Bass Fishing
I have always loved fishing ever since I was able to hold a rod and reel. Some of my youngest memories were fishing for trout with my grandfather on the White River in Vermont. But, as the years have gone by, I have really started to get into fishing, especially when I was old enough to go by myself. I would get up early, around eight in the morning, and I could stay out there for at least four or five hours without a break then go home. I would get a snack and a drink and then I would go back out till the sun set.
I love fishing for bass and trout because the fishing community is really kind and willing to teach you new things like how to tie the best and strongest knots and how to catch a certain type of fish with which lures or baits to use to catch that fish. One way I like to learn is by talking to the older fishermen because most of them have tips and tricks that they might want to share with you. My most favorite way to learn is by asking some older fishermen if they might have a fishing story or two that they might want to share. And my parents love that I like to fish because, like my mom said, ”You could be out there doing way worse stuff.”
Another reason I love fishing so much is because my oldest brother used to go fishing almost everyday after school. I also like being outside where I can go and be myself and not have to worry if people will judge me. Even if I don’t catch anything after eight hours of fishing, I still don’t get upset about it because, unlike other kids, I would rather be out by the water fishing, exploring the river, taking in the fresh air, and the beautiful scenery. I would rather do that than being inside all the time playing video games.
Over the years I have made lots of friends and have learned a lot of new things but lately fishing has become a lot more serious to me. Ever since I got to my last year of middle school, I found out my highschool had a bass fishing team. I started to get into bass fishing and buying more and more lures. But when I got to high school, I forgot about the bass fishing team for the first couple of weeks at school. Then, I remembered all about the bass fishing team, but I was too late. That season they only had three people on the team, but they qualified for the NHIAA high school bass fishing state championship with eight bass for a total weight of 22.24 pounds, nearly nine pounds more than the second place finisher that had 13.55 pounds. Then, they also ended up winning the state championship with eight bass for a total weight of 25.53 pounds. They had set a new tournament record. I knew that if I practiced during that school year and the summer, I could get prepared for it next year.
Then came my sophomore year. I remembered about the bass fishing team on the first day of school and asked my athletic director about how to join and when the first practice was. This year, they ended up having eleven people on the team. Fast forward towards the end of the bass fishing season; our bass fishing team did two bass fishing tournaments and we placed eighth in both. But like my coaches said,”Your mindset is the most important thing about fishing. And you need to remember that bass fishing tournaments aren’t always about winning. They are about having fun and doing your best and representing our high school. And all that was left this season was the big one--- the NHIAA high school bass fishing state qualifiers on Lake Winnipesaukee. The coaches decided to send the two best anglers on the team, and they did it. They placed fifth out of twenty-nine boats, but a team got disqualified because they went out of the boundaries, so we ended up in fourth place. They were picked to go to the next round, to the state championship on Lake Winnisquam. The same two kids went to the state championship. They fished all day then went back to land by two for the weigh in. All the teams were going up. Then, it was our turn. That's when we were the new leaders in first place. There were a couple more teams left to weigh in. They did it! We won the state championship back to back with a one pound difference between first and second place. But the season is over, for now.
I know I will be coming back next year because maybe, if I practice my casting and learn some new fishing knots and become even more serious about bass fishing in the off-season, I’ll become an even better fisherman. Next year, I might be able to go to the big tournament my junior year. But, besides all that, I may have an addiction, but my addiction is my love for bass fishing.
Cooper Wilcox
Age 15
