After delaying a week due to weather, five teams from the Bowie High School Bass Club finally competed at the regional tournament on Sunday in Lewisville at Lake Park.
Three teams did well enough to qualify for the state tournament, led by a second place finish from Jeremy Stone.
Stone brought in 17.91 pounds, only getting beat out for first by eight ounces. He did well enough to also win a $5,000 scholarship. Still, to come so close, his boat captain Rusty Edwards expects Stone to fish with a chip on his shoulder at state.
“He’s ready to go to state with a vengeance,” Edwards said.
Besides Stone, the team of Blake Allen and Will Hamilton also qualified for state by bringing in 8.01 pounds. Ian Ashley and Hunter Pullen qualified by catching 5.51 pounds.
With the weather being cold and windy and competing against some of the best teams in the region, it was not ideal conditions to do well.
“Our guys put it together and did a tremendous job,” Edwards said. “All the training and practice throughout the year has definitely come together.”
The state tournament is not until May 19-20 at Sam Rayburn Lake in east Texas. Edwards is hoping the conditions will be more friendly than it has been at their last few tournaments since he knows the lake so well.
“If the wind conditions aren’t as bad that kind of opens up the lake to fish bigger,” Edwards said. “We can go to more places, not be limited to certain areas.”
The team hopes to make a trip east before the tournament so they can get to know the lake and take in some of the spots where they hope to find big fish.