need some info to help high school fisherman

[BearFisher10]

While I can't speak firsthand for the kids that fish in the high school stuff because I never got that opportunity, I have had the opportunity to fish numerous college events in the last few years all over the country. The first thing I'll say is, I know all of the kids I've talked with about high school fishing, they appreciate the heck out of the opportunity to be able to do it and having someone step up to be a boat captain for them, so thank you to Nitro for helping these kids and helping grow the sport. If it weren't for that aspect, I'm not so sure high school fishing would be where it is today. I have seen entries double in college events in the short time I've been doing them and at least 50% of these kids came up through high school programs. The way younger people are getting involved now is an amazing thing to me. You don't see that all over but it's great to me that there's plenty of kids that want to be involved and to spend their time outdoors. Without getting young people involved, the sport of fishing would fall on its face. You have to replace the older crowd, just like in anything else in the world, or something will fail.

I played a sport for my university until I got injured and fishing took over for me as a route to still compete. It also gave me something to represent, i.e. our university and my fellow teammates. We worked our tails off to do our best and were rewarded the last two years with top 25 finishes in school of the year rankings. I know off the top of my head of several kids that had injuries in other sports and fishing took over as a route to still be able to compete. I've made relationships with people all over the country, with both kids I now call my friends to people who work in the fishing industry. For some kids, these relationships have even led to job offers once they've graduated. I won't lie, I'm not so sure I learned many life skills to take with me, but I don't know how many other sports can either, besides the obvious respect, teamwork, willpower, work ethic, communication, etc.. I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had in college fishing for anything though. 

The way things are going today, I'm just surprised people are talking down on how kids are wanting to be involved and to be outdoors.

[BearFisher10]

6 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

I certainly agree that we don't need to be selling these kids on the idea of becoming bass pros. As Wrench pointed out, there's 40 jersey-clad wannabes in every town who, if not already divorced with 3 kids, soon will be after burying their family in debt.

Another thing is that there are some murmurings from pretty reliable sources that FLW is about to go under.  We've seen a migration in recent years of top FLW pros joing the Bassmaster Elite Series, and just last week, Mercury Marine announced that it is dropping sponsorship of all FLW circuits. So one can read between the lines that there will be only one circuit (plus Major League Fishing) in the very near future.

So, while appearing glamorous to impressionable youngsters, the opportunities to make a living as a tournament pro are slim and getting slimmer.

This is the biggest negative about the whole high school and college fishing deal. It's rare for people to make a healthy living doing, and just last week I met two freshman kids who told me their dream is to compete on the Elites. I'm not going to tell someone not to reach for the stars to achieve their goals, but it sure is a lofty goal that is being pushed on kids nowadays that it is a good way to make a living. 

[Champ188]

I served as a boat captain this past Sunday for a University of Arkansas interclub tournament out of Mill Creek. The two young men who fished out of my boat were great kids and enjoyable to be around. But neither of them has any hope of fishing the Elite Series anytime soon. Fortunately, neither of them are considering it. They are both finance majors with their heads on straight.

Speaking of having heads on straight, Donna and I met BearFisher last year in Fisher Creek. He's a very fine and intelligent young man and a pleasure to visit with.

[Hughesy]

I don't think they are fishing to become pros. I think they do it because they love it or want to learn more about it. Just like I don't think the guys play high school football to become part of the NFL. Geez, give em a break. I would have given anything to have had this chance when I was in school. I think is a great way to introduce a kid to a sport we all love. If they turn to pot or booze because they lost a tournament, then there is other problems with the kid. Hey Champ, did you use to get a big old bong hit or two when you lost a football game? I don't blame the manufacturers for pimping their product to the kids, The kids are the future of the sport and future customers of these manufacturers. Must there be a lesson to have fun?

[fishinwrench]

47 minutes ago, Hughesy said:

Must there be a lesson to have fun?

When it takes a fleet of 50k dollar boats and trucks to pull them with..... You dam right!  

Put them all in 14' Jon boats and allow them 4 rod/reel combos...Then we can all just have fun. 

