Meet the Bulldogs

University of Georgia teammates Tolbert, Simmemon share their thoughts on qualifying for the 2012 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship

After leading for two days, the University of Georgia's Randy Tolbert and Chase Simmemon won the tournament by a huge margin. Photo by David A. Brown. Anglers: Randy Tolbert Jr, Chase Simmemon.

February 24, 2012 • Gary Mortenson • Abu Garcia College Fishing

(Editor’s note: Leading up to the 2012 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship – slated for April 13-15 on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C. – CollegeFishing.com will publish weekly, in-depth features stories of each of the 25 national championship team qualifiers. At stake in the tournament is a first-place prize package worth $100,000 as well as a chance for the winning team to compete in the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup.)

Name: Randy Tolbert Jr. (pictured on left)

Class: Alumni

Major: Fisheries and Wildlife Biology

Hometown: Rome, Ga.

Other interests: I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Name: Chase Simmemon (pictured on right)

Class: Alumni

Major: Fisheries and Wildlife

Hometown: Alto, Ga.

Other interests: Hunting, camping, and spending time with family and friends.

Club Web site: www.facebook.com/pages/UGA-Bass-Anglers/74010608224

Q&A

CollegeFishing.com: How were you introduced to fishing?

Tolbert: My dad introduced me to fishing. We have been fishing together since I could walk. I started out saltwater fishing and striper fishing. Then, when I was 11, my dad bought a bass boat and we started bass fishing. He told me we would start fishing tournaments when I learned how to cast a bait-casting reel, so I learned how to cast a baitcasting reel. I fished my first tournament when I was 13 years old and we have been fishing tournaments together since that day.

Simmemon: I was introduced to fishing by my dad and grandparents when I was very young. I have been fishing my whole life, and like most anglers, my earliest experiences were fishing farm ponds and creeks. Gradually, over the years, I started fishing larger reservoirs. I have always been very competitive and loved fishing, so naturally I started fishing tournaments, especially when I found out about FLW College Fishing.

CollegeFishing.com: What style/method of fishing are you most comfortable with?

Tolbert: I’m most comfortable shallow cranking and flipping, but I also love offshore structure fishing.

Simmemon: My home lake is Lake Lanier, so the fishing method that I’m most comfortable with is finesse fishing in deep, clear water lakes. However, with the help of College Fishing and being able to fish lakes all over the country, I feel just as comfortable fishing shallow, muddy water.

CollegeFishing.com: What did it feel like to qualify for the 2011 FLW College Fishing National Championship? How do you plan to prepare for the big event?

Tolbert: It was an amazing feeling qualifying for the FLW College Fishing National Championship – just knowing that I’ll have the opportunity to represent the University of Georgia one last time and fish for a spot in the Forrest Wood Cup! Qualifying for the national championship was a goal Chase and I had set at the beginning of last year.

As far as preparation is concerned, we will work on our tackle and make sure it is in prime working condition. We will also do a lot of map study and read fishing reports online. These off-the-water preparations will ensure that everything will be ready for tournament time. Hopefully, we will have done our homework so we can make the right decisions on the water. We also plan on spending a lot of time on the water at Lake Murray as well. Time on the water is the best way to prepare yourself for an event.

Simmemon: It feels great qualifying for the FLW College Fishing National Championship and having a chance to qualify to fish the Forest Wood Cup – which just so happens to be on my home lake. The Southeastern Regional Championship would have been my last tournament as a college angler, but fortunately my partner and I were able to qualify for the nationals and now I get a chance to fish one last tournament as a college angler. My preparation for the big event consists of doing as much studying as I can about the lake and putting in a lot of time on the water practicing.

CollegeFishing.com: Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.

Tolbert: Most people don’t know that my family and I raise chickens. We have several different varieties. And we even have some that lay green eggs!

Simmemon: I guess the most interesting thing about me that most people wouldn’t know is that I now work for the U.S. government as a beaver trapper. For some reason people find it interesting that there are actually jobs out there such as beaver trapping.