a 90 horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard wrapped in school colors for their fishing club. The top five teams from each regional tournament advance to the national championship where the first-place team wins $25,000 for their school and $50,000 cash and a Ranger 177TR bass boat with a 90 horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard wrapped in school colors for their fishing club.

College Fishing is free to enter and FLW Outdoors provides boats and drivers for each competing team along with travel allowances. All participants must be registered, full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or university and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.

The next National Guard FLW College Western Division tournament is scheduled for Feb. 19 at Lake Roosevelt in Payson, Ariz.

About FLW Outdoors

FLW Outdoors is the largest tournament-fishing organization in the world, offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011. FLW Outdoors has taken fishing mainstream with the world’s richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing at FantasyFishing.com, where competitors can play for free as well as sign up for Player’s Advantage to gain an edge.