Varsity bass fishing teams in SC...really?

[GDub2001]

Football, basketball, baseball and … bass fishing?

High schools in South Carolina are bidding to make fishing an official high school sport, with teams, leagues and varsity letters. And with pro tournaments and television shows about fishing making it more popular than ever, some say it’s time for schools to recognize the activity as a full-fledged sport.

“They want their picture on the wall just like the football team and the volleyball and basketball and other state champion teams from Camden,” said Daniel Sisk, the fishing club coach at Camden High School in Columbia.

Camden is just one school among many around the Palmetto State that is working with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to make fishing a competitive sport.

“If it was recognized as a varsity sport, then your benefits would be you can letter in it, you can get scholarships,” said Camden Fishing Club member Catie Charles, a freshman. “But right now you don’t. You just go out there for fun and nobody really notices.”

No one is claiming fishing is as demanding as that other sport that counts ‘tackle’ in its lexicon, but the anglers say there’s more to fishing than sitting back and watching for a bobber to dart underwater.

“Fishing is a very demanding sport, both physically and mentally,” said Sisk “It’s very tough. “We aren’t going out and doing two-a-days as far as practice goes, but it’s eight-hour days.

“I heard that throwing 150 casts is equivalent to throwing 100 pitches in a game,” said Fishing Club member Carson Morgan. And, according to their coach, serious anglers often make 500 casts in a day.

For now, the students fish for fun on the weekends, joining the enthusiasts who pump an estimated $215 million per year into the state economy. But Camden students and their counterparts from 13 other schools have signed a petition asking the South Carolina High School League, which regulates school athletics in the state, to sanction the activity as a sport. They’re looking for at least two more schools to sign on before they submit it.

They have a key ally in the state Department of Natural Resources.

“I want to get as many clubs as possible so that the impact is like ‘Hey look! This really is something that a lot of kids can be involved in,’” said South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Director Lorianne Riggins. "There is a lot of interest here.”

In the meantime, the students will fish and hope that the state takes the bait.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/22...-bass-fishing/

[Luke Skycocker]

no way 150 casts equals 100 pitches

[GDub2001]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

no way 150 casts equals 100 pitches

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Metalrush24]

I'd say 500 casts is equal to about 100 pitches..


I could definitely go with that

[GDub2001]

Originally Posted by Metalrush24

I'd say 500 casts is equal to about 100 pitches..


I could definitely go with that

So you believe that casting puts the same kind of torque and stress on the shoulder and elbow joints/ligaments/tendons as pitching? Really?

Sorry...but I will have to respectfully disagree.

[davidmc467]

If it keeps students out of trouble, then I'm 100% behind something like this. If anything...fishing is a cool skill to have and can come in handy.

[Metalrush24]

Originally Posted by GDub2001

So you believe that casting puts the same kind of torque and stress on the shoulder and elbow joints/ligaments/tendons as pitching? Really?

Sorry...but I will have to respectfully disagree.

Doing anything like that 500 reps is stressful..


so yes.. from person experience having both fished all my life and thrown 100+ pitches on several occasions, that's my perspective



I'm not saying either is to the point of wearing a person out..

[Luke Skycocker]

The most pitches I've ever thrown is probably around 200 (about 140 in the game, plus warm ups between innings and warm up before the game). I could hardly move the next day. The most I've ever cast is probably 50 times, but I didn't feel a thing the next day

[Luke Skycocker]

Pitching made my legs as sore as my upper body. The key to throwing hard is having good explosion in your lower body. So that's another aspect, pitching makes your entire body sore whereas casting is only your upper body

[Metalrush24]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

Pitching made my legs as sore as my upper body. The key to throwing hard is having good explosion in your lower body. So that's another aspect, pitching makes your entire body sore whereas casting is only your upper body

True..

[dffoxfanatic71]

whats funny is that were on the verge of making this a varsity sport (need 16 teams in the state to make it offical) yet the hockey leauge is stuck at club level.

[sandstorm2001]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

The most pitches I've ever thrown is probably around 200 (about 140 in the game, plus warm ups between innings and warm up before the game). I could hardly move the next day. The most I've ever cast is probably 50 times, but I didn't feel a thing the next day

I mean I don't really care either way since I don't fish or play baseball, but you can't say that 100 pitches =/= 500 casts because 200 pitches =/= 50 casts. See how you feel after 1,000 casts and get back to us.

As far as my opinion on fishing becoming a highschool sport, I'm all for it. Any way you can keep kids more interested in extracurriculars is great.

[sandstorm2001]

Originally Posted by dffoxfanatic71

whats funny is that were on the verge of making this a varsity sport (need 16 teams in the state to make it offical) yet the hockey leauge is stuck at club level.

I'm not surprised hockey is stuck where it is. Kids can go out and fish with their dads. Kids can't get the boys together and play pick up hockey games on the frozen lake. (In this state)

[jellafever]

It would be nice to know who the 14 schools were, so one could try to approach other schools about becoming one of the final two needed.

[Stillwearingmyjoehat]

Well, if bass fishing is a varsity sport what about:

• BMX
• Skateboarding
• Water Skiing
• Auto racing
• Cafe racing

And the list goes on.

I would be willing to bet a LOT more than 16 schools could gather the necessary skaters to create a varsity team. And if a motorized boat is sanctioned then what about everything else with a motor?

[kingoftheroost]

Does this mean high school poker teams will eventually come to be?

[TaterHater1984]

Originally Posted by dffoxfanatic71

whats funny is that were on the verge of making this a varsity sport (need 16 teams in the state to make it offical) yet the hockey leauge is stuck at club level.

Well, this is South Carolina. Makes perfect sense to me. There are hundreds of kids in a HS that can/would want to be on a fishing team. You probably couldn't find 5 that can/want to play hockey.

[TaterHater1984]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

The most pitches I've ever thrown is probably around 200 (about 140 in the game, plus warm ups between innings and warm up before the game). I could hardly move the next day. The most I've ever cast is probably 50 times, but I didn't feel a thing the next day

I've done both as well. I was a pitcher up until 10th grade. Throwing 100 pitches in a game is painful after a while, but at the same time, I've been out on a lake casting a fishing rod hundreds of times for 10-12 hours many times. While fishing won't wear your whole body down, it's Hell on your arm after a full day. I don't think 150 casts=100 pitches, but I'd say 300-400 casts = 100 pitches easy. On your arm, at least.

[U-Dub Gamecock]

I caught a bass today... man, they are hitting anything right now at the Lake...

[sandstorm2001]

Originally Posted by Stillwearingmyjoehat

Well, if bass fishing is a varsity sport what about:

• BMX
• Skateboarding
• Water Skiing
• Auto racing
• Cafe racing

And the list goes on.

I would be willing to bet a LOT more than 16 schools could gather the necessary skaters to create a varsity team. And if a motorized boat is sanctioned then what about everything else with a motor?

I mean if you can get enough schools with kids that want to compete in those things and the money is there to get it organized then why not??