Fishing is gaining more traction here in the CSRA and in recent years students have even earned scholarships doing what they love.
In 2019, Greenbrier High School saw two students earn a fishing scholarship. According to Sue Blumling with the Clarks Hill Classic, Jacob Blumling and Cy Casey both were awarded a fishing scholarship to Emmanuel College. Casey is currently still on the team and is a senior at Emmanuel. Grovetown saw Corey Yaden earn a scholarship to Brewton-Parker College.
Greenbrier High School also had Caleb Hudson and Tanner Hadden earn a fishing scholarship to Emmanuel College in 2020 and 2021.
Greenbrier has one of the oldest programs. The school began its fishing eight years ago, and other Columbia County schools have added teams since. Evans High School began its fishing program in 2021 and won the Georgia High School Association State Championship.
Lakeside is just starting its program this school year. In South Carolina, North Augusta High School has a fishing team.
DJ Hadden, a former Greenbrier High School fishing coach who is now involved with the College Tournament Series, says he expects the sport to continue to grow and thinks more high school programs will add teams in the future.
MORE: Pinning ceremony for medical assistants and medical coding students
“It blew up last year. This was the second year of GHSA and the first year we went, we had like 100 or 150 teams. Last year we had around 275,” said Hadden.
One of the reasons more schools do not have a fishing program is the money for fishing equipment and boats.
“It is hard because you have to have people with boats,” Hadden said. “It is a very costly sport.”
Although not all high schools have a fishing program, students who do not have a team can join the Clarks Hill Youth Fishing Team. Clarks Hill Fishing Team has many students from different schools around the area.
Many students have also received scholarships on the Clarks Hill Youth fishing team as well.
Hadden says small businesses support kids with sponsorships to help funding for some equipment.
“We get a lot of local sponsors and that is one thing that has been cool, the community support,” said Hadden. “People that run small businesses are our biggest supporters.”
Hadden also said that he is happy to see more growth in the sport.
“It gives a chance for more kids that wants to be competitive to have something to compete in,” Hadden said. “There some kids that want to compete, but they can’t throw a ball real far and can’t run really fast, and it is just a way for them to compete.”
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
