Like any sport, one needs practice to get good at fishing, and the Becker High School Bass Team has been taking in a lot of practice.
Now in its third year, the fishing program has grown in members, coaches and sponsors. Coach Dusty Wright leads the program along with the help of dedicated parents and volunteers. This year 42 student anglers make up the team.
The program offers youth the chance to learn to become responsible fishermen through classroom activities, volunteering at events, fishing with a variety of coaches and even getting free stuff.
During this winter’s ice fishing season, the team held a friendly competition in which members noticed Wright when they caught certain species of fish. Once the season was over, the group got together and everyone came home with a fishing prize, from fishing towels and ice fishing poles all the way up to portable fish houses.
During this year’s chilly spring, the team met twice a month to become more knowledgeable about fishing. Sessions were held on everything from determining types of fish and different kinds of fishing lines and lures and their uses, to how to predict where fish will be located and how to use electrical fishing equipment.
Most sessions were taught by the team’s volunteer fishing coaches, over half of whom don’t have a student on the team. They volunteer their time because of their love of the sport and because they enjoy sharing that passion with the next generation of fishermen.
A few of the sessions were taught by the more experienced team members, such as how to make rod covers. The team learned how to sharpen hooks and that fishing in the rain won’t make them melt!
Once the weather finally warmed up, the team was able to start catching some fish. Members were separated into teams and given the chance to fish with different coaches. The teams fished mainly on local lakes to learn how to find fish in different lakes and what types of lures to use during different times of the year.
Most of the teams fish in the SATT (Student Angler Tournament Trail) tournaments, which are large high school events with 100-200 boats at each event. The big tournaments allow the team to fish against other teams in the state.
The tournaments have great showings and are held on different lakes including Minnetonka, Mille Lacs, Leech and Le Homme Dieu.
Five Becker teams have already qualified for the Tournament of Champions held at the end of the year, where they will compete for over $20,000 in scholarships.
The team also held their own tournament on Eagle Lake last month, with many youth and families showing up to fish, watch the weigh-in and talk to the winning teams to find out how they caught their fish. Each team could bring in five bass; all fish were cared for and released at the end of the evening.
The Becker Bass Team has amazing support from the community, community education and local businesses, which has allowed them to hold DNR boating safety classes and purchase items for the kids and coaches to help them learn to fish. They’re also able to buy discounted product to give away during local fishing competitions.
Team members and their parents are encouraged to help volunteer and give back to the community. The team has volunteered at events such as the Sportsman’s Show, Classic Bass Tournament Boat Marshalls, Becker Freedom Days parade and at a local ice cream social.
For more information on the Becker High School Bass Team, visit beckerbass.com. Team and coach bios, tournament information and information on signing up for the 2019/2020 season can be found on the site. Photos and tournament results can be found on the team’s Facebook page, facebook.com/beckerhighschoolbass/
To join, students only need a desire to learn about fishing, no boats or fancy equipment needed.
