Lines, Lures, and Luck
They sit in the dark, claiming their coveted spot, with only the man in the moon reflecting off the water and the croak of frogs for company. They wait for the sun to peek over the horizon—the signal that their dance of lines, lures, and luck can begin. They will cast in the cold, the rain, the dark, or the heat—no matter the weather, no matter the cost. They will endure it all for one chance at their prize, their treasure, their gift, the biggest bass in the lake.
School districts in and around Texarkana proudly support competitive fishing teams, where young men and women cast their lines in pursuit of the next big bass. Each team pairs off into fishing partnerships and is joined by a boat captain. The boat captain is a volunteer who provides the boat, guidance, and a dose of wisdom. These captains selflessly take the young anglers across lakes for a chance at a big bass. The tournaments, organized by Texas High School Bass Association (THSBA) or Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster, host hundreds of anglers each tournament, enticing what every fisherman desires—a chance of hooking a big fish plus big money.
Texas High School and Hooks High School attend the THSBA tournaments, competing against approximately 185 anglers at each event. THSBA comprises nine regions, representing fishing teams from all over Texas. Throughout the year, more than 450 high schools, private schools, and homeschooled anglers, totaling over 3,000 students, compete for titles such as Angler of the Year and State Champion. After fifty tournaments, each division advances to one of three regional competitions, all hoping to earn a spot at the two-day state championship. But it isn’t just about titles or trophies. Matt Tolnay, CEO of Operations at the Texas High School Bass Association, proudly shares, “Over $7,000 in scholarships and prizes combined are awarded at each tournament. Of that, $4,000 is given in scholarships alone. We are awarding $63,000 in scholarships at thechampionship, plus prizes, and $45,000 in scholarships and prizes at regionals. Altogether, the organization distributes over $500,000 in scholarships and prizes each season.”
Pleasant Grove, Liberty-Eylau, Fouke, and Genoa compete in the Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster tournaments, an organization that encompasses Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The local organization averages around 92 boats per tournament and even welcomes junior-high students to compete. Jason Townsend, director of Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster, explained, “We provide opportunities for youth to earn college scholarships through fishing, and we have given out over $10,000 in scholarships this year alone. Our anglers also have the chance to compete in a national championship through Bassmaster, where they can win full-ride scholarships to college. We have had three full rides awarded through the Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster High School and Junior Fishing Trail, located right here in Texarkana. It is a platform where kids of different ages can compete and earn scholarships.”
Whether competing in THSBA or Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster, both organizations offer big dreams—a shot at a title and money for college. But winning is harder than just casting out a line on the banks of the lake. Texarkana anglers compete against hundreds of other fishermen, all chasing the same prize. Victory demands skill, endurance, commitment, and knowledge.
The day before a tournament, teams often pre-fish, exploring the lake, familiarizing themselves with the landscape, and hoping to find a honey hole for the next day. If they find a coveted spot, the team will wake before dawn, launch the boat under the stars, and sit in the dark to claim their spot. At 5 a.m., the angler partners cast their first lines. These young men and women will then begin the eleven-hour dance of cast, hook, reel, and inspect—again and again. The goal is simple—land five of the biggest bass.
By 4 p.m., all teams must report for weigh-in. Anglers are greeted by a rainbow of tents filled with friends and family to cheer them on. Grabbing a net bag, the fishing duo places their fish into a water trough. After their names are announced, the partners clamber onto the stage, present their fish to the crowd’s “oohs” and “aahs,” and hold their breath as they watch the red numbers flash the weight of their bounty. Based on the declared weight, audience members crane their necks to glimpse the updated leaderboard. The flash of their name on the screen doesn’t just provide pride in a job well done, but also the chance of winning large sums of money and a chance for a title.
Texas High fishing team sponsor Keith Jones said, “Fishing has gotten really big over the last few years. All the tournaments we fish have 150-200 teams. Fishing is something you can do for the rest of your life. You can have fun doing it by yourself, with your friends, or with your family. However, tournament fishing can get expensive, so we are so thankful to Coach Stanford and all our sponsors for helping out with entry fees, meals, lodging, etc.”
Many of our Texarkana student-athletes feel the support they need through the cheers of the crowd, the beat of the band, and the chants from the cheerleaders. But what about our anglers? If your heart is led to support these young men and women, you may ask, “How can I cheer on and support these students?”
