The graduating class

Two of College Fishing’s best look to move up into the pro ranks

University of Florida's Jake Gipson is going to give professional fishing a try for at least a year before attending law school. Photo by Rob Newell. Anglers: Matthew Wercinski, Jake Gipson.

October 23, 2010 • Rob Newell • Abu Garcia College Fishing

SANFORD, Fla. – The rules in FLW Outdoors College Fishing are similar to other college sports in terms of eligibility – only fulltime undergraduates can participate. Once an angler graduates, they are no longer eligible to fish the next season in College Fishing

So with the end of this National Guard College Fishing season, two of Southeast Division’s best anglers – Jake Gipson of the University of Florida and Shaye Baker of Auburn University – will graduate and be faced will a decision to either fish professionally or solicit their new degrees for a job in the “real world.”

Both of these College Anglers were founding members of their respective university clubs and both have been very successful at the collegiate level.

Gipson and teammate Matthew Wercinski have already won the Southeast College Regional Championship once and if things go well today, they could be repeat winners. He and Matt also won the College Fishing National event on Ft. Loudoun-Tellico last year, earning them both a berth in the Forrest Wood Cup. And if that were not enough, Gipson and his father also won the Military Bass Championship on Lake Eufaula last May.

Needless to say, Jake Gipson knows how to find bass and certainly has demonstrated the poise and focus to step up to the next level. So will he do it?

Gipson just graduated with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering and has just been granted a scholarship for law school, the start of which has been deferred to next fall, leaving Gipson with a full season to try the next level of tournament fishing.

“I think I’m going to fish the American Fishing Series and maybe some BASS Opens next year,” Gipson said. “If things go well and I pick up a sponsor or two, then I’ll continue with the pro fishing route. If not, I’ll go to law school.”

If fishing does not work out, Gipson is eyeing a career in intellectual property law, which requires an educational background in engineering as well as law.

As for his teammate Wercinski, who graduates this spring with a degree in Business, he has no plans for pro fishing.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a blast fishing with Jake,” Wercinski said. “We’ve fished together since high school, we started the club at the University of Florida and we’ve done well for our school, but fishing as a full-time pro is not for me. Jake is the captain of the team, he puts in all the time pre-fishing and finds the fish. I just help him catch a few from time to time. I might fish as a co-angler in some of the tournaments Jake is going to next year, but that’s it. I plan to get my degree and look for a job.”

Auburn’s Shaye Baker graduates in December and he certainly plans to give pro fishing a go after college.

“Yeah, I’m going to pursue a full-time career in professional fishing,” Baker said. “I know it’s tough, I know it’s a grind but it’s what I want to do so I’m going to fish the American Fishing Series next year.”

Since they have now both qualified for the College Fishing National event on Kentucky Lake this spring, both Gipson and Baker will have one last chance to qualify for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita as collegiate anglers.

The final day weigh-in of the National Guard College Fishing Regional Championship on Lake Monroe will be held at UCF’s Brighthouse Networks Stadium just after the UCF vs. Rice football game at about 6:30 p.m.