A one-day bass fishing tournament will take place Saturday between local Abilene collegiate fishing clubs and schools from out of town.

The event is called the Big Country Collegiate Shoot-Out, and will take place at Lake Leon, which is 7-miles southeast of Eastland. The tournament will start  at 6:45 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

According to Ultimate Bass, Lake Leon is one of the best-kept secrets in western central Texas. The 756-acre lake is relatively small but full of fish; 40-50 fish days are not uncommon when the fish are biting. The structure of this lake offers everything from sandy flats to steep rocky bluffs and everything in between.

Schools that will be participating in the tournament include Tarleton State, Angelo State, McMurry, Abilene Christian, Hardin Simmons and UT Dallas.

Riley Nipper, the former ACU baseball player who started the fishing club, will not be participating in the tournament with his fishing poll.

Nipper, ACU Fishing Club president, said, “I will not be fishing, instead I will be driving my boat for two other members.”

The prize for the winner of the tournament will be determined based on how many teams compete. The entry fee for each team is $100. Each team will consist of two boats and four people, and each boat will be able to keep three fish for their team.

A meeting took place Nov. 14 at McMurry University finalizing the plans and discussing the details of making this event happen. Another meeting will take place Nov. 28.

There will be an early morning launch and the boats will return for weighing of the fish in the early evening. They are expecting at least ten boats to enter the tournament and there will be a cash prize for the top anglers.

McMurry University Fishing Club president, Will Cooper, is heading up the tournament. Additional information can be found at the ACU Fishing Club Facebook page, and can also be obtained from Riley Nipper, ACU Fishing Club president.