Thanks to the assistance of Claytor Lake State Park, member of the Pulaski County Fishing Team were able to enjoy a day of bank fishing Thursday.
“We’re excited to start getting more students involved in fishing,” PCMS Fishing Advisor Jacob Beckner said. “We’re still hoping to find more boat captains in the future and get more students entered into the bigger boat tournaments, but until then we’re going to continue finding ways to get kids outside and active. Today was a little rough with the wind and a recent cold front, but this is something we can do without a lot of prior planning or expenses. It’s just a great way to get more students involved.”
This was the first time the team has hosted this type of event, and reactions from students and parents who came out were very positive. The parents brought the students out to Shelter 3, which was generously provided thank to Brody Havens and the State Park.
High School and overall team advisor Mark Cox brought a large collection of lures and baits collected from donations and his own personal collection. Students were able to pick from those lures and baits to add to their own collections. Learning to build an effective tackle box is another goal of the team.
“This is also a great way to expose our students to the great things that Claytor Lake has to offer,” Beckner said. “Some people don’t even realize just what a jewel we have right here in our own back yard.”
With students, snacks are always a major concern as well. Pulaski County School Board member Penny Golden came through with enough pizza to feed the roughly 40 students who came out to enjoy the evening of fishing.
“We want to see the program grow,” Mark Cox said. “Getting young people involved and on the water is important for the future of tournament and recreational fishing. We’re going to continue finding ways to get these young people outside and involved, but if there are any boat owners out there who are interested in helping out, we invite you to contact us. The more boat captains we have, the more chances we’ll have to bring a State Championship back to Pulaski County.”
The team recently saw their first major success as the team of Dawson Lytton and Collier Alderman earned first place in the Bass Nation of Virginia Youth Junior Division tournament at Philpott Lake out of 16 teams entered. By winning, the team has qualified to fish in the State tournament at Lake Gaston at the end of April. This was the first tournament top finish for the program since it began last year.
Pulaski County had five total teams entered in the tournament. In the high school division, the teams of Wyatt Tolbert and Landen Burrus, Gavin Lytton and Bryan Reno, and Cody Rorrer and Jehu Maxwell fished. In the junior (middle school) division, the team of Jesse Roope and Kaden Duncan joined Lytton and Alderman in action.
For more information about the team and photos from the event, find Pulaski County Fishing Team on Facebook.