The competitive Pickwick Lake waters lured college anglers from across the nation to compete for a spot in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship.

UNA Bass Fishing contenders Dawson Lenz and Robb Young placed fifth in the 2014 Carhartt College B.A.S.S. Wild Card tournament June 27 and 28.

Lenz and Young weighed in at a total 41 pounds and 13 ounces, behind Bethel, Mississippi State and Auburn universities.

The Wildcard Tournament determined the top 17 teams that will advance to the championship in Young Harris, Georgia.

A total 109 boats spread around Pickwick this weekend, making the competition tough, said UNA Bass Fishing President Dawson Lenz.

“We’ve got the best of college anglers out here and they all want to win, and it doesn’t help the lake was fishing tough yesterday and today,” he said.

Lenz’s boating partner and former president Robb Young said the recent tournament activity and boating pressure really took a toll on the competition.

“All these guys out here are saying they are having a hard time,” Young said. “The fish aren’t accustomed to the pressure with all the boats in the water.”

Lenz and Young weighed in 20 pounds the first day of competition, putting them in fifth place going into day two.

The tournament is great national exposure for the university and for Florence, said sponsor of UNA Bass Fishing David Shields.

“These guys have worked really hard this year and it seems this weekend they were on top of some really good fish but couldn’t catch them,” he said. “I guess that’s why they call it fishing, not catching.”

UNA currently holds over a 70-point lead in the standings for Cabela Outfitter’s School of the Year. The previous champions, University of Louisiana-Monroe, are in second place. Points will be totaled for the School of the Year award following the tournament results.

“The plan now is to win the championship,” Young said. “Our goal is to be number one in the nation.”