So who are the young men and women who participate in college bass fishing? A glance at the angler profiles of those who competed in the recent 2007 BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship shows they come from all parts of the country, large cities and small, and that for the majority of the participants, fishing has been something important in their lives for many years.
When asked how long they have been fishing, answers ranged from “as long as I can remember” to “not long enough.” Considering the ages of the participants, the responses certainly tell their passion for the sport, and that most were introduced to the activity at an early age.
Most anglers fell in the age range of 19 – 24. There was an 18-year-old among the group and the oldest was a 37.
When asked who their fishing idols were, many cited the names of top professional anglers but there were also several who said, “Dad” and “granddad.”
In fact, one of the female anglers, Tiffany Spencer of the University of Texas – Arlington team, said she has a very strong relationship with her dad because of fishing. She has been his fishing partner for a long as she can remember and still enjoys spending time in the boat with him today. And it was Spencer who started the fishing team at her school because she wanted the university represented in the national championship event on nearby Lake Lewisville.
But there were also some participants in this year’s event who were much newer to the sport. One is Tyler Hughes, a junior at Tennessee’s Freed-Hardeman University, who said he didn’t start fishing until his sophomore year in high school.
Do Hughes, Spencer and most of the collegiate championship anglers have aspirations to become professional tournament anglers? No, most don’t. Their majors imply the career interests for many – geology, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, criminal justice, finance, business, marketing, biology, psychology, communications and more.
While a pro fishing career does appeal to some, like Western Michigan University’s Jonathan VanDam, the nephew of bass superstar Kevin VanDam, the majority of the group said fishing, both just for fun and in tournaments, will remain an important part of their lives once they graduate and have started their careers. All said they would be getting a college degree first and foremost, and that for now they are enjoying campus life and collegiate bass fishing to the fullest.
“Fun” is certainly part of the whole fishing experience and that isn’t lost on this group. When asked for their most unusual catches, responses ranged from “my bass fishing wife” to a “toilet seat.”
One thing for certain, the parents of the youngsters who participated in the 2007 BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, and the officials of the colleges from where the students are from, should be especially proud of this group of young men and women who represented them in the finest manner at this event.
To see an alphabetical listing of the profiles for the 2007 championship participants who voluntarily provided them, click here. |
