Bass XL

It already says how they'd do the boats... "Initially the athletic directors started calling me and saying, how am I supposed to buy a boat? I can't even keep the lights on," Brown said. But the outside support and interest could go a long way to making the possibility a reality. The goal is to make this a self-supporting activity from its ***. On the local levels, bass clubs would provide the boats, and manufacturers will provide the safety equipment and the tackle the rods, reels, lures, etc. (Which doesn't mean a high school would need a local bass club partner to compete; it just couldn't host a tournament.) The hope is a major manufacturer will provide the boats and support for the state tournament."

I dont know if this has been posted yet, but I thought I would share it....Looks like I'm gonna have to move to the other side of the river!!! Heres an article from the STL Post dispatch: Bass fishing as a high school sport? By Ryan Fagan SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH 12/25/2007 Forget what you know about the shotgun formation, the pick-and-roll and the hit-and-run. It's time to update your high school sports lingo. Start with these: jig-n-pig, crankbait, Carolina rig. That's right, bass fishing. In high school. As an Illinois High School Association sponsored activity. And judging from the response to this idea, it's about time. Back in October, the IHSA board of directors decided to explore whether it would be possible to host bass fishing tournaments to reach students boys and girls who aren't involved with the more traditional sports programs. It would be the first of its kind in the country. "Some people have said, are you nuts?" said Dave Gannaway, the IHSA assistant executive director and a driving force behind the proposal. "But it's been very interesting. There's been a lot of support, a lot more than I thought there would be." High school associations across the country are waiting to see how this plays out for the IHSA and Gannaway, who, by the way, is an avid fisherman who caught his personal best 7½-pound largemouth bass on a chartreuse tube beneath his dock on a private lake. The concept of fishing for school pride is an invigorating thought for potential prep anglers. "It's just thrilling, and fun," said Travis Funderburk, a junior at Highland High School. "Especially when you're catching fish." The idea was hatched almost two years ago by Terry Brown, a Normal, Ill., resident who watched the ever-expanding success of bass fishing on the collegiate level. In October, for instance, Virginia Tech beat out 35 other collegiate club teams to win the Under Armour College Bass National Championship on the Arkansas River. He wondered why it couldn't work on the prep level, too. Brown, the chief sales and marketing officer for another site, floated the idea to Gannaway, who eventually had him work on a proposal that was submitted in June. Whatever you choose to call it a "sport" or an "activity" there's a passionate group of folks who have grabbed onto fishing and haven't stopped running. How to define their passion? Country singer Brad Paisley touched on it in his song "I'm Gonna Miss Her," in which his girlfriend gave him a me-or-fishing ultimatum. Guess what he chose. "Now there's a chance that if I hurry / I could beg her to stay / But that water's right / And the weather's perfect / No tellin' what I might catch today." Of course, there's no leaving of loved ones ingrained into the potential IHSA program. Instead, that passion for fishing has manifested itself in a more constructive way. Teachers, students and potential volunteers, from the rural areas to metropolitan Chicago, have phoned in their interest. Manufacturers and local bass clubs have called promising their support, both of the financial and time variety. "You have no idea how many," Brown said. "I'm about to bust a sprocket with this thing." Gannaway said he's even had interest from television folks. And the passion for bass fishing tournaments isn't just about the competition and reaching students who aren't drawn in by stick-and-ball sports. Learning how to be a better angler involves plenty of science and environmental observation. "It's the appreciation for the outdoors," Gannaway said. "It's not just the catching fish it's everything that goes with that. It's appreciating nature at its finest. That's a really big part of this." There are obvious hurdles to overcome. "Initially the athletic directors started calling me and saying, how am I supposed to buy a boat? I can't even keep the lights on," Brown said. But the outside support and interest could go a long way to making the possibility a reality. The goal is to make this a self-supporting activity from its ***. On the local levels, bass clubs would provide the boats, and manufacturers will provide the safety equipment and the tackle the rods, reels, lures, etc. (Which doesn't mean a high school would need a local bass club partner to compete; it just couldn't host a tournament.) The hope is a major manufacturer will provide the boats and support for the state tournament. Right now, Gannaway is gathering more information that he will submit in a detailed proposal at the next board meeting, on Jan. 14. If the program is given the green light, the next step is to work on the terms and conditions and procedures and policies for making the tournaments actually happen. The timing hasn't been set quite yet, but Gannaway said a spring season is looking more and more likely. Best-case scenario has the prep anglers wetting their lines for the first tournament in spring 2009. Until then, remember that quarter-ounce chartreuse-and-white buzzbaits are dynamite for big bucketmouths at dawn as Funderburk can attest to. His best was a 5½ pounder on an early morning buzzbait. Or, just head on over to fishingbee.com/glossary or myoan.net/fishing/jargon.html and brush up on a bit of lingo for the sport that's already starting to sweep the state. "

thanks, I was actually planning on going to semo...can you guys tell me how it works? like do you have to bring your own boat down, etc. Thanks a lot.

do you guys know of any Missouri schools that are doing the collegiate bass tournaments??

I will second that

that would be a great lake to visit....and that last pic is just beautiful!

just a beautiful fish!

I just did a search, b/c I'm looking to buy a gps for the lake, are the H2O maps detailed?

well fishing wise I got: -KVD Tackle bag -Abu Garcia Cardinal -2 Lucky Craft RC's -2 Booyah Swimjigs -2008 fishing liscence -5 (thats right) BPS gift cards -oh and I found out that one of my fav. lakes just got stocked with a bunch of smallies!!! - oh and you know some cash MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Im going to be getting one here after christmas along with my core...I'll let you know how it fishes....

my main goal is Deep divers, just because a bunch of tournaments I fish in are won on deep divers.

Thanks a lot guys...I think I'm going get the core, just becuase of what most people are saying, and like raul said, It looks sexy....I'm probably going to pair it with a MH Cumara...and that will make it look even more sexy...but I'll let you guys know when I get it, and I'll tell what I think about it....dsaavedra: I'm not aloud to tell...sorry .. Thanks agian guys.!

i can get a really good deal on a core and a chronarch....I cant really decide which one, can you guys help me out here?

That thing looks dumb

this is bps right??? is it all of them (bps)?

I love the frog, and is def. worth 8 bucks, but I hardly ever get a hookup!

thanks for all of the responses!

what do you mean by rinse....like lightly wipe off excess water, or hold it under the sink?

lol........dont worry guys, I already have my own...and back about the shirt: I'm pretty sure I have everything figured out, so I lay all my trust in the company.

Well, if they have a chance of getting damaged, I probably wont use them....I may just buy bigger spinning reel and rod (cheap one) to use for the salt.....But I'm still going to bring my bass stuff down and hopefully hit up some local lakes (if I can).

bluegill: bare hook flat head Catfish: 5/16oz black jewl jig bass: corn

thanks guys..I have a shimanos and abu garcia revo's...so thats what I will be using.

beautiful baits you got there

I just got news that we are going to Destin Fl. Apperently there is a big cove that you can go out in, and its only like 4 foot, so you can literly walk around and fish for random fish....My question is, I know that salt water has an effect on freshwater reels, but is it THAT big of a problem?? Like will I be allright using it for about a week? or do I need to buy a new reel...(i would be using my baitcasters). Thanks

To answer your first question...yes...this past spawn season, I cought a nice female off her bed...I let her go, and I didnt see her for about 5 or 6 hour...but she did come back and she did lay those eggs....(it took her like 45 min. to finally hit that tube!!)