As a newly developed club, bass fishing team puts in hard work in order to avoid fishy business during competition seasons.
Bass Fishing club was established two years ago at Timber Creek and has been running ever since. With nine members, the club has gone to many competitions and received a plethora of awards. The club is partnered with Keller High School and they work together at competitions. The teams are a part of the Texas High School Bass Association. While those two schools are the main players, anyone from Keller ISD can join.
For the tournaments, each team requires two teammates and a boat captain. Each team needs to have their own boat and a minimum of $500 in sponsorship money in order to participate.
This money takes care of all the fees, jerseys, awards and gift cards. There are many fundraisers like helping the special needs and holding a garage sale.
“We’re new, so if someone wants to jump up and lead [fundraisers], we’re open to it,” said team advisor Jana McLendon.
In regards to the actual tournaments, the goal is to catch the largest five bass fish that meets the length requirement. The length limit is set to 14-16 inches and all bass fish are released back into the lakes when the weighing and measuring are over.
“It’s patience [and] knowledge of the lakes, tactics and speed [of the boat],” member Cole Jones explained. “The more you’ve fished in your life, the better you get a feel for it.”
As of now, the KISD bass team holds first place out of 51 teams in the west division. They took first at the tournament at Lake Whitney. For each tournament, the first place winner receives $200, second place receives $150 and third place receives $100 all to Angler’s Pro Tackle & Outdoors.
“For me, I don’t really catch a lot of fish anyway, it’s just something to get away from everything,” Jones said. “I mean, you’re out there for the whole day… and you don’t worry about anything [but] casting.”