Story By Katie LeJeune
Last Wednesday, January 13, 2016 the LSUS Bass Fishing Team members began pre-fish practicing for the FLW College Fishing Southern Conference opener.
The tournament was held on Saturday, January 16 at Somerville Lake near Brenham, TX. LSUS junior, Jared Rascoe, a secondary education major, and LSUS junior, Christian Brown, a petroleum engineering major, baited a first place victory for LSUS and a a $2,000 College Club Scholarship.
“It feels absolutely amazing to win this tournament, to come out here and see all our hard work pay off is truly special” Brown told FLW officials on Saturday after the big win.
Among the 90 competitors, LSUS junior, Taylor Nussbaum, a biology major, and sophomore, J.P Kimbrough, a business management major, reeled in a win as top twenty, placing seventeenth.
“In pre-fishing we had mild weather compared to tournament day so we had to adjust. We switched from fishing deep brush piles to fishing shallow reeds on the bank and it ended up paying off for a 10 pound weigh in” says Nussbaum.
Among the other LSUS Bass Fishing Team members, business management major, Devin Deramus, LSUS junior and freshman, Riley Bornaman, environmental science major, placed 68th.
The team spent practice days pre-fishing in both the shallow and deep areas of Somerville Lake to help develop a productive pattern that would put fish on the boat for tournament day. Rascoe and Brown’s first place catch was 5 bass weighing 18lbs and 7oz. The team said the areas in shallow waters along the edges of mid-lake reeds proved to be hot spots.
“After the practice we had, we thought it would take a lot less weight to qualify, but when the conditions changed we had to step up our game,” says Rascoe.
The team was particular in their choice for bait. Rascoe and Brown’s secret was a green pumpkin V&M Choptick, while Nussbaum and Kimbrough nabbed fish with Chartruese and White Terminator Spinner Bait. Either way, it proved to be a success as the team earned a berth into the 2017 College Fishing National Championship.
Last year the LSUS Bass Fishing Team placed 7th at the Bassmaster Wild Card and 11th at the Carhartt Bassmaster National Championship. The Bass Fishing Club is also raffling off a full-day of fishing for two with expert guide, Darold Gleason at Toledo Bend Lake. Tickets are $5.00 or 3 for $10.00. To purchase tickets contact team members, Jared Rascoe at 318-553-0269, or Christian Brown at 318-461-9265. For more information on the LSUS Bass Fishing Team, or anyone interested in joining, visit the LSUS website’s Student Organizations Clubs and Sports Organization page under Student Life, or contact James Avant at avantj50@lsus.edu.