High School Bass Fishing

High School Bass Fishing

By Todd Reed

Over the past five years there is a growing trend in schools and teenagers across Iowa. No, it isn’t the latest app on a phone or a brand new gaming device, it is bass fishing! While bass fishing at the high school level isn’t anything brand new, the competitive side of it has become a huge trend around the state. As a teenager when I wasn’t working or playing baseball you would find me at the local river walking the banks in search of my next bass, only dreaming to finally be in a tournament like all the “pros” on TV. Today, in an area not too far from you this is a reality for any student that loves to bass fish and has the drive to get better and meet new people through competitive bass fishing.

The history of High School bass fishing dates back to around the new millennium. Shanda Heath, current Iowa Bass Nation Youth Director stated, “High school bass tournament started around 25 years ago with the Anamosa and Cedar Rapids adult club members helping out local youth. Around 20 years ago, Tom Bowler, who was the youth director, started the first ever youth State Tournament in Iowa. Back then it was an individual format and the boat captain would draw a name – one junior (grades 3-8) and one high school student. Most of the time the kids did not know their boat captain or the other angler in the boat. The top high school angler and the top junior angler went on to be a part of the Iowa Bass Nation Regional team. These events all fell under the nation-wide umbrella of the Bassmasters Organization which was located in Alabama. This organization stepped it up a notch about 12 years ago providing the youth from all around the country state and national events. Throughout the years, most of the Iowa Bass Nation State tournaments have been out of Prairie Du Chein, Wisconsin on the Mississippi River. The Iowa Bass Nation has also held them at various places on the MIssissippi River and even had one at Pleasant Creek Lake.”

The Iowa Bass Youth Nation is a branch of the national organization of Bassmaster. The current youth clubs in Iowa are as follows: Eastern Iowa Bassmasters, Independence Bass Club, West Delaware High School Bass Fishing Team, Iowa Youth Fishing League, Johnston High School Bassmasters, North Scott Bassmasters, Dubuque Jr. Bassmasters, and Basskickers. Another nationwide organization is The Bass Federation, they are also growing the youth bass movement, especially in western Iowa with a large club known as S.W.I.F.T, or Southwest Iowa Fishing Team. All youth bass tournaments follow the same general format, two students fishing out of a boat with a “captain” or adult to operate the boat and keep everyone safe, all while learning the sport of bass fishing. The bass are kept in the livewell and weighed in at the end of the tournament day to see which students caught the heaviest five bass, or limit for the day. Other than organizing the events, the goal is simple, for all youth organizations to get as many kids fishing as possible. As the coach of the Independence Bass Club I can tell you the rewards for adults are amazing too. I have seen many examples of adults, some parents, some rejuvenating their own passion of fishing while taking kids out for an event. There is something about fishing and helping others catch fish that is so satisfying. Youth bass fishing brings this to the forefront.

As stated, there are many clubs around the state, all managed and organized by a local “coach”. To participate or learn more about them a Google search or finding them on Facebook is the easiest way to get things started in joining or starting a club of your own. Bass fishing is not a school sport, but a club, much like the NASP archery, so anyone can start the process of creating their own town or school club. There is one stand-alone event each year that is gaining in popularity, the Iowa High School Bass Team Championship. This is an annual event that is open to any student in the state and their boat captain, and no membership of any kind is required. It is a fun event with some huge prizes and awards given away each year, check out their website here: www.iowahighschoolbass.blogspot.com

The sport of bass fishing is growing here in Iowa for our youth. However, I cannot conclude this without stating the importance of adults in making this happen. This isn’t a sport where you can just drop your student off for a few hours and return later to pick them up, it is a family experience. The parents, volunteer coaches, captains and sponsors of these organizations and tournaments are the true heroes of this movement in youth fishing. The kids not only learn to catch more bass in these programs and events, but the lessons in being fair, honest, working as a team, obeying laws and being stewards of our natural resources we have here in Iowa. These are all part of the growing knowledge of an angler. This is the most important thing kids will get from these clubs and events. Trophies and prizes are just a short term hook to keep them on the line for a life-long activity that will bring friends and family to enjoy the outdoors