Fishing: a high school sport?? 2024

Bass XL reply :

I dont know if this has been posted yet, but I thought I would share it....Looks like I'm gonna have to move to the other side of the river!!!

Heres an article from the STL Post dispatch:

Bass fishing as a high school sport?

By Ryan Fagan

SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH

12/25/2007

Forget what you know about the shotgun formation, the pick-and-roll and the hit-and-run. It's time to update your high school sports lingo. Start with these: jig-n-pig, crankbait, Carolina rig.

That's right, bass fishing. In high school. As an Illinois High School Association sponsored activity.

And judging from the response to this idea, it's about time.

Back in October, the IHSA board of directors decided to explore whether it would be possible to host bass fishing tournaments to reach students boys and girls who aren't involved with the more traditional sports programs. It would be the first of its kind in the country.

"Some people have said, are you nuts?" said Dave Gannaway, the IHSA assistant executive director and a driving force behind the proposal. "But it's been very interesting. There's been a lot of support, a lot more than I thought there would be."

High school associations across the country are waiting to see how this plays out for the IHSA and Gannaway, who, by the way, is an avid fisherman who caught his personal best 7½-pound largemouth bass on a chartreuse tube beneath his dock on a private lake.

The concept of fishing for school pride is an invigorating thought for potential prep anglers.

"It's just thrilling, and fun," said Travis Funderburk, a junior at Highland High School. "Especially when you're catching fish."

The idea was hatched almost two years ago by Terry Brown, a Normal, Ill., resident who watched the ever-expanding success of bass fishing on the collegiate level. In October, for instance, Virginia Tech beat out 35 other collegiate club teams to win the Under Armour College Bass National Championship on the Arkansas River. He wondered why it couldn't work on the prep level, too.

Brown, the chief sales and marketing officer for another site, floated the idea to Gannaway, who eventually had him work on a proposal that was submitted in June.

Whatever you choose to call it a "sport" or an "activity" there's a passionate group of folks who have grabbed onto fishing and haven't stopped running. How to define their passion? Country singer Brad Paisley touched on it in his song "I'm Gonna Miss Her," in which his girlfriend gave him a me-or-fishing ultimatum. Guess what he chose.

"Now there's a chance that if I hurry / I could beg her to stay / But that water's right / And the weather's perfect / No tellin' what I might catch today."

Of course, there's no leaving of loved ones ingrained into the potential IHSA program. Instead, that passion for fishing has manifested itself in a more constructive way. Teachers, students and potential volunteers, from the rural areas to metropolitan Chicago, have phoned in their interest. Manufacturers and local bass clubs have called promising their support, both of the financial and time variety.

"You have no idea how many," Brown said. "I'm about to bust a sprocket with this thing."

Gannaway said he's even had interest from television folks.

And the passion for bass fishing tournaments isn't just about the competition and reaching students who aren't drawn in by stick-and-ball sports. Learning how to be a better angler involves plenty of science and environmental observation.

"It's the appreciation for the outdoors," Gannaway said. "It's not just the catching fish it's everything that goes with that. It's appreciating nature at its finest. That's a really big part of this."

There are obvious hurdles to overcome.

"Initially the athletic directors started calling me and saying, how am I supposed to buy a boat? I can't even keep the lights on," Brown said. But the outside support and interest could go a long way to making the possibility a reality.

The goal is to make this a self-supporting activity from its ***. On the local levels, bass clubs would provide the boats, and manufacturers will provide the safety equipment and the tackle the rods, reels, lures, etc. (Which doesn't mean a high school would need a local bass club partner to compete; it just couldn't host a tournament.) The hope is a major manufacturer will provide the boats and support for the state tournament.

Right now, Gannaway is gathering more information that he will submit in a detailed proposal at the next board meeting, on Jan. 14. If the program is given the green light, the next step is to work on the terms and conditions and procedures and policies for making the tournaments actually happen.

The timing hasn't been set quite yet, but Gannaway said a spring season is looking more and more likely. Best-case scenario has the prep anglers wetting their lines for the first tournament in spring 2009.

