Anglers hooked as tournament fishing catches on

Tournament fishing is the ultimate test of a fisherman's nerves.

Everyone loves to tell big-fish stories, but a tournament angler can't lie. At the end of each day of tournament fishing the scales tell the truth about ones' skills. Tournament fishing keeps getting more popular, with as many as hundreds of fishermen registered in a single tournament.

The difference between winning or losing may be measured in a hundredth of a pound.

Tournament fishing has come a long way since the Missouri State tournament was originally held on Bull Shoals, Table Rock and Taneycomo back in the early 1960s. Back then it was a three-day contest, with one day spent on each of the three lakes. Most boats were equipped with a 50-hp motor or smaller.

There were few live wells, so an angler had to put his catches on a stringer. Little or no cash awards were given, only trophies, which went to the winners. There weren't big crowds at the weigh-ins and the number was small by today's standards.

Today, tournament fishing is big business. Even high schools and colleges field teams of anglers. There are many high school bass teams throughout Missouri.

A pair of anglers show off their catch after competing in a recent high school bass fishing tournament. (Photo by Ken White/Special to the Daily Mail)

Many of them are located close to big impoundments where good bass fishing tournaments take place. Weigh-in at tournaments draw big crowds of parents, relatives, friends and interested onlookers.

Many college athletic programs have surpassed the fan-base and popularity of neighborhood professional teams. In fact, some parts of the country are devoid of a professional sport franchise, due in part to the inability to compete with colleges.

When we think of college athletics, most of us picture chilly autumn tailgates or buzzer-beating finales. Yet, a new college sport is catching on at a pace unseen in comparable expansions: tournament bass fishing.

There has been a buzz behind college fishing since its inception back in the mid-90s. However, recent backing from the nation's largest professional tournament trails has transformed the sport.

The numbers speak volumes. According to Traditions Media, in 1995, a handful of college bass teams existed and competed. Today, that number has swelled to well over 600 programs, some of which have grown to varsity-level ---- offering sizable scholarships and recruitment of young anglers from across the country to join.

So why such massive expansion? Because competitive fishing, unlike many other college sports, can be played by anyone. Fishing doesn't discriminate by gender or physical size. It can be adopted by anyone willing to learn. It can never be mastered.

As society continues to recognize the benefits of the outdoor lifestyle, more young people are grasping the principle, and eager to try their hand at fishing. Competition has served to increase interest within the college demographic.

The Bassmaster and FLW tournament trails, undisputed leaders in the professional bass fishing space, took note early, and now each offer full tournament schedules for college anglers.

Retail giants Cabela's and Boat US operate an additional trail, giving college athletes a third opportunity to fish at a national level. Television coverage is included at major events for all three trails, as well as real- time.

Boaters get ready for a high school fishing tournament on Table Rock Lake. (Photo by Ken White/Special to the Daily Mail)

In addition, continued expansion of the professional fishing tours and heavy exposure on premium television networks have brought competitive bass fishing into the living rooms of millions of Americans. It's slowly being recognized by mainstream culture as a legitimate sport.

Sponsors have taken note of the youth movement. Today, many college bass programs have travel budgets for their players, allowances for rods, reels and tackle. Some even provide the use of modern bass boats for stand-out athletes.

Sponsors like St. Croix Rods have seized the opportunity to introduce their product to a new generation as well as support the cause. Nearly all of the products are donated or deeply discounted by the leading manufactures in the fishing market.

Fishing tournaments have come a long way from receiving trophy's to earning academic scholarships.

Who knew?