Meet the Tigers

LSU teammates Morris, Murdock share their thoughts on qualifying for the 2012 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship

LSU teammates Timothy Morris (left) and Richard Murdock (right) completed the FLW College Fishing Choke Canyon Reservoir event in fifth place with a total catch of 9 pounds, 15 ounces. Photo by Diana Hunt. Anglers: Timothy Morris, Richard Murdock.

March 5, 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: Timothy Morris (pictured on left)

Class: Senior

Major: Environmental Management Systems

Hometown: Donaldsonville, La.

Other interests: Basketball, golf, hunting, football, baseball, and rodeos.

Name: Richard Murdock (pictured on right)

Class: Junior

Major: Natural Resources and Ecology Management

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Ga.

Other interests: I enjoy playing fantasy football – way more than I probably should and just being outdoors with my friends or family, preferably close to the water.

Club Web site: www. lsufishing.com

Q&A

CollegeFishing.com: How were you introduced to fishing?

Morris: My dad introduced me to fishing. He was very big into saltwater fishing and I learned how to fish catching reds and specks in southern Louisiana. From there I started fishing freshwater with my cousin who would take me to Lake Verret, a lake 30 minutes from my house. Since then I have continued to go bass fishing.

Murdock: I was introduced to fishing through my dad and brothers. However I was introduced to the sport of bass fishing by my tournament partner Ted.

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

Morris: My favorite style is fishing with crankbaits. I am most comfortable with them and it is my go-to bait. I am also comfortable flipping and pitching and fishing with topwater baits as well.

Murdock: I enjoy flipping either weedlines or cover on the bank.

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?

Morris: It was amazing to qualify for the national tournament. I couldn’t be happier that Tad and I will now get the chance to compete for a national championship. We are preparing for the event by fishing, looking at maps of the lake, getting as much information as possible and coming up with our game plan with as much detail as possible.

Murdock: To tell you the truth, the best way to describe the feeling was that I felt like a pro for a few days during the regional event. After leading the regional after day one I was living a dream. And to qualify for the championship just magnified that feeling. To prepare, my tournament partner Ted and I have ordered topo maps as well as viewed satellite maps of Lake Murray. We also plan on making a trip during our spring break to get a good look at the lake and spend some time finding a few possible areas in which to best spend our pre-fishing time.

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

Morris: I enjoy building things and working on trucks and I loved growing up on a farm.

Murdock: Along with hunting and fishing, I love to play soccer.