Until then, remember that quarter-ounce chartreuse-and-white buzzbaits are dynamite for big bucketmouths at dawn as Funderburk can attest to. His best was a 5½ pounder on an early morning buzzbait. Or, just head on over to fishingbee.com/glossary or myoan.net/fishing/jargon.html and brush up on a bit of lingo for the sport that's already starting to sweep the state. "

MattStrykul reply :

That is really cool. I wish that could happen up here in the DC area, but there is no way that there would be enough interest.

Oscar O. reply :

Same here in CA! I doubt we would get enough support though... :-/

guest reply :

Aw man! I already graduated from college! If only I was born 8 years later. I know the other sports are good exercise, but I just couldn't get into them as something fun. I rather walk, maybe jog, life weights at my own speed, and/or stretch all day. The only thing I enjoyed physically a lot was dodgeball, or any activity that imitated the use of weapons/fighting.

This can be so great. Students who really do like fishing will actually like science more than ever. Studying nature and all that. It wouldn't be just bass. They would be forced to study other animals (like baitfish) and the world around freshwater just to get better at catching bass. You'd learn about physics when choosing rods, lure weights and other equipment. Casting, line tying speed, etc would be activities themselves in classrooms when not on the water.

Other. reply :

I do not think fishing would really become a high school sport in other parts of the US. Unless the school bought the students boats along with needed accessory I do not see how you could fish competitively among other schools.

Troutfisher reply :

I think that is a tremendous idea! It would really help promote the sport, and would open up a wide opportunity for youth anglers to get a feel for the sport and maybe make more professional bass fisherman! I'd be all for it.

Oscar O. reply :

Quote
I do not think fishing would really become a high school sport in other parts of the US. Unless the school bought the students boats along with needed accessory I do not see how you could fish competitively among other schools.

I agree with the first part, but the school wouldn't have to buy all of the accesories. If a student was passionate enough about fishing he/she most likely already has a rod/reel and tackle. Boats are not necessary if they can use float tubes, which are cheaper than a boat. The school would have to find a way to get a coach and the coach would need to find a way to practice either on or off campus. As for school competition, that is up to the high school sports people to plan the whole thing out with rules and costs etc.

Other. reply :

Quote

Quote
I do not think fishing would really become a high school sport in other parts of the US. Unless the school bought the students boats along with needed accessory I do not see how you could fish competitively among other schools.

I agree with the first part, but the school wouldn't have to buy all of the accesories. If a student was passionate enough about fishing he/she most likely already has a rod/reel and tackle. Boats are not necessary if they can use float tubes, which are cheaper than a boat. The school would have to find a way to get a coach and the coach would need to find a way to practice either on or off campus. As for school competition, that is up to the high school sports people to plan the whole thing out with rules and costs etc.

How are you going to install a live well into a floating tube?

Oscar O. reply :

You don't need one. There is a belly boating club here where i live (i'm not in it...yet) and they use a Carry Me bag (or something along those lines!) which is a bag that has holes. Apparently it works, since they have tournaments at the lake i fish at, and the fish were able to be released. Although, I don't think the fish find it too comfy in there, but i have not used it to see it for myself.

Bass XL reply :

Quote
I do not think fishing would really become a high school sport in other parts of the US. Unless the school bought the students boats along with needed accessory I do not see how you could fish competitively among other schools.

It already says how they'd do the boats...

smallieking reply :

o man that would be a great sport i would letter in it lol yea to bad im a senior and if that would be added to my school it would be too late, i know if a proposal went up at the schools here in the pittsburgh area there would definety be some support. remember the sold out mellon arena during the classic in Pittsburgh?

Sam reply :

At this time many public school divisions will allow a "sport" to evolve if the participants can raise the capital to support the "sport."

For example, in Virginia there are many high schools that have crew teams.

The kids and their parents raise the money; purchase the shells and trailers; get the skiff and motor; purchase the equipment and uniforms; set up the meets; and pay their transportation, room and board for the out of town or state meets.

With public school budgets tight there is no way a school division is going to financially fund a fishing sport without outside financial assitance.

The same is true with other sports that may carry the individual high school's name but in fact is a "club" sport, like Lacrosse, ice hockey and field hockey.

But with that said, you shared a wonderful article and I sincerely hope the program is successful and it spreads across the country.

