The Arkansas Tech University Fishing Club team of Dustin Huggins and Evan Barnes reeled in 29.98 pounds to claim the championship in the Arkansas Tech Invitational at Lake Dardanelle on Friday and Saturday.
Huggins and Barnes topped a field of 63 boats representing 32 institutions to give the Arkansas Tech Fishing Club a victory in its own tournament for the second time in the last five years.
“We are ecstatic,” said Huggins, a junior from White Hall. “We knew we were the only team that pulled our limit out of the water today, so we felt pretty good about it. There were some nervous moments as some of the other teams weighed in, but it was a thrill when we realized we’d won it.”
The University of Louisiana at Monroe finished second with 24.78 pounds, while the University of Arkansas finished third with 23.92 pounds.
“The home lake advantage was pretty big for us,” said Barnes, a sophomore from Russellville. “We knew some good spawning grounds. The water temperature was so cold, and we fished in some deeper waters. It worked out good for us.”
The Arkansas Tech Fishing Club is sponsored by Christy Austin.
