Schools of fish fear the University’s Sportsman Fishing club.
The nautical team will have a chance to defend its title as Bassmaster College Classic champions in Shreveport next month. The club’s 16 members will compete against LSU Shreveport and the University of Arkansas.
The maritime crew defeated the University of Alabama at last year’s championship by reeling in seven more pounds than the Tide fishermen, said Logan Mount, wildlife ecology junior and president of the club.
The team will also be vying for a title for the first time in the Forrest L. Wood National Championship in late spring, Mount said.
The club’s love of the sport propels them to continue entering and qualifying for tournaments, said Craig Gautreaux, LSU AgCenter communication specialist.
The club competes nationally against more than 40 universities, primarily Southern schools, Gautreaux said.
At each tournament, teams consisting of two members fish for about eight hours, Mount said. Depending on the tournament, four or five fish are weighed and added together as the team’s total weight. The team with the largest haul wins.
“We are serious about competition,” Mount said. “We are serious about fishing. We want to make LSU known throughout the fishing community.”
Mount said living in Louisiana is an advantage for the University’s student fishing enthusiasts.
“We get to fish within the state,” he said. “Louisiana offers a vast habitat for us to fish and perfect our skills.”
Prior to tournaments the group pre-fishes the designated lake and crafts a game plan, he said.
Mount said the team participates in three tournament circuits: College B.A.S.S., FLW College Fishing and BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing.
“When we win, it shows how successful the University is,” he said.
Construction management junior and club member Drew Comeaux said he is excited for the upcoming tournament.
“It’s the biggest tournament of my life,” he said. “It’s the Super Bowl of fishing.”
Gautreaux said the Louisiana atmosphere affects the organization’s passion.
“[Club members] grew up fishing. It’s a part of their culture,” he said. “They are competitive guys and spend an enormous amount of money, time and effort to compete on a national level.”
Gautreaux said LSU Shreveport has the advantage in the upcoming competition because of their location.
“It’s their home waters and it’s a tough fishery,” he said. “One good fish can go a long ways in this tournament.”
 
 
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Contact Claire Caillier at [email protected]