Kentucky Becomes 2nd State To Sanction High School Bass Fishing

In its effort to get more students involved in extra-curricular activities, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association announced Wednesday that it will sanction bass fishing as a varsity sport starting in the 2012-13 school year.

Kentucky will become the second state to offer bass fishing as a varsity sport, joining Illinois.

“Not only does it seem like a natural fit, given the number of Kentuckians of all ages who enjoy fishing and the outdoors, but it also allows us to reach one more group of students … and give them a chance to be a part of a team,” KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett said.

Bass fishing joins bowling and cheerleading as recent additions to the KHSAA lineup of sanctioned sports.

The bass fishing schedule will start in late February and run through late April. The first state tournament will be held at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Western Kentucky.

The Land Between the Lakes already hosts numerous high school fishing events, including last year’s Murray State High School Fishing Open that drew 88 teams representing more than 50 Kentucky high schools.

Jerry Wyman, director of athletics for Jefferson County Public Schools, said he knew of no JCPS schools that have bass fishing teams.

Pleasure Ridge Park athletic director Craig Webb said he has “a couple of kids” interested in the sport and hopes to have a team formed for the first season.

“I think it will be an easy thing to start up as far as finding the kids,” Webb said. “The big thing will be getting equipment and those types of things. … I know there will be some challenges.”

Webb credited Tackett and the KHSAA for broadening its sports offerings.

“There are kids out there doing some great things, and they’re not just in basketball and football,” Webb said. “I think Julian is doing great things as far as getting other kids involved.”