Anyone who’s ever been fishing knows that it takes a lot of skill and practice to become a pro. But did you know that there are actually colleges that can help you hone your skills and technique so that you can become a professional bass fisherman?
Schools That Will Help You Become a Pro Bass Fisherman
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best bass fishing colleges in the United States.
Personally, I think there are a few routes that make the most sense.
- Get a Business/Marketing degree at a school that has a collegiate bass fishing team/program
- Get a Biology/Wildlife Sciences degree at a school that has a collegiate bass fishing team/program
- Get any Bachelor’s degree at a school that has a collegiate bass fishing team/program
Business Degree + Collegiate Bass Fishing Team
The “Executive Angler”.
-Sean Wyatt
This is a deadly combination of business savvy and fishing experience. I have heard a lot of professional fisherman state that its crucial to understand the business side of professional fishing.
In the end, that is what you are building. You are building a brand and a brand is a business.
You can be the best fisherman in the world, but if you don’t understand how to manage your finances, cooperate with sponsors, and grow your network in the industry, you are going to have trouble building a solid life around your tournament career.
Wildlife Sciences Degree + Collegiate Bass Fishing Team
The “Scientific Angler”.
-sean wyatt
If you have no interest in the business side, then the next best option is to understand the “science” of fishing.
Understanding the biology and lifecycles of bass is a great way to improve your fishing.
Most anglers, by their nature, need to have at least some understanding of how a fish lives its life, what motives bass to feed, what motivates bass to move, etc.
Any Bachelor’s Degree + Collegiate Bass Fishing Team
Drumroll please… The “Educated Angler”.
-Sean wyatt
If you want to diversify your options and have a backup, I recommend at the very least, completing your bachelor’s degree along side getting into collegiate angling.
Most of these colleges have great degree programs and the relationships you will build in the process are truly priceless.
In the end, the relationships I formed during college were more important to me than the actual education I received.
Top Ranked Bass Fishing Colleges
Major League Fishing has a great article ranking the top collegiate fishing programs.
As you would expect, most of these programs are located in the Southeast and Midwest.
I am actually surprised that Oklahoma is not in the top 25…since MLF is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and we have A TON of lakes in Northeast Oklahoma…but maybe someday.
Most notable are North Carolina State University, Auburn University, and University of North Carolina – Charlotte.
BUT I would definitely not snub my nose at the chance to go to Texas A&M or Texas State University, which are also ranked lower on the TOP 25.
Top Ranked Wildlife Sciences Colleges
If you’re serious about becoming a professional bass fisherman, then you’ll need to get a good education. Fortunately, there are several great bass fishing colleges located throughout the United States. Here are some of the best fisheries programs:
• The University of Oklahoma’s School of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences offers a minor in fisheries and wildlife sciences, which includes coursework in fish biology, ecology, and management. The school also has an excellent bass fishing team that competes in regional and national tournaments.
• Auburn University’s Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in fisheries science. The department’s research facilities include six ponds totaling more than 12 acres, as well as three streams totaling more than 1 mile. Auburn also has a competitive bass fishing team that has won multiple national championships.
• Murray State University’s Aquaculture/Fisheries Center is home to one of the largest teaching and research aquariums in the United States. The center offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in fisheries science, and its research facilities include eight ponds totaling more than 25 acres. Murray State also has an award-winning bass fishing team that competes in national tournaments.
Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship
You may not realize but the NCAA is not involved in college bass fishing, allowing teams to use sponsorships and keep their winnings.
This is great news for anyone getting into collegiate fishing.
The biggest college bass fishing tournament series are the FLW outdoors, Bass Pro Shops College Bass Fishing Series, and the Carhartt Bassmaster College Bass Fishing Series.
You can view the current Collegiate Bass Fishing Series standings.
Collegiate Bass Fishing and Social Media
The younger generation has an advantage in succeeding in collegiate bass fishing because of social media.
I have met a lot of young anglers, having the time of their life competing in collegiate fishing. They also have started building a social media following.
Creating content along side competing in collegiate fishing is the perfect way to amplify your reach.
If you get familiar with filming and creating content while you fish, you are definitely going to be an attractive candidate for sponsorships.
Ultimately, brands want to partner with anglers that believe in their product, already have some sort of following or reach, and know how to provide valuable information to their audiences.
That is one of our core focuses here at ProudSportsman…to help amplify collegiate angler’s social media presence.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the many great bass fishing colleges located throughout the United States. If you’re serious about becoming a professional bass fisherman, then getting a good education is essential. And what better way to get an education than by attending one of these top-notch schools?
Make sure you create your free profile on Proud Sportsman to connect with brands and engage with fellow anglers.
