Lincoln Blanco

With the start of the school year, I feel it is my duty to help cash-strapped students, who are on their way to college, with this bit of information.

When we think scholarships, we think of football and baseball, but fishing? Yup, more and more students are turning to the rod and reel to help pay their way through college. No, times haven’t changed and we are not back on the bartering system, exchanging goods for services. Although I personally would start looking for gold the way our U.S. dollar is starting to look. But with as much as one million on the line to just fish, students throughout these United States have turned to college fishing clubs.

From FLW Outdoor Magazine College Fishing Tournament, brought to you by the National Guard. To College Bass U, that can be viewed on the ESPN Network. Students from across this great country of ours are really “reeling” in that dough by starting college fishing clubs. They are taking advantage of all that prize money being offered to compete in various college bass fishing tournaments.

Now each organization has their own rules and regulations to join, but it is all pretty basic. The majority of these organizations all seem to agree that you must be attending a four-year college, be part of that schools fishing club, and have a respectable Grade Point Average (GPA).

Aside from all the great scholarships and prizes, such as fishing boats and equipment. These fishing organization support local, regional and state fisheries through participation and involvement in conservation and environmental projects.

Well, what if your college doesn’t have a fishing club? Then start one! The various college fishing organization websites offer great information on how to get your own fishing club started. Just google “College Fishing,“ visit the various organizations websites, and pick the organization that best fits your needs.

Scholarships and prizes vary from organization to organization. For example, the FLW National Guard College fishing tournaments offers a $10,000 scholarship in the qualifying events, $50,000 in the regional championships, and $100,000 in the national championship with the chance to compete in the Forrest Wood Cup to win one million. Not to mention all the lower prize money, for the lower placing teams.

Now from all my research, the majority of these fishing clubs seem to be from the Midwest and East Coast. With all our waterways, I know there are some skilled fishermen on our side of the country. So if you’re into fishing and are preparing to start college this year, here on the West Coast, this would be a great, and unexplored opportunity to help pay your way through college by fishing.

Wouldn’t that be a great “fish story” to tell it one day, about how you got your college degree. What would be even better, is if Kern County started their own high school fishing organization.

Until next time, remember it’s called fishing and not catching.