GreatLakesBass.com wholeheartedly supports all efforts to bring new anglers into fishing believing it is a wholesome activity that will do anyone real good, along with helping our sport and environment. We particularly believe in and promote efforts to get and keep more youth and young adults involved in fishing and the outdoors.
So it's an easy call to add more information here about the CBAA - Collegiate Bass Anglers Association - a not for profit effort to promote youth and young adult fishing through bass fishing clubs and fun competition for college students.
CBAA has many great plans and a solid start with college fishing teams and inter-school and conference competition. For more information, please check out www.collegiatebass.org (http://www.collegiatebass.org/).
I wish we had the CBAA when I was in college. I doubt Duffy would have allowed anyone to join though ;D
GO STATE!!
It's all in the timing, isn't it...
I expect more talk about high school bass fishing programs in the next couple of seasons also.
Glad to see the CBAA section, I'll email my team from Wisconsin and let them know about the new changes.
Question for ya DK regarding the possibility of high school programs: how could we (I) go about trying to test future interest?! Being Downriver it seems kinda natural being blocks off the water. Any ideas would be appreciated! Just remembered that I still have contacts with the MEA (and various school districts) from when I worked there that may be useful...
Scott
Quote from: djkimmel on October 16, 2009, 01:31:49 PM
It's all in the timing, isn't it...
I expect more talk about high school bass fishing programs in the next couple of seasons also.
Let's not forget Fishers of Men already has an awsome Adult/Junior Trail called the Legacy division. My plan is to run a Michigan Legacy division next year.
Quote from: bigjc on October 17, 2009, 04:37:34 PM
Quote from: djkimmel on October 16, 2009, 01:31:49 PM
It's all in the timing, isn't it...
I expect more talk about high school bass fishing programs in the next couple of seasons also.
Let's not forget Fishers of Men already has an awsome Adult/Junior Trail called the Legacy division. My plan is to run a Michigan Legacy division next year.
Make sure and keep me in the loop with schedules and news releases so I can add that to my Youth section on GreatLakesBass.com
Quote from: River Rat on October 16, 2009, 01:38:28 PM
Glad to see the CBAA section, I'll email my team from Wisconsin and let them know about the new changes.
Question for ya DK regarding the possibility of high school programs: how could we (I) go about trying to test future interest?! Being Downriver it seems kinda natural being blocks off the water. Any ideas would be appreciated! Just remembered that I still have contacts with the MEA (and various school districts) from when I worked there that may be useful...
Scott
Illinois is the only state I know so far that has made bass fishing a high school sport. Other states have shown interest including Michigan. I think it will take a small group of energetic persons to provide support and knowledge to kick start it.
Here's a link to the Illinois High School Association bass fishing sports page (http://www.ihsa.org/activity/bsf/index.htm) and their bass fishing program specific site THE Future Fishes HERE (http://www.thefuturefisheshere.org/). They even have some school-specific web sites on there.
One idea I see to help is to get local bass clubs to volunteer as resources as these clubs (http://www.thefuturefisheshere.org/clubs.htm) have in Illinois.
I believe there has been discussion at individual schools in a few places around the country.
In Michigan, we'd probably have to go through the Michigan High School Athletic Association (http://www.mhsaa.com/). I would think it would be a good start for some volunteer anglers to use any contacts they have to get with a local school stating interest in helping start a club. Some interest at several schools might get the MHSAA's attention.
Michigan High School Athletic Association
1661 Ramblewood Drive
East Lansing, MI 48823
Office 517-332-5046 Fax 517-332-4071
info@mhsaa.com
I don't personally know anyone at the state level, but I would be willing to help in any way if someone comes up with a plan. I think it would be an awesome idea.