The Pulaski County Fishing Team will be getting into tournaments as a group soon, but Saturday, April 30, the first Cougar fishermen took to the waters for official tournament action wearing the Burgundy and Gold.
Under the guidance of Boat Captain Mark Cox, the team of Logan Martin and Dustin Martin hit the water at Smith Mountain Lake to compete in the Major League Fishing High School Open competition that included teams from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia. For this tournament, Pulaski County was the only team representing the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Action started early with a nice catch, but the team spent the day trying to fill out their five fish limit. A big opportunity was lost when the team broke off what appeared to be a very good bass around 9 a.m., but by the end of the day the limit was achieved, and the team headed to the weigh-in.
The results for the programs first-ever appearance were impressive. The Cougars finished the day in sixth place overall with 10 pounds, 10 ounces in their five fish limit. That bag included a 2.25 pound largemouth.
First place was taken by Rein Golub and Matthew Pitcher of Pttsford Mendon High School in New York with their bag of 15 pounds, one ounce. Joah Coley and Jarren Crowder of the HS Potomac River Bass Masters took second place with their five fish limit of 14 pounds, eight ounces. Wade Detweiler and Jacob Vanscoik of Capital City Jr Bass Masters took third with their 12 pound, 13 ounce bag. Bo Helms and Ethan Palmer of Badin Bandits took fourth with 11 pounds, five ounces. In fifth place, just .03 ounces ahead of the Cougars and taking the final trophy of the day, were the team of Matthew Crawford and Gavin Gault of Madison High School with their three fish bag weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces.
Seventeen teams weighed bass in this tournament.
“I really enjoyed it and these boys fished hard all day,” Boat Captain Mark Cox said. “I’m proud of them and they represented the team well. It was a great start for the Pulaski County fishing program.”
The team will continue to put things together, including a schedule of local tournaments for all members of the program. The program will also look to send at least one team and hopefully several to the next Major League Fishing Open tournament, scheduled for June 4.
Pulaski County Public Schools and the Pulaski County Fishing Team has put out the call for volunteer Boat Captains to assist with getting these young anglers on the water. Visit Pulaski County Fishing Team on Facebook for full details.