Outside Iowa: Bringing on bass fishing for high school
I know its fall and we love to discuss hunting of all types this time of year, but once in a while an interesting opportunity comes along that begs your involvement, and this is no exception.
As Iowans—in short order—we will have a very exciting opportunity to implement IHSAA sanctioned competitive bass angling into high school sports.
This phenomenon has taking hold across the nation over the past few years and now it’s made its way into our beloved Iowa. For years I have always dreamed of fishing professionally, and even today I’d jump at the opportunity.
But, to stand a real chance at reaching the upper echelon you have to start early. When I was in high school, I was constantly skipping school to hunt and fish, but what if fishing became a part of school?
Jeremy King, Conservation Officer for Audubon and Guthrie Counties has a devoted passion for competitive bass angling.
With kids of his own already in early elementary, he wants to provide them with more opportunities than what he had as a young man and has set out to add bass fishing to Iowa high school athletics.
“This is an opportunity for high school-aged boys and girls to begin a life-long passion centered around time on the water,” King explains. “While at the same time offering a chance to taste pure competition and participate in a sport that caters to any level of athleticism and body shape or size. Not to mention Iowa bass fishing is very readily accessible, usually within 30-45 minutes of anywhere in the state.”
This sport doesn’t end at high school, or even college for that matter, King says this could be the stepping-stone to provide our kids with the opportunity to potentially make a career out of bass angling, or at least a lifelong fishing passion.
“Because this effort is still in its infancy, it is imperative for anyone who might be interested to please contact me,” he says. “A few schools have committed, but to get this officially kicked off we need to see a minimum of 50 interested Iowa schools.
I know at this point there will be a lot of questions, and I will happily take phone calls or emails anytime to help explain how this will work based on the detailed ‘blue print’ we currently have put together.”
A couple things to consider when looking to add this to your child’s long list of school activities, this will not conflict with existing athletics and there is no overhead costs for the kids to get involved. Participating mentors will provide and operate boats and will also provide fishing tackle if needed. At the end of each event, following the weigh-in every fish will be released alive to fight another day.
Finally, your kids are not just going fishing. At the end of each tournament, there will be a test regarding outdoor conservation, ethics, laws and why promoting our state fisheries is very important.
The test results will be combined with the day’s total catch weight to potentially increase their current bag weight. Above all else, this is a tremendous avenue to promote the next generation’s involvement in a sport we all dearly love.
Please take the step, contact Officer King or myself and we will do all we can to make this dream become a reality! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeremy King at (712) 250-0061, jeremy.king@dnr.iowa.gov or Thomas Allen tha481@gmail.com and we will both be happy to help!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Live It Up!
Thomas resides with his wife and two children in Guthrie Center. He is the Managing Editor with North American Fisherman, official publication for North American Fishing Club. For questions or archived articles please visit www.outsideiowa.com; tha481@gmail.com