Americana Outdoors E-Magazine November 2016

ColbyHarvileandJohnManer,colegiateanglersfromthe UniversityofNorthAlabama, wontheRangerCupUniversity TeamoftheYearChalengewith36keperfishweighing74 poundsinawinner-take-al,made-for-TVeventonTexas' FayeteCountyReservoir.Thetournament,whichutilizeda rulesformatwhereallegalfishareweighedandreleased fromtheboat,pitedtheNorthAlabamaanglersagainsta teamfromUniversityofSouthCarolina. HarvileandManerqualifiedfortheexpense-paidcompeti- tionbybeingthehighest-finishingRangerCupUniversi- ty-qualifiedteamintheBoatU.S.ColegiateBas Fishing ChampionshiponLakePickwick. TheduotoppedUniversity ofSouthCarolinaanglersHamptonAndersonandChris Blanchete, whoqualifiedfortheeventbyhavingthehighest placeoffinishforaRangerCupUniversity-qualifiedteamat theFLWColegeFishingNationalChampionshiponLake Keowe. "Itwasarealblesing,"saidHarvile."Wecameintoitnot knowingwhat toexpect. It wasour first timefishingatourna- mentinthatsetup. Itwasarealyfuntimeandsomethingwe won'teverforget." ThedaystartedslowfortheNorthAlabamaanglers,who werefishingdepwaters.TheUniversityofSouthCarolina anglersstartedfastandhadagoodleadgoingintothefirst, early-morningupdate. "Theotherguysstartedfishingfast,"saidHarvile. "Wewere getingourbrainsbeatinforaboutthefirsthourandahalf." Althoughtrailingbehindearly, theNorthAlabamaanglersig- noredthepresureandregrouped.

"Wefinalysetleddownandgotourheadbackon,"said Harvile."Wefoundsomefishandabsolutelyhitthegas anddidn'tletoftherestoftheday." TheteamfishedwithjigsandaCarolinarigbutrelied mainlyonaneight-ouncefinesewormonsix-poundline. HarvileandManerwon$2,000aswelasbraggingrights fortheiruniversity.Forcompetinginthechalenge,both participatingteamsreceivedagrand-prizepackagethat includedtravel, lodgingandmeals, aswelastheopportu- nitytocompeteinanew, fulyriggedRangerZ185.