How should I start a bass fishing team

[WillBass24]

So I am trying to get a bass fishing club/team started at a highschool, but I don't know really how I should start. Any tips on who I need to contact or any specific info I need?

[Sam]

Some suggestions:

1.  Contact the FLW or BASS federations in your state for assistance and information on the state and national dues that have to be incorporated in your club dues.

2.  Ask your FLW or BASS federations for assistance and guidance establishing a high school bass fishing club. Clarify their region, state and federation dues.

3.  Get adults involved. You will need at least one teacher from your high school to be involved. Parents are necessary, too. Make sure they know that on a tournament day they will need to leave their homes around 4 AM to hit the ramp to meet the team and then either go home, fish or stay around the ramp for another 6 hours until weigh-in.

4.  Obtain the support of your high school after you get your data from both federations.

5.  Select one federation to join.

6.  Put your physical location within your avatar. We have no idea where you are, from the boonies of Mississippi or Alabama to the established and well bread communities of Louisiana or Virginia. This will allow others on the Forum reading your posts to know where you are located.

7.  Have a club meeting after school one day, inviting all interested individuals to attend. At this event you will explain about the club; the financial obligations involved; ask for parental support; and introduce the teacher who will be monitoring your club; and answer questions.

8.  Have a tentative tournament schedule printed and the ramp fees involved for each tournament.

9.  Obtain the level of the students who will be fishing. A lot of newbies can drive you crazy but then you get the opportunity to teach them how to bass fish. The more experienced bass fishermen the better the club has to survive its first year.

10.  Have a meeting with the teacher and parents, explaining the same information you did wit the students and ask them for financial assistance.

11.  Discuss how to get local support, meaning money, to fund the club; who has a boat and can they use it or does a parent have to drive it with two people fishing? Any places that rent small watercraft the kids can rent, and if so, the rental costs; and estimate the costs for your annual awards (trophies can cost upwards of $250 for the three top places and big fish of the year).

12.  Ask your principal if it is possible to advertise in your school newspaper that  you are starting a bass fishing club.

 

Once you have done your homework and lay out the monetary requirements you will be ready to have your meetings.

 

You can also discuss the need for each member to purchase their own fishing jersey.

 

Then you and a small committee request copies of current bass clubs' constitutions, by-laws and tournament rules so you can plagiarize them for your club. don't worry, this is done all the time by new bass clubs. Why invent the wheel twice?

 

These are a few suggestions to consider.

 

Let us know of your progress.

[Carter11neal]

15 hours ago, Sam said:

Some suggestions:

1.  Contact the FLW or BASS federations in your state for assistance and information on the state and national dues that have to be incorporated in your club dues.

2.  Ask your FLW or BASS federations for assistance and guidance establishing a high school bass fishing club. Clarify their region, state and federation dues.

3.  Get adults involved. You will need at least one teacher from your high school to be involved. Parents are necessary, too. Make sure they know that on a tournament day they will need to leave their homes around 4 AM to hit the ramp to meet the team and then either go home, fish or stay around the ramp for another 6 hours until weigh-in.

4.  Obtain the support of your high school after you get your data from both federations.

5.  Select one federation to join.

6.  Put your physical location within your avatar. We have no idea where you are, from the boonies of Mississippi or Alabama to the established and well bread communities of Louisiana or Virginia. This will allow others on the Forum reading your posts to know where you are located.

7.  Have a club meeting after school one day, inviting all interested individuals to attend. At this event you will explain about the club; the financial obligations involved; ask for parental support; and introduce the teacher who will be monitoring your club; and answer questions.

8.  Have a tentative tournament schedule printed and the ramp fees involved for each tournament.

9.  Obtain the level of the students who will be fishing. A lot of newbies can drive you crazy but then you get the opportunity to teach them how to bass fish. The more experienced bass fishermen the better the club has to survive its first year.

10.  Have a meeting with the teacher and parents, explaining the same information you did wit the students and ask them for financial assistance.

11.  Discuss how to get local support, meaning money, to fund the club; who has a boat and can they use it or does a parent have to drive it with two people fishing? Any places that rent small watercraft the kids can rent, and if so, the rental costs; and estimate the costs for your annual awards (trophies can cost upwards of $250 for the three top places and big fish of the year).

12.  Ask your principal if it is possible to advertise in your school newspaper that  you are starting a bass fishing club.

 

Once you have done your homework and lay out the monetary requirements you will be ready to have your meetings.

 

You can also discuss the need for each member to purchase their own fishing jersey.

 

Then you and a small committee request copies of current bass clubs' constitutions, by-laws and tournament rules so you can plagiarize them for your club. don't worry, this is done all the time by new bass clubs. Why invent the wheel twice?

 

These are a few suggestions to consider.

 

Let us know of your progress.

This is all fantastic information, I came across this trying to find information about starting my own club.

[flechero]

18 hours ago, WillBass24 said:

So I am trying to get a bass fishing club/team started at a highschool, but I don't know really how I should start. Any tips on who I need to contact or any specific info I need?

 

Aside from the great info above- check with other high schools ask to speak with their team coordinator or sponsor.  It's in their best interest to get other teams going so they have people to fish against and with.

 

What state are you in?  If you give a location or approximate location, folks here may be able to point you to nearby schools with teams to talk to.

[WillBass24]

Ok cool thanks!!!

I'm in the St. Louis area of Missouri

[Tara-senko]

STL fishing club what a dream, I'm thru high school tho