Bass Club preps for competition

There is something fishy at the University, and several students are hooked on the idea. It’s the Bass Club.

“It’s called a bass club because that’s what the tournaments are. But on our own, we fish for anything from catfish to crappie,” club secretary Jeremy Sowell said.

Formed last summer, the club has 12 members with open membership to students, staff and faculty.

“Normally the anglers interested in joining the club have their own equipment,” club president Kasey Calbow said.

“However, we have sponsors that help significantly with equipment and boats.”

The club meets twice monthly in the Herrington Patriot Center to discuss fishing, area lakes and upcoming competitions.

“At least one of us goes to Harvey Lake every day, and as for other lakes, there are a ton. We fish at Lake Tyler, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Lake Palestine, Lake Fork, as well as Lake O’ The Pines,” Sowell said.

Four to six members plan to compete in the College Bass Western Super Regional tournament this coming weekend at Lake Tyler, home to largemouth, spotted and white bass.

Collegiate Bass and Under Armour are sponsoring the tournament. More than 50 college bass clubs plan to compete. “Lake Tyler is our home lake, so we should have great results,” Calbow said.

Teams consist of two anglers who must catch the five heaviest bass to win. The tournament’s weigh-in is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Academy Sports and Outdoors.

The club competes in Forrest L. Woods collegiate fishing events, Association of Collegiate Bass Anglers tournaments and The Collegiate Bass Championships.

The club has not won any monetary prizes but placed sixth at a fishing tournament where the first-place team won $10,000.

“I enjoyed seeing two of our teams compete and place in the top 10 at the SFA Bucketmouth tournament last December,” club adviser Jameson Adams said.

Adams said a few students asked him about starting a fishing club, and he helped them to form the Bass Club. The club has participated in tournaments, competitions and volunteered for community service involving the outdoors.

“This club is just about going out on the lake and fishing with friends or going to a tournament and meeting pro anglers,” Sowell said. “This is a great organization, and anyone who likes to fish or be on the water would love it.”