Newly-formed high school and club fishing teams are catching the interests of young anglers, including here in Becker. In their inaugural season, Becker reeled in 19 interested youngsters to start a team in the Spring of 2017. The Becker High School Bass Fishing team placed in the top five of a tournament they recently participated in and are now “auto-invited” to the Tournament of Champions competition in September. 

 

The team qualified in a tournament on Lake Minnetonka with the T.O.C. being held Sept. 10 on Lake Washington in Dassel.  The winning team in a field of 25 in September will take home a Lund boat.

 

Becker’s boys had 17.85 pounds of fish on Lake Minnetonka off of Lord Fletchers – Warrior Trail.

 

 

Friday, almost every angler on the Becker team participated in another tournament on Pelican Lake at Breezy Point.  They need to be in top seven to qualify for T.O.C. in September.

 

This past weekend. the boys rode along in boats with professionals on Gull and Whitefish Chain, acting as tournament judges.  Becker’s Charlie Wright, nicknamed BiggTime Charlie, was with a pro who won the event on Whitefish Chain.  

 

It was a great opportunity for these guys to learn,” said Coach Dustin Wright.

 

The Becker Bass team is comprised of Derek Roske, Charlie Wright, Jacob Novak, Colton Johannes, Jonathan Doherty, Neil Odden, Tyler Matvick, Colton Peifer, Ty Pribyl, Jon Novak, Erik Brandt, Cole Berringer, Jarrett Aumock, Jack Budd, Daniel Solsvig, Nathan Bujarski, Bryce Brannan, Calvin Fritsch and Carter Hietala.

 

The team is coached by Dustin Wright. 

 

The Becker Bass team started their season in April and is comprised of novice and more experienced anglers. There is no overarching governing body for all high school fishing events, nor is fishing sanctioned yet by the Minnesota State High School League.

 

Tournaments are organized by national and state tournament directors under the umbrellas of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, The Bass Federation – Student Angler Federation, Fishing League Worldwide and Muskies, Inc. Most of the tournaments occur during the summer.