Bass tourney snags youths from across the state

BAZETTA -- Families from across the state traveled several hours to bring their children to the Ohio Bass Nation bass youth fishing tournament this past weekend at Mosquito Lake State Park.

Tasha Burgess, Ohio Bass Nation youth director, said the event was the first of four fishing tournament trail events in Ohio that includes a junior group for 4th to 8th grades and a high school group for students in grades 9 to 12.

"The students are competing for college scholarships, plaques and a chance to advance to the Bass Master Junior and High School national championship,'' Burgess said.

The local event helps qualify the youth to advance to the national event.

"Almost every state in the country has a Bass Nation group. We will all host state championships in the spring. This is mainly for Ohio student anglers, but anyone from any state can participate," Burgess said.

She said in 2025, three junior teams and three high school teams from Ohio went to nationals.

Burgess said her three junior teams last year finished in the top 20 at nationals, with 115 junior teams competing compared to 240 high school teams. Each individual or team can catch up to four bass and bring them in to be weighed and measured. Each team's heaviest fish is the top for that team.

"The top three teams with the highest weights will receive plaques and the top high school team earns scholarships,'' Burgess said.

She said students are able to attend college on a fishing scholarship.

"This is a nontraditional sport. These may be students who don't play basketball or football. We give them another avenue to get scholarships. Some of the kids eventually go into conservation work. These kids can go anywhere. It is exciting,'' Burgess said.

She said Mosquito Lake was selected as a new fishing location.

"Every year, we try to take kids to different locations to fish. This is our first trip to Mosquito. We try not to go to the same lakes every year because this allows the families to travel and go to new lakes. We want to get them out of their comfort zone and learn new things,'' Burgess said.

Another fishing event is planned Sept. 13 at Allen Creek in the Columbus area with two other events and the state championship planned in the spring.

Burgess, who traveled with her husband, John, from Oxford, said youth from Cincinnati and Columbus traveled to Trumbull County for the event.

Trevor Bentley, who emcees the awards ceremony, said he drove 600 miles to the event and credits parents who drive their children to the tournaments.

"We focus on good sportsmanship and conservationists. We want to make sure the fish go back in the water very quickly," Bentley said.

The junior group fished at Mosquito for seven hours and the high school for eight hours starting at 7 a.m.

Burgess said a prayer was said and the national anthem was sung at 6:45 a.m. Saturday before the youth went out on their boats.

"We try to make it as close to the national championship as far as their experience with us so that those who do make it to nationals they know what to expect. There are a lot more boats at nationals," Burgess said.

PARTICIPANTS

Gideon Fleisher, 13, of Fayetteville, said he and Eli Class 14, of Mechanicsville, were on the same team as they fished.

Fleisher said they were able to catch 18 fish.

"It didn't seem like we were out there for eight hours," Fleisher said.

Class said they don't mind the long hours as they fish.

Fleisher's parents, Dan and Kelli, were with other parents in a shaded area of the shoreline waiting for their children.

Fleisher, who has been competing for four years, took part at nationals this year with the team making it to the top 20 out of 115 teams.

"This program is really family oriented. Our daughter wants to be in this as well. She travels along with us. The team is like a family,'' Kelli Fleisher said.

Dan said the program teaches adversity as the children learn they may not catch all the fish they want, and knowing some days go well, but others do not.

"Over the years we have watched our son grow. He is learning the art of bass fishing," Dan said.

"He started fishing when he was 2 years old with a little Mickey Mouse fishing pole at our farm pond. He saw other members of the family who were fishermen and he got the fishing bug,'' Kelli said.

Carter Kulpa, 14, of Galena, said he and Marlon Gammon, 14, of New Albany, were on the same team and caught 13 bass together with four that they kept.

"It was a good experience. We were able to catch the fish quickly," Gammon said.

The two said the weather was also cooperative, with it not being too hot.

Laura Kulpa said getting to the tournaments and competitions involves a lot of traveling.

"It is well worth the trip. Carter has a passion for fishing and really wants to do this. We follow them. We are not forcing them. They are always ready to go. You can see the drive that he and Marlon have. They just love it. It makes the days easy for us," she said.

Alexis Gammon said Marlon and Carter work as a team when fishing.

She said a captain drives the boat while the boys fish.

"The men provide a mentorship with the lessons that they are learning, They are learning life lessons,'' Gammon said.

Gammon said Marlon and Carter competed this year at a world competition in Arkansas, where they finished 21 out of 79 teams after having competed at nationals three years ago in Tennessee.

Gammon said the two boys knew they could do well if they partnered up for the competitions.

"They have been partners for over a year," Gammon said.

Kulpa said with the four trail events, teams have to qualify by winning three out of four.

Gammon said there are different ways to qualify for nationals and world, which are the two big tournaments. Teams have to be successful at the trail events or the state tournaments by earning points.