Two University of Wyoming teams placed among the top 15 at the recent FLW College Fishing Western Conference event on the California Delta.
The UW bass fishing team competed against 49 regional teams, and both UW teams qualified to advance to the FLW College Fishing Western Conference Invitational tournament. Chico State University placed first, and Eastern Washington University was second at the California event.
Everyone fishes the same duration. The catch is placed in a livewell (a tank that keeps the fish alive) and is weighed at the end of the day. The total weight of the five largest fish determines the winners.
The team of Tyler Webber, a Powell senior in electrical engineering, and Taylor Armstrong, a Laramie freshman in criminal justice, finished seventh. Their five largest fish had a total weight of 15 pounds, seven ounces.
The team of mechanical engineering students, sophomore Mike Barbero of Arvada, Colo., and senior Tyler Stingley of Laramie, caught five bass with a total weight of 12 pounds, one ounce, for 15th place.
FLW, the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, organizes major fishing competition for both professionals and amateurs. It offers millions of dollars in prizes annually.
Each conference season consists of three one-day qualifying tournaments with a maximum of 50 teams in each event. The top 15 teams from each of the three qualifying events in a conference (a total of 45 teams) advance to a two-day FLW College Fishing Invitational. The top 10 teams from each of the invitationals advance to the 2014 national championship.
