Congratulations

[Shad_Master]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/kentucky-becomes-second-state-bass-fishing-high-school-185906709.html

[Scorcher214]

Man I would have LOVED bass fishing for a highschool sport. As far as I knew though, I was the only kid in highschool that fished for bass seriously.

[Bluebasser86]

Yeah I wish they had that in my highschool and I tried to get a team together but the school didn't think we would have any other local schools that would participate. Makes me think about going to college just so I could fish the college tour, not much past college age anyways.

[GoTakeANap]

thats awesome. to bad this wasent around when i was in high school. my dad works with orangeburg district 4. they are in the making of doing that in sc as well. the state has 13 schools so far. dont remember how many schools you half to have to make it offical.

[unionman]

I live in Iowa. I met a kid on my tug-o-war team from Illinois who had been to state four times in a row for bass fishing. Future pro? I would bet on it. If only i had been given that opportunity I know I coulda went pro. I remember riding my bike to a local creek nearby to catch little "junk" fish for hrs. It didnt matter they were only a few inches long.... I was fishing. Ive grown a bit since then and so has the size of fish I that I target.

I think this High School fishing program is great. Not all kids like rough sports (I loved 'em!) like football and wrestling. Fishing will give them and all kids (in states that sanction it) a chance to see nature in a way that most kids only see on T.V. Afterall, you avid anglers on this forum would agree that just being out on the water is relaxing and healing. Even if no fish make it to the boat. They are just icing on the cake.

Lets not forget all the local "fishing experts" that will have job opportunities as coaches and boat drivers.

[NoBassPro]

I'd guess the boaters and coaches are volunteer positions or it would get too costly

[RyneB]

my former high school started a fishing team and didnt have much of a budget. I gathered up a bunch of old tackle i dont use and gave them 2 baitcasting combos and a few other guys i know donated some stuff. I wish they had it when i went to school, i could have gotten a college scholarship and an opportunity to fish and learn about a tournament format.

[ChrisAW]

Yeah I wish they had that in my highschool and I tried to get a team together but the school didn't think we would have any other local schools that would participate. Makes me think about going to college just so I could fish the college tour, not much past college age anyways.

You don't have to be young! I was watching an FLW coverage of some college tournaments last year, there was a man who was no younger than 40 competing.

[NoBassPro]

You don't have to be young! I was watching an FLW coverage of some college tournaments last year, there was a man who was no younger than 40 competing.

Yea I'm not sure who sanctions college bass fishing, but it will fall under different rules than the NCAA. Although I guess there are occasional 40 yo competing in college athletics as long as they haven't competed professionally in that sport.

Wayy back in my younger years I competed in NIRA. We could compete both as professionals and as college athletes at the same time, but had age restrictions, higher GPA standards, and no cushy jobs or free school tutors, while still traveling for 12 three day weekends a year. It was a blast and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Met lots of good people and was able to finish my schooling without taking any loans.

[jignfule]

That would have been great in my day