A Tough Dilemma

[etommy28]

as some one who has done it i believe any one who says college fishing has no value or doesnt help you take the next step is dead wrong. just look at the guys who have graduated recently and taken a big step. having said that focus on your education and either fish as a CO or save money over time to buy an cheap boat. I have been through 3 boats in college but its cause i did not spend much on the first two. 

[DFrench97]

Well I have plans to get a marketing degree to be a sales rep or marketing person for a company and eventually own my own business if my plans don't work out to fish professionally. I just want to get my name out there by fishing in college and at least get a shot at going pro through it. I know the education is important and I will definitely put that first but I just want a shot in college and I'm not sure how to do it without a boat

Be a sales rep for a fishing company and you can run the booth at ICAST which would be awesome!  My dad is friends with a guy who is a sales rep for Lunker Hunt and you should see all the gear in his garage.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The fact that the garage is filled with fishing gear and not Mercedes and BMW's should tell you something.  

[WIGuide]

The fact that the garage is filled with fishing gear and not Mercedes and BMW's should tell you something.  

It tells you he values his fishing more than the status symbol of a luxury vehicle that is most commonly associated with self centered jerk hole behind the wheel. Not saying that he makes enough to afford one, but there's nothing saying he doesn't and chooses not to buy one either. 

 

OP If I were you I'd get in contact with a member of the fishing team. I highly doubt that everyone has to have a tournament ready rig. If i remember correctly a lot of tournaments you are provided with a boat to use and a boat captain will take you where you want to go. I'd explore that road a little more and find out what you actually need to compete. Also, as a former college athlete, if you are dedicated you shouldn't have an issue doing both. Don't expect to have tons of free time, but totally doable. 

[Choporoz]

This is informative and a little mind-blowing.  Admittedly I know little (nothing) about college fishing, nor even about tournament fishing.  But, I am rather surprised that you must have a 'good'? boat in order to compete at collegiate level.  I can't think of any other sport with such a tremendously expensive barrier to entry ---  is there college-level competitive yacht racing?   Do football players buy their pads and helmets and rent stadium time?  Do rowing team members buy their sculls?...IDK...maybe they do.

 

       If the schools and/or sponsors aren't footing most (all?) the bill for the boats (and gear?), then I don't think it should be an NCAA 'event'.  The level of expected expense just seems rather extreme to me. 

[Lund Explorer]

This is informative and a little mind-blowing.  Admittedly I know little (nothing) about college fishing, nor even about tournament fishing.  But, I am rather surprised that you must have a 'good'? boat in order to compete at collegiate level.  I can't think of any other sport with such a tremendously expensive barrier to entry ---  is there college-level competitive yacht racing?   Do football players buy their pads and helmets and rent stadium time?  Do rowing team members buy their sculls?...IDK...maybe they do.

 

       If the schools and/or sponsors aren't footing most (all?) the bill for the boats (and gear?), then I don't think it should be an NCAA 'event'.  The level of expected expense just seems rather extreme to me.

There is a world of difference between needing a good boat and wanting one. The attached link is from the local

university's bass fishing "Club". Most schools have organized sports for a few popular endeavors(read as money

making) and the rest are made up as either intramural or club activities with limited financial support.

http://fsufishingclub.weebly.com/

Scroll down to the pictures and you'll see the pre-takeoff picture showing every kind of boat from fiberglass

rockets to a tin boat with a tiller motor.

With all that said, there are two ways to get into the boat of your dreams. The first entails the parents to

pillage their 401k to pay for it. The second way is to proof that you are the best d**n stick on campus, and your

coach and teammates will be beating down your door to team up with you. Amazingly, the second approach is exactly what is needed to become a pro after school.

[EmersonFish]

I'll say this. If you are going to invest time and money in going to college, your education is priority #1, BUT, I could have played college basketball, and decided at the time not to take on that challenge, and went to a school close to home where life would be a cake walk. Do I regret it? Well, I'm 40 now and I'm here on a forum telling people about it, so I guess you can say I wish I could change things. There's nothing wrong with wanting to fish on the college club or team. And if you do well, it might be beneficial to you as you attempt to make a career in the fishing industry. I think a lot of people are a little too cynical about it. As long as you have a good plan for your education and career, and a way to finance your fishing passion as you take a shot at the "big time," then give it a shot. Just don't put yourself into financial ruin. You can't enter tournaments if they repossess your truck and boat, and your gas card is maxed out. And once you start a family, well, that's a whole different story.

As for the boat: You can buy a pretty nice rig for $5000 if you shop around. Plenty good for your needs. And I know a lot of college bass clubs/teams have sponsors (not necessarily companies, but individuals) that will loan them boats for big tournaments. The ones you see on TV, where the 20 year old kids are fishing out of fully-rigged Rangers? Those kids didn't buy those boats.