In truth, our beloved city has many students longing to fish who can’t because they don’t have a boat captain. If you love to fish or simply enjoy being in nature, consider signing up to guide these students. If you are retired, what a great opportunity to take a few weekends out of the year and pour into young people—offering your wisdom, time, and love of the outdoors.
If time is limited, but you own a boat, that is helpful, too. Local fishing teams in the community are always in need of boats, as well as fishing rods, life jackets, and lures. And of course, financial support is always appreciated to help cover the costs of boat gas, lodging, meals, tournament entry fees, and jerseys. Businesses can even sponsor teams by adding their logo to the team jerseys.
In return, these young anglers give back. For example, Pleasant Grove’s fishing team participates in community events like Fishing with Pleasant Grove Anglers and CAST (Catch a Special Thrill), a foundation that serves special needs and disadvantaged children.
Fiona and Ivy Meadows, Pleasant Grove’s first female fishing team, joined the organization not necessarily for the money or the title, but for the love of the sport. Fiona reflects, “I joined the fishing team because fishing is something I have always enjoyed doing in my free time, but I never thought I would do it competitively. When I discovered that Pleasant Grove was starting a fishing team, I was excited to join and fish with my sister as partners.
Denver Dennard and Ethan Jones, fishing partners for Texas High, have found great success over the past three years. Just this season alone, both anglers earned $3,250 in college scholarships, winning first place at Lake Palestine, third at Lake Fork, fifth at both Bob Sandlin and Lake Tawakoni, and ninth again at Lake Palestine. The talented duo was named 2025 Anglers of the Year in the THSBA Northeast Division. They competed in the state competition on May 30.
After placing first at Bob Sandlin and second at Lake O’ the Pines, Texas High teammates Eli Driver, Zach Fulmer, and Eli Dempsey also competed at the state level on Lake Conroe.
Though Pleasant Grove and Liberty-Eylau are new to the fishing circuit, both schools experienced success this year. Liberty-Eylau’s anglers James Crain and Jaylon Blackwell placed sixth at Millwood Lake, while Gavin Goben and James Cherry took first in the 2-Day Championship at Wright Patman Lake. Pleasant Grove’s Graham and Grayson Whitlock earned fifth place at Caddo Lake, and their teammates Monte Phelps and Kylan Edwards secured eighth place at Wright Patman Lake.
No matter which high school they represent, Texarkana’s anglers can rest assured that this city is cheering them on. We wish you tight lines, smooth casts, and the kind of catch that makes it all worth it. May your lines hook a big one.
Fouke Fishing Team
Cameron Thomas & Kaden Fries
Max Sewell & Braelen Dozier
Rhett Higgins & Lawson McMurry
Drake Moore & Nathan Combe
Malachi Clift & Devin Vann
Genoa Central Fishing Team
Zaydin Wooten & Jaxon Thomas
Denver Johnson & Hadyn Turney
Tucker Redfearn & JP Justus
Lincoln Holden & Noah Lansdell
Conley Bryant & Carter Davis
Jon Cox & Isaac Wheat
Presley Jo Cook & Brody Baber
Cooper Tollett & Hudson Lach
Grace Portfield & Zac Sells
Blake Sikes & Ryder McMurry
Bowen Whiddon & Ashton Whiddon
Skylar Page & Ethan Cox
Cullen Bearden & Chance White
Waylon Wilson & Jaxon Anderson
Ryan Johnson & Steven Henry
Eli Porterfield & Kaden Kenning
Clint Green & Ian Beckham
Nick Wells & Will Spears
Hooks Fishing Team
Brodie Boyce & Rayce Carr
Kaine Richardson
Landon Owens & Carr Krueger
Liberty-Eylau Fishing Team
James Crain & Jaylon Blackwell
Gavin Goben & James Cherry
Pleasant Grove Fishing Team
Ivy & Fiona Meadows
Brody Bass & Ashton Baumgardner
Montgomery Phelps & Kylan Edwards
Maddox Cedillo & Luke Leverett
Braxton Epps & Reed Byrne
Jonah Harrison & Maxwell Turner
Cason Bates & Jaxson Cowling
Graham & Grayson Whitlock
Sam Prewitt
Pleasant Grove Junior Team
Asher Helmick & Jaxsen Jones
Redwater Fishing Team
Gunner Duncan & Tye McBride
Noah Brown & Bradley Ferguson
Spencer Wells & Payton Reed
Texas High Fishing Team
Ethan Jones & Denver Dennard
Zach Fulmer & Eli Driver
Brayden Burgess & Rivers Glass
Dylon Koehler & Noah Veal
Eli Dempsey
