South Carolina high schools want to make bass fishing a varsity sport

[Analog]

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.


http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/2...na-high-schools-angling-to-make-bass-fishing/

 

[Insomniator]

I hate the south so much.

 

[Soccerman06]

Yeah 150 casts isnt even hard on the body, and isnt physically hard on your body. Most of the time its cast out wait for a bite and reel it in with a fish or cast out a jig/worm and slowly reel in. The people that are actually good know where to fish to catch the limit in 10 minutes and drink beer for the next 8 hours catching 100 more fish to release. The only thing thats hard on the body with fishing is the sun on your back for however long your out.

Pro sport? yes. Varsity sport? no way

 

[Rage187]

nice. I might have actually joined sports had this been an option.

 

[IronWing]

The team names would be so awesome. "I'm a Rydell Hooker!" "Ridgemont Jail Baits" "Sunnydale Motorboaters"

 

[Lash444]

Yeah 150 casts isnt even hard on the body, and isnt physically hard on your body. Most of the time its cast out wait for a bite and reel it in with a fish or cast out a jig/worm and slowly reel in. The people that are actually good know where to fish to catch the limit in 10 minutes and drink beer for the next 8 hours catching 100 more fish to release. The only thing thats hard on the body with fishing is the sun on your back for however long your out.

Pro sport? yes. Varsity sport? no way

You make about as much sense as a grown man with a Pikacchu avatar.

 

[SandEagle]

another lazy man's sport

 

[FoBoT]

that is pretty sweet
schools around here have trap/skeet shooting teams
http://athletics.liberty.k12.mo.us/...ypbns44a30q2uqm1?d=x&piid=&vpid=1288865463901

who says guns and schools don't mix :awe:

 

[RPD]

150 casts = 100 baseball pitches? hahahaha

 

[Train]

I can understand a fishing club or something, but a varsity sport? ugh.

 

[Leymenaide]

When I lived in South Carolina I always said if hunting , fishing and Nascar was covered on the S.A.T. they would knock the Yankee's socks off.

 

[Soccerman06]

You make about as much sense as a grown man with a Pikacchu avatar.

just woke up

 

[1sikbITCH]

If it keeps them motivated to stay in school and off the meth than who cares. Can't be a bad thing.

 

[PingSpike]

Why not? It helps build up an alcohol tolerance that will be needed in college.

 

[FoBoT]

I hate the south so much.

hate leads to suffering

 

[darkewaffle]

Hell I'd be in favor of it. The more people that get a bit more in touch with our environment the better. There's lots of legitimate sports and competitions that are 'low contact'.

 

[OutHouse]

i see no problem with this. some high schools have bowling as a varsity sport.

 

[DrPizza]

I do a lot of bass fishing. After about 5 to 6 days of fishing 10 hours a day, I start having some pain in my wrist and forearm, almost like carpal tunnel or something. I agree that excessive fishing can cause repetitive motion injuries, but disagree that it's as physically demanding as playing baseball.
Sport? No, it's an enjoyable recreational activity that some people happen to compete in professionally.

 

[IronWing]

.. but disagree that it's as physically demanding as playing baseball.

I don't know. My entire baseball career consisted of standing out in left field for hours tossing my glove in the air. Had a lot of time to think about how the seed heads poke up above the grass, just high enough to catch the breeze and disperse seed.

 

[RPD]

I don't know. My entire baseball career consisted of standing out in left field for hours tossing my glove in the air. Had a lot of time to think about how the seed heads poke up above the grass, just high enough to catch the breeze and disperse seed.

There is a reason you were in the outfield and not the infield.

 

[Train]

After about 5 to 6 days of fishing 10 hours a day

I enjoy some occasional fishing as well, but 10 hrs a day for 5-6 days straight? That would actually seem like a waste of a week.

 

[darkewaffle]

There is a reason you were in the outfield and not the infield.

Even then baseball is kind of a series of 'short bursts'. But if you've ever gone wading or even just cranked your boat up onto the trailer, it's no piece of cake either.

 

[IronWing]

There is a reason you were in the outfield and not the infield.

I never did get picked as MVP though my football career was even worse. I was noseguard. This consisted of crouching down when everybody else crouched followed by getting knocked on my ass. At least in baseball I never got knocked on my ass.

 

[American Gunner]

This is great news. Finally a high school sport for white kids!

 

[JJ650]

I hate the south so much.

That's ok. I hear Jersey isn't much better.

Anyway, this is mildly entertaining. I know the high school, but would have pegged mine (lexington) or neighboring Irmo HS to do this rather than Camden.

As fars the 150 casts equal to 100 pitches...I seriously doubt it.