I just worked the banquet and the casting competitions for the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Cabela’s. My big takeaway from the event is what a great event it is! When you look back at college bass fishing over the past 6 or 7 years, it’s amazing to see how many of these kids end up working in the outdoor industry. Some of them will become professional bass fishermen, but what I see in all of them is a real passion for the outdoors. Not everyone can be a professional bass fisherman, but when you have that passion, there are many ways you can fit in to the industry. In the casting competition, I realized how good these guys are technically. But they are also marketable. They look you in the eye in conversation, they have good people skills, and in my mind there is no doubt that many of them will have a great career in the outdoor industry.
Another unique thing about college bass fishing is how level the playing field is. Think about it, a school like Bryan College out of Dayton Tennessee can go toe to toe with the University of Alabama. It’s a level playing field because it’s fishing. And good fishing has to with good decision-making and great instincts on the water. I’m glad I get to work this event every year. It’s refreshing to see the kind of passion these kids have.
