By Gavin Lapaille
For most students, fishing is a hobby. For seniors Cody Greenwell and Travis Andres, it is a full-fledged sport.
Last weekend, Greenwell and Andres represented the University of Louisville in the Under Armour College Bass National Championship in the Arkansas River. The duo represented the Recognized Student Organiztion The L-Raisin’ Anglers in the tournament.
Greenwell and Andres sat in 10th place following the first day of the three-day event after catching four fish for a total of seven pounds, 12 ounces. A change in the weather left the U of L team with no keeper fish on the second day and were eliminated in 17th place. The Virginia Tech tandem of Scott Wiley and Brett Thomas won the overall championship.
“The wind switching directions killed us,” Greenwell said. “If that hadn’t happened we would have been sitting pretty in the top five easy.”
Greenwell said the duo found a pattern that worked during the first day that keyed on covering lots of ground
“It was a matter of hitting all the spots multiple times, hitting quick, moving and covering a whole lot of water,” Greenwell said. “You might try to catch one or two fish in one area and move on.”
The second day saw high winds pick up which caused Greenwell and Andres to lose all of the momentum they had gained the previous day.
“When the wind picked up our fish moved out a little bit,” Greenwell said. “That night a massive high pressure front through and the winds switched completely. That pushed the fish from that grass we were keying in. It shouldn’t have affected it as bad as it did but that wind took the bait fish from that area.”
According to collegebass.com, the CBNC is the most prestigious college tournament, bringing top anglers from across the country to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and, most importantly, school pride.
Anglers from participating schools fished for a large-mouth bass 15 inches or longer and spotted bass 12 inches or longer, with a five fish limit per day.
“The Under Armour College Bass National Championship was created to support bass fishing at the college club level,” David Healy, senior director of sales and sponsorship for Career Sports & Entertainment, the agency that owns the property stated on the website. “The beauty of the event is that we’ve created a level playing field that allows small and large schools to compete against each other, and just about every college or university in the country can participate.”
Although Greenwell and Andres may now be competitive athletes, that doesn’t mean they still can’t enjoy the wonderful world of fishing.
With the help of the L-Raisin’ Anglers, they can pass on their love of fishing to the next generation.
The Anglers recently held a children’s fishing tournament for the Crusade for Children which raised $300 for the organization.Greenwell, who serves as secretary, said it is great for the group to give back to the community in any way they can.
“It is a good excuse for us to get out there and do what we love to do,” Greenwell said. “[Fishing] can help keep a lot of kids out of trouble. The more time you spend on the water the less likely you get in with the wrong crowd. That is the message we like to send.”
Greenwell said the most important aspect of fishing has very little to do with casting rods.
“We are not in it just to catch a fish,” Greenwell said. “We enjoy the whole presence of being out in the wild. It is a high you can’t get in any other way. Just being out there just does something for you that nothing for you can.”
