The Bassmaster College Series will take place in Georgetown March 2-4, with boat launch occurring daily at dawn from the county’s Carroll A. Campbell Marine Complex, 101 River Walk Drive. Weigh-in, set for 3 p.m., will be at the same location for the first two days of the tournament, before moving to Front Street for the final day. A free Snapster photo booth will also be set up at the marine complex on March 3 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. before it moves to Front Street on Saturday.
Members of the public are encouraged to support their favorite team by wearing the team’s school colors and cheering on teams during boat launch and weigh-in events. Georgetown Businesses are also encouraged to decorate store fronts in support of one or more schools participating in the tournament.
If this tournament is a success, it could lead Bassmaster to bring its Elite Series back to Georgetown County, said County Administrator Sel Hemingway.
For a list of participating teams, visit http://www.georgetowncountysc.org/docs/bassmaster17teams.pdf
For more information, visit www.fishgeorgetown.com
State Duck Calling contest, Will Ness Band join activities lineup for final day of Bassmaster tournament:
It should be a festive atmosphere on Front Street next Saturday, March 4, when the Georgetown Business Association hosts a full day of activities surrounding the Bassmaster College Series’ final weigh-in.
Highlighting the finale of the three-day tournament, which will bring anglers from 23 southeastern colleges and universities to Georgetown County, the Bassmaster stage will also be the site of the annual S.C. State Duck Calling Contest at 12:30 p.m. that day. Live music and a free photo booth have also been booked.
The State Duck Calling Contest involves three separate rounds of calling routines, with the judges sequestered in a tent behind the stage, so they can’t see the contestants and can grade them solely on how their calls sound. After two rounds that include all the contestants, the field is whittled down to five final contestants vying for three places in the final round. The winner gets a seat in the national competition.
The trailered Bassmaster weigh-in will begin making its way down Front Street at around 3 p.m. Out of about 200 anglers who enter the contest, just 20 finalists teams will take the stage that Saturday, showing off their best catch of the day and hoping for a chance at the national title.
Immediately following the weigh-in, the Will Ness Band will get audiences moving with a performance in Francis Marion Park. A local favorite, the band is scheduled to play from 6-9 p.m. Ness is a Waccamaw High School graduate and is a regular performer at Georgetown’s Music in the Park. The band just released its first LP, “Heaven in Disguise.” Ness is also a student at Coastal Carolina University, one of the schools that will be represented in the tournament.
The Georgetown Business Association will additionally sponsor a beer and wine garden at Francis Marion Park from 3-9 p.m., and a free photo booth will be open at the park from 12:30-6:30 p.m.
Finally, event attendees will have numerous opportunities for shopping throughout the day as many Front Street businesses have committed to having sidewalk sales and specials.
