Meet the Wildcats

Kansas State University angler Ryan Patterson shares his thoughts on qualifying for the 2012 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship

Kansas State University team member Ryan Patterson produced a fourth-place finish despite having to fish solo during the FLW College Fishing regional on Kinkaid Lake. Photo by Gary Mortenson. Angler: Ryan Patterson.

March 19, 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. However, due to eligibility issues with Ryan Patterson’s partner, Brandon Patterson, Ryan will be fishing alone at the championship. Patterson also will represent the only one-person team competing in this year’s nationally televised event.)

Name: Ryan Patterson

Class: Junior

Major: Advertising

Hometown: Garden Plain, Kan.

Other interests: Bow hunting, tailgating with friends at K-State football games, and watching fishing videos over at my buddy Taylor’s house during the winter.

Club Web site: www.ksufishingteam.com

Q&A

CollegeFishing.com: How were you introduced to fishing?

Patterson: My dad and great uncle were really influential in getting me started in fishing. My dad has spent countless weekends at the lake helping my brother and me improve and learn. From the day we got our first Ranger, dad has never shied away from taking his kids fishing and I really appreciate that. Ralph Petty and Pat Lay have also taken me under their wing since I started fishing tournaments. They both have helped me to understand both the mental and business side of tournament fishing. My brother Brandon also has really helped me learn to pay attention to the little things – swapping out hooks, paying attention to bait colors, and helping me improve my finesse-fishing techniques. Without all of these people I wouldn’t be where I am today.

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

Patterson: I’m most comfortable power-fishing. Anything that involves chucking and winding, or heavy line I enjoy. My favorite way to catch them, though, is throwing a jerkbait in clear 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?

Patterson: Qualifying for the FLW College Fishing National Championship was exciting and something I’m never going to forget. On the second day of regionals, I was so nervous because I really didn’t want to make any mistakes. But when I found out that I was in and qualified, it was like a ton of bricks were taken off my shoulders. People don’t realize how hard it is to make the championship; the competition level is unbelievable.

As far as Lake Murray goes, I will definitely be doing some map study and probably take a couple trips to look around before the pre-fishing cutoff in April. With this being a spring tournament, things will change on a daily basis, so the team that makes the best on-the-water decisions will probably do well.

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

Patterson: I played football at a junior college for two years before joining the K-State Fishing Team.