Happy New Year.

guest reply :

If kids can get a hold of Ipods, digital cameras, Laptops, PS3s, and keep buying video games and movies that have went up $10, pay $15/mo on WoW, etc they can definitely afford something like a Jon boat. No GPS systems, cameras, fish finders, etc are needed. Just a boat with a livewell/keeper and some paddles. Some of the things said aren't really needed. Some people can carry the boats on top of cars. Fishing partners or teams can just use one boat. They can take turns using boats. Some lakes won't allow the use of boats and I'm pretty sure two schools competing won't make it overcrowded at some lakes. I'm not expecting this to be as epic as Bassmasters in the things they do, so they can have some differences in rules. When I was in high school any fishing was better than no fishing. If all we did was fish for panfish with fishing line, sinker, hook, worm and a wooden block at the edge of a lake w/ no boat then I would LOVE that instead of watching another play or talent show.

Matt Fly reply :

I think fishing would be great idea for HS if you could find away for it to support itself and the schools involved.

Bass fishing is not spectator friendly. You can't charge spectators on public lakes that watch. Concessions don't make enough for the effort needed to set up. Fotball, basketball, volleyball and other HS sports are concession friendly that provides some monetary support.

Also, John has jon boat and Billys Daddy got him Bass Tracker 190 series, so there will be some kids who have greater advantage.

And finding boats in Illinois when the weather permits using them would be the same time that the owners might have some use for them as well. What would be the HS season for fishing during school?

guest reply :

Why not?

Technically speaking football is a GAME

Fishing is a SPORT

Anyway, if you can have a tennis team, a chess team, a debate team and a diving team etc. why not a fishing team?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Bass XL reply :

Quote
Why not?
Technically speaking football is a GAME

Fishing is a SPORT

Anyway, if you can have a tennis team, a chess team, a debate team and a diving team etc. why not a fishing team?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

my thoughts exactly.

Masshole Mike reply :

"Re: Fishing: a high shcool sport??"

maybe you should have stuck to the 3 R's in shcool?

readin ritin and reelin-em-in. ;D

fishfordollars reply :

The way the boating and outdoor industry is complaining about the lack of participation form the younger generation you would think they would be all over this idea. Even if each school was limited to one boat can you imagine the increase in sales and equipment they could generate.

Troutfisher reply :

Quote
"Re: Fishing: a high shcool sport??"
maybe you should have stuck to the 3 R's in shcool?

readin ritin and reelin-em-in. ;D

Bass XL reply :

Quote
"Re: Fishing: a high shcool sport??"
maybe you should have stuck to the 3 R's in shcool?

readin ritin and reelin-em-in. ;D

lol...I know how to spell "school", its just a careless mistake.

otto reply :

tHAT WOULD BE AWESOME

Ifish4keeps reply :

that would be nasty for high school, but since i already play baseball and football, maybe move it to a summer sport not connected to the high school school??? That would be my view personally

eastkybass reply :

It would be a great way to get younger people in to fishing and that is something the sport needs. The companys out there selling equipment would love to see the $50 per game for the xbox/ps3/ or the nintendo that could insted to to crankbaits/spinnerbaits/ or buzzbaits.

I know when I was in high school I spent much of my time fishing and buying equipment all the time. To be able to due it for my school would have been great. I wasn't into the traditional sports so this would have been great for me.

I am sure that any of the local clubs would be more than ready to help there area schools out. Most due things with kids anyway and this is just one more thing they can do.

baboosicbass08 reply :

I think it would be an excellent idea man wish they did it at my school when i still had time before graduation. Idk if there would be enough people that would be interested but it sounds like a good idea, why not if schools can have a math team why can't they have a fishing team???

crazy4bass1 reply :

i think it sounds great

imo you dont even need a boat

just find a big lake that has bank access and let em go at it

WRB reply :

It's good to read that any new outdoor recreational sport is being considered for high school. Fishing and hunting is dissappearing from the youth of today, being replaced with computer games.

The liabilities alone would prevent this type of activity in California and other states where the fear law suits rule nearly everything.

We occasionally have classes offered for bass fishing in city colleges, class room discussion sessions only, no on the water time.

WRB

guitarkid reply :

i think it's great too, living in s.c. there would definataly be interest, lots of people who fish down here, so hmmmmmm.

12755

Fishing: a high school sport?? 2024

related General Bass Fishing Forum topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed General Bass Fishing Forum topic