Kyle Alsop and Taylor Bivins of Kansas State University are the winners of the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, thanks to a series of consistent weights. They finished the tournament on Kentucky's Green River Lake with 36 pounds, 4 ounces.
The Kansas State team was the only one in the field of 89 teams to bring in more than 10 pounds every day.
The two had a plan coming in to the tournament — catch 12 to 13 pounds a day. On Day 1, they had 13 pounds, 15 ounces, including the Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament, a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass. They followed it up on Day 2 with 11-1, including a 5-2 bass. On the final day, Alsop and Bivins weighed in 11 pounds, 4 ounces, including the biggest bass of the day, a 5-9.
"The key was definitely the big bite," Alsop said. "We were blessed to get one big one every day."
The two were not expecting a win. They were hoping to be able to make the Top 4 to qualify for the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, Aug. 4-6, on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The best angler in that head-to-head competition earns a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.