College bass fishing

[Red_King814]

I have a year until college and I'm pretty set on wanting to fish on a college team, I fish all the time and don't compete and have been trying to get into coangler tournaments can anyone give me info on college bass fishing teams and is it that any one can join? 

[Ridi620]

What state you looking to go to college in?

Better yet dude take a look at this website. http://www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/  Check out the standings and see what your heart desires. I would then Google the school and email the team president. Go straight to the top. IF he doesn't reply, work your way down. Definitely an awesome opportunity. I wish I did this back in college. Best of Luck to you.

[Red_King814]

5 minutes ago, Ridi620 said:

What state you looking to go to college in?

Better yet dude take a look at this website. http://www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/  Check out the standings and see what your heart desires. I would then Google the school and email the team president. Go straight to the top. IF he doesn't reply, work your way down. Definitely an awesome opportunity. I wish I did this back in college. Best of Luck to you.

Thank you so much man it's so appreciated you have no idea at all!

[Ridi620]

Of course man. Definitely Utilize the internet. It leads into opportunities you'll never know. A bit of advice on teams like this. If you find yourself not finding a team that will accept you, you can do two things. Either look for a club team. Its great exposure and can eventually lead into the University/college team. Second, ask them if you can tag along with them. Maybe they need an intern helping cleaning the boats or someone to organize the rods, etc. It really shows them how much you want it, you'll get exposure and practice, which could eventually lead you on the team! Good luck in college and I hope you get onto a team

[Matt1993]

You would be surprised how many schools have bass fishing teams im a member of Western Illinois Universities and I didn't even realize they had a team until after I decided to go there I was surprised how many schools in the state alone have teams its a lot of fun FLW and Bassmaster do a great job putting on tournaments at the college level what schools are you looking into?

[Sam]

Red, fishing in college can be fun but I will tell you what I tell all the young guns heading to a school of higher education:

Class work comes first. No if's, and's or but's. Fishing comes in a distant second, third, fourth or fifth.

Here is your new list of priorities: classwork; girls; fishing; girls; classwork; girls; fishing; girls; girls; girls ;girls; classwork; and the list continues.

So here is what I suggest: Living in Pennsylvania (unless you are in Erie, Colorado) you have the luxury of selecting among so many great schools, from little Slippery Rock to the big State Penn, with many selections in-between. Now is the time to do your homework on the computer and decide which schools offer the major you want to enroll and if you can, find out if they have a club fishing team. You then go for a formal tour of the school with your parents and ask about their club fishing team and who to contact.

When you visit the campuses try to set up a meeting with the club president or a local member since you could be visiting the campuses during the summer when school is out. Your parents need to know about the team, how much time is involved, the costs and all the details, plus the probability of you actually making it up the ladder of success to fish club and higher level college tournaments.

As penned above, go to the web sites for college fishing for both BASS and FLW and read all you can about past tournaments and what schools have bass fishing clubs that fish the BASS and FLW tournaments. Call the club presidents with the understanding that many of the club's web sites are outdated and the guys listed have graduated or moved on. I will be frustrating but you can do it.

Subscribe to Bass Times as this publication covers the college fishing tournaments plus it is one of the best bass fishing publications in the market today.

The main goal is to find a school that offers your major and has a STABLE bass club fishing team. You have to find out about the team coming and going so when you enroll you will know the team is stable and will continue for the five or six years you are in school. And after you find out if the school has a bass fishing club you then need to ask if you need a boat to compete on a high level to move up in the tournaments.

Guys will be paired together when August rolls around, leaving those without a boat out in the cold. You can still get a ride now and then, but for the most part you will be a nonboater without a boating partner until you score high in club tournaments as a nonboater or make friends with a guy who has a bass boat at school. Clarify how the club operates regarding nonboaters and moving up to be paired with a guy with a boat.

If you have a boat then you will be treated like gold. Storing a bass boat in a safe environment is costly as you will need to rent a storage space to keep the boat and your equipment safe and out of the elements. Check this out with your parents to understand the financial outlay and what watercraft liability insurance requirements are needed ($300,000 watercraft liability for starters; $1,000,000 limits are the best)

Whatever you decide just remember your number one goal is to get that degree. After attaining that level of success you can have a successful career, make a lot of money, pay a lot of F.I.C.A., buy a new Ranger with a 250 four-stroke Mercury along with having money for gas, oil, upkeep, big garage to store the boat and equipment, upgraded trailer, your G. Loomis rod collection, Steetz reels, Japanese baits, the newest generation of electronics (6-D by the time you graduate); a beautiful wife; lots of kids; private schools; braces; trips to Disney World every year; paying taxes; a big white house in the suburbs of Pittsburgh or Philly (Main Line, of course); Mercedes SUV for the wife; BMW SUV for yourself; a Ford F-350 to tow the boat; lots of jewelry for wife; private school for kids; concierge doctor for family; and on and on and on and on and on and on and on..................

