Grand Valley State University’s Bass Anglers Club allows students to improve their fishing skills, compete in tournaments and form connections with fellow anglers. Due to Michigan’s wide array of rivers and lakes, members of the group have ample opportunities to fish and bond with other GVSU students interested in angling.
“Our team is inclusive, so anybody can join, whether you are brand new to fishing or you’ve been fishing since you were a little kid,” said GVSU senior Joseph Catania, the social media manager of the club. “There are no tryouts either, so we really encourage anyone who is interested in the sport or (recreational) side of fishing to join us.”
While anglers of all skill levels are encouraged to join, the club is geared toward competitive fishing tournaments. The main tournament that anglers take part in is the Michigan College Bass Tour (CBT).
This event usually takes place on Saturday mornings in various locations throughout Michigan. In preparation, team members visit the location beforehand to scope out the area in search of larger fish. After spending some time finding ideal fishing spots, team members return the day of the tournament and pair up into groups of two. Once the event begins, these groups compete in catching five of the largest and heaviest fish at the location.
“The way the tournament works is each boat has two anglers from the same team who try their best to catch the biggest five bass they can,” said GVSU junior Conner Lynch, the Bass Anglers Club president. “At the end of the day, we come in and weigh our five bass in hopes of having heavier fish than the rest of the competition. It’s much more than luck and knowing how to bait your hook, it’s being able to read the water, understand how water temperature and weather conditions move the fish and where to look to find them.”
There are also several other opportunities for anglers to show off their skills throughout the year. These include the Bass Fishing League (BFL), West Michigan Bass, Bassmaster and Major League Fishing College tournaments. Bass angling can be enjoyed all year round, as these organizations offer plenty of resources for those interested in getting involved with the sport.
Some tournaments also give students the chance to travel out of state to pursue their passion. Through opportunities such as these, the Bass Anglers Club is able to expose students to new parts of the country and aspects of the sport, as well as create community among anglers.
“A majority of our members already started fishing bass tournaments in high school, and want to continue their fishing career into college because it’s a step up from high school,” Catania said. “The competition in certain settings is pretty crazy.”
CBT is currently preparing a new schedule for tournaments that will be available this winter. In the meantime, club members are looking forward to enjoying ice fishing trips as the weather begins to cool down.
The Bass Anglers Club will also be participating in the Ultimate Sport Show, which will be held in the spring at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. The club encourages students to drop by for this celebration of outdoor sports on March 13-16.