 

I had the chance to do alot of hunting and fishing when I was growing up.  I didn't, however, get to do any sky diving or cross country skiing.  I was really deprived, I just didn't know it.

[dtrs5kprs]

47 minutes ago, Hughesy said:

I don't think they are fishing to become pros. I think they do it because they love it or want to learn more about it. Just like I don't think the guys play high school football to become part of the NFL. Geez, give em a break. I would have given anything to have had this chance when I was in school. I think is a great way to introduce a kid to a sport we all love. If they turn to pot or booze because they lost a tournament, then there is other problems with the kid. Hey Champ, did you use to get a big old bong hit or two when you lost a football game? I don't blame the manufacturers for pimping their product to the kids, The kids are the future of the sport and future customers of these manufacturers. Must there be a lesson to have fun?

And having met quite a few of the kids staying at the lake, I can tell you many of them need this outlet. Not everyone is raising a middle linebacker. Although we've met several who are in fact multi sport/activity kids.

The boat thing is my number one bugaboo. No way around it though. Rods and tackle are like the golf club example. Preference, what works, and affordability drive that. The boat balance deal is probably only matched by something like equestrian events.

[Hughesy]

47 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

When it takes a fleet of 50k dollar boats and trucks to pull them with..... You dam right!  

Put them all in 14' Jon boats and allow them 4 rod/reel combos...Then we can all just have fun.

I'm not sure but a 50K boat is much more fun than a 14" Jon boat.

[Mitch f]

3 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Fishing is a wonderful thing, I love it and live it with every cell in my body. But I'm unclear on what competitive fishing is supposed to teach or instill in young boys and girls.  Is it about coping and overcoming the outdoor elements (being hot, being cold, being wet and cold) or is it about mind control, networking and the proper use of head games? 

You can't say that it's about independence and tackling something on their own..... because everything is being done for them.   And you can't say that it's about giving them something to do besides smoke dope and drink.... because nothing will make them want a bong hit and a shot of whiskey like a hard butt whoppin' in a fishing tournament.

I'm just not sure if I am in support of the whole thing.  And I can't beat back the thought that the roots of it all lie in the soil of manufacturers pimping products.

I'm having a tough time figuring out the difference between fishing in High School and any other high school sporting event. 

[TRRANGER]

After having spent the last 3 years mentoring and coaching a fairly successful team of high school anglers I can tell you this is a great outlet for the kids to do something other than play video games and twitter and stare at a computer on facebook. I had the pleasure of starting fishing with these 2 boys when they were 12, and for the last 6 years have spent countless hours teaching and learning from them, they helped me be distracted and kept me from doing some destructive things at a time in my life that could have not gone so well due to having to be available to coach and fish with these young men. One of whom is at boot camp now and will be a marine, the other will be starting college in January. One of my anglers will make a living fishing either as a guide or on the circuit he has the drive and the ability to do so, but a fishing career is not for everyone just like pro football is not for every kids who suited up on Friday night to battle the cross town rivals. I can say for a fact that I have witness more sportsmanship and ethics from more kids fishing these circuits than in any other sport, While at a weight in on a Saturday of a 2 day tourney I saw kids who were going out the next day to fish sharing information and helping kids they were trying to beat ALL IN HOPES OF EVERYONE DOING WELL AND CATCHING FISH.  I happen to not have a new shiny glitter rig, mine is an 87 but we were able to stand proud and catch fish with the best 50k glitter ride, just to brag a little, for the 3 seasons that there has been high school bass tournament in Missouri those young men have finished all three of  the season in the top 4  teams. Yes a boat is an advantage at times but if you aint in the right spot you aint gonna catch fish, the boat is a tool plain and simple. We never had fist fights or brawls or throwing stuff and insults at other anglers just people having a great time in the outdoors. So after spending lots of days watching the boys fish and not being able to fish, baking in the son, freezing in the snow, beating my body up on waves so they could fish, worth every penny and hour spent.   Thanks to the Young Men for all the taught me. TR.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Mitch f said:

I'm having a tough time figuring out the difference between fishing in High School and any other high school sporting event. 

Maybe after funding your kids 2 trips to Guntersville you'll notice a difference.  ?