 

 

[Red_King814]

9 hours ago, Sam said:

Red, fishing in college can be fun but I will tell you what I tell all the young guns heading to a school of higher education:

Class work comes first. No if's, and's or but's. Fishing comes in a distant second, third, fourth or fifth.

Here is your new list of priorities: classwork; girls; fishing; girls; classwork; girls; fishing; girls; girls; girls ;girls; classwork; and the list continues.

So here is what I suggest: Living in Pennsylvania (unless you are in Erie, Colorado) you have the luxury of selecting among so many great schools, from little Slippery Rock to the big State Penn, with many selections in-between. Now is the time to do your homework on the computer and decide which schools offer the major you want to enroll and if you can, find out if they have a club fishing team. You then go for a formal tour of the school with your parents and ask about their club fishing team and who to contact.

When you visit the campuses try to set up a meeting with the club president or a local member since you could be visiting the campuses during the summer when school is out. Your parents need to know about the team, how much time is involved, the costs and all the details, plus the probability of you actually making it up the ladder of success to fish club and higher level college tournaments.

As penned above, go to the web sites for college fishing for both BASS and FLW and read all you can about past tournaments and what schools have bass fishing clubs that fish the BASS and FLW tournaments. Call the club presidents with the understanding that many of the club's web sites are outdated and the guys listed have graduated or moved on. I will be frustrating but you can do it.

Subscribe to Bass Times as this publication covers the college fishing tournaments plus it is one of the best bass fishing publications in the market today.

The main goal is to find a school that offers your major and has a STABLE bass club fishing team. You have to find out about the team coming and going so when you enroll you will know the team is stable and will continue for the five or six years you are in school. And after you find out if the school has a bass fishing club you then need to ask if you need a boat to compete on a high level to move up in the tournaments.

Guys will be paired together when August rolls around, leaving those without a boat out in the cold. You can still get a ride now and then, but for the most part you will be a nonboater without a boating partner until you score high in club tournaments as a nonboater or make friends with a guy who has a bass boat at school. Clarify how the club operates regarding nonboaters and moving up to be paired with a guy with a boat.

If you have a boat then you will be treated like gold. Storing a bass boat in a safe environment is costly as you will need to rent a storage space to keep the boat and your equipment safe and out of the elements. Check this out with your parents to understand the financial outlay and what watercraft liability insurance requirements are needed ($300,000 watercraft liability for starters; $1,000,000 limits are the best)

Whatever you decide just remember your number one goal is to get that degree. After attaining that level of success you can have a successful career, make a lot of money, pay a lot of F.I.C.A., buy a new Ranger with a 250 four-stroke Mercury along with having money for gas, oil, upkeep, big garage to store the boat and equipment, upgraded trailer, your G. Loomis rod collection, Steetz reels, Japanese baits, the newest generation of electronics (6-D by the time you graduate); a beautiful wife; lots of kids; private schools; braces; trips to Disney World every year; paying taxes; a big white house in the suburbs of Pittsburgh or Philly (Main Line, of course); Mercedes SUV for the wife; BMW SUV for yourself; a Ford F-350 to tow the boat; lots of jewelry for wife; private school for kids; concierge doctor for family; and on and on and on and on and on and on and on..................

 

 

Thank you so much, and yes I am in Pa we do have some good schools with teams around here and I have been in contact with smaller clubs that aren't for the colleges which is better for now

[Brett_Hebert]

Hey Red, about 3 years ago  friend of mind asked me to help he because he was starting a bass fishing team at our college and I was all in. Being that I worked so much I couldn't get to tournaments outside of our school club, but I help organize and set up some things. If you choose a school that dosent have a team established be discouraged you can easily start one up! First you need to find you a trusted advisor. Ours is someone my buddies mom is friends with that teaches at the school. She is so awesome and helps out in every way possible. When It comes to getting everyone registered for tournaments and prepared for leaving school early shes the best. Next your gonna need a few sponsors to help launch the club, pay for entry fees, jerseys, etc. Now find you some dedicated fisherman like yourself and you should be set. I attended Nicholls state university and in the 3 year history of the program we have had teams compete for the FLW collegiate championship as well as the BASS collegiate championship. Our team sent to the BASS championship placed 3rd (I believe) and trust me when I say driving 14 hours away from home for a fishing tournament is no easy task. With a little bit of hard work and some good buddies to help out a BASS team is easy to get going. Just remember that it is still a part of a school so you will all need to maintain your grades to fish. Good luck in college buddy those are some fun years! and if you have any questions for me just shoot me a message I'm always willing to help!