Haywood Anglers fish winter waters, host benefit tournament
Jan. 22—Haywood Anglers — a fishing club open to all high school students in Haywood County— has kept busy even during the winter "offseason" from its normal tournaments through Bassmaster's High School Series.
Members Evin Moore and Dirk Bizub, who compete as a team in Bassmaster's South Carolina or "Palmetto Series," competed at a tournament on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.
The boys reeled in 8.61 pounds of bass to place 33rd out of 153 high school teams.
"They did really well," said Kevin Moore, Evin Moore's father and an adult helper for the Haywood Anglers. "The college teams were down there, and they have college coaches looking."
Next, Evin Moore and Levi Brooks, competed at a fundraising fishing tournament for Western Carolina University's Bass Fishing Club held at Lemmons Branch on Lake Fontana on Jan. 1.
Kevin