Fishing is becoming more and more prominent at Silverdale Baptist Academy, one of the few local schools with a program, as well as other schools throughout the region. Senior Cody Thomas just signed scholarship papers to fish on Bryan College’s inaugural bass fishing team. “This year we’re putting a team together. Hopefully next year we’ll be fishing,” says Bryan coach Mike Keen.Battle of Chickamauga
Learn more about the Battle of Chickamauga High School Classic at battleofchick.com.
Winning catch
Daniel Kennedy and Braden Marshall’s 21-pound, 13-ounce yield won them the tournament — and a $10,000 scholarship to Bryan College, which has one of the fastest growing college bass fishing teams in the country, according to the website for The Bass Federation’s Student Angler Federation. The single 7-pound, 4-ounce bass Kennedy and Marshall caught during the tournament also won them the Big Bass award. Want to see a fishing team at your school? Visit highschoolfishing.org to learn more.
Big business
Rhea County is home to one of the area’s largest high school fishing teams. It’s no wonder when you consider what big business fishing is for the county.In 2014, the county hosted 34 fishing events, leading to:18 percent increase in lodging tax5,500 more night stays than in 201312.2 million additional sales tax dollars than in 2013Source: Times Free Press archives
Among the local fishermen in the Chattanooga area, young anglers are casting their lines and stepping into the spotlight with the best of them.
Last summer’s Fishing League Worldwide Tennessee State Championship on Chickamauga Lake saw lots of local high schools competing for the biggest catch, from Central High School to Soddy-Daisy and Sale Creek highs to schools across Bradley and Rhea counties, and more.