The WSU Bass Fishing Club was founded less than a year ago, but the club members are already known kickin’ bass in tournaments.

Last year when Zackery Shaff, a junior chemical engineering major, heard about the National Guard FLW College Fishing Series, he decided to take charge. Shaff started the WSU Bass Fishing Club because an organized club is required to register for an FLW tournament.

Many students decided to join after an ad was placed in the Daily Evergreen. “I was thrilled to see others at WSU trying to establish this club,” Chris Gregersen, senior wildlife ecology major, said.

Charlie A. Powell, Public Information Officer, WSU College Veterinary Medicine, said the club is great opportunity for bass fisherman. “The Snake and Columbia Rivers provide some of the nation’s best smallmouth bass fishing and there are many lakes and impoundments that produce high quality, sustainable largemouth fisheries,” he said. “When you combine the competitive structure of a collegiate bass fishing circuit, with a prime resource, and understanding that tournament fish are released, there is very little downside."

Gregersen, who serves as the public relations spokesperson, said the club focuses on competitive tournaments. The club offers students at WSU a chance to explore the depths of bass fishing and exchange knowledge and information regarding the sport. There are also organized club fishing trips and inter-club fishing tournaments too, he said.

Following the tournament organization, members are provided the chance to compete at a professional level at a lower cost, said Gregersen.

The FLW pays each participant a stipend, which is usually enough to cover travel and lodging expenses. They also provide students the opportunity to use professional boats and be judged by accredited fisherman, he said. Club members do need to provide their own gear but the experience is well worth it, Gregersen said. Last year, the club participated in the National Guard FLW College Fishing Western Division tournament at Lake Oroville in Northern California. "It didn’t take long at all to realize catching fish wasn’t the issue at all, but catching the big fish would be a completely different story," he said. By the end of the day, three WSU teams had placed in the top 15 in the competition.

One of the WSU teams took first, by only couple of ounces, winning a prize of $10,000. “The club has certainly accomplished a foundation in competitive bass fishing,” Gregersen said. The winnings were split evenly between the club and WSU.

Gregersen said he encourages anyone interested in competition, has a passion for fishing or someone that has a desire to learn more about what the world of bass fishing has to offer to pursue membership.

"Not only are we fishing premier destinations on the west coast, but we also get the chance to spend time and learn indispensable knowledge from professional bass fisherman," Shaff said.