The Good Ol’ Days
(Editor’s Note: Allen Luck is a former College Fishing angler and currently competes at the BFL level as a co-angler in the Shenandoah divison. The writer's opinions and observations expressed here are his own, and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, policies or positions of FLW.)
It’s hard to believe that the dog days of summer will soon be coming to an end, seen in the shortening of days and frigid mornings. For some, fall means hanging up the rods and picking up the bow or shotgun in preparation for the upcoming hunting seasons – for others, falling water temps signify hungry bass stocking up for the descending metabolism of winter.
With less than 10 years under my belt, the season brings back some of my most fond memories of tournament fishing. It’s where the obsession first started for me, a passion that has brought many lifelong friendships and mentors as I continue the quest for knowledge. It is through FLW that I got the opportunity to breathe tournament fishing.
When we are young, some of the most awe inspiring conversations are the ones where our elders share the stories that usually begin with “in my day” or “in the good ole days.” Each generation seems to have their own set of them, whether it be the farm life stories of our grandparents, the peace and love of the 60s or tales of extraordinary feats of athletic ability.
At 25, most individuals my age would discuss the rise of the Internet and cellular communication. Never before have human beings been able to exchange information at the push of a button. Although I must agree, I look towards a less generic answer. One that I share with many outdoor-loving college students and recent graduates across the country – the rise of College Fishing.
Although I originally made many of my college decisions based on where I would be able to place kick on the football team, I quickly learned the demand of higher learning – both from an academic perspective and on a social level.
As my freshmen year wore on, it was clear that I needed to make a decision on where my allegiance stood. On one hand, football had provided me with many life lessons, as well as the opportunity to become a hero at a moment’s notice. On the same note, year-round athletics throughout my grade school years had left me with ankle sprains, broken bones, torn hamstrings and a labral tear requiring arthroscopic surgery my senior year. After re-aggravating one of my hamstrings during spring ball, it was clear that decisions needed to be made. That is when I made the tough decision not to return to pre-season training, calling the head football coach to deliver the news. It was then that I decided to pick up a fishing rod and have yet to look back.
September not only means the first full month of the semester for college students nationwide, but also allows me to relive the inaugural year of the FLW College Fishing circuit. In the fall semester of 2009, I collaborated with partner Charles Parrish and founded the Hampden-Sydney College Anglers Club. Just squeaking into the first come, first serve final event of the season on Lake Gaston, Charlie and I finished third of the five teams qualifying for the Northern Division Regional Championship in November of the same year on Lake Norman.
During the Regional, we only managed one fish on day one, but rebounded with the largest bag of the event on day two. This propelled us to third place overall and qualified us for the inaugural FLW College Fishing National Championship in Tennessee the following spring.
To top things off, the club was awarded Student Organization of the Year in its first year of business by H-SC. There was something truly special about being cleared to practice and fish tournaments mid-semester.
One day, I too, will be faced with a similar scenario of sharing memories of what I see as “the good ole days.” In reflection, qualifying for the College Fishing National Championship will most certainly be at the top of the list, followed by a first-place finish with partner Dylan Bishop at Smith Mountain Lake in 2011. For a newbie to tournament fishing, I must admit that I still haven’t fully come down from those moments.
Seeing former competitors turn professional, work in the industry or in tournament organizations proves that this is just the start of the heyday for collegiate fishing. Individually awarded scholarships and club sponsorships makes college fishing more marketable for today’s youth. With high school fishing on the rise as well, bass fishing is evolving at a level no one could have expected. With the advancements means new life, more seasoned competition and a pushing of the boundaries to what we know as the sport of bass fishing.
This semester, a new crop of college anglers will begin a similar competitive journey to the one that captivated me as a young sophomore student. I thank FLW for all that the organization has and will continue to do for anglers at all skill levels and demographics. The beauty of our sport is that no matter your age or skill level, fishing provides an opportunity to experience nature in a way most will never witness. Share your passion for the outdoors with the world. Who knows, you may just aid in developing another lifelong passion.
Life is short, set the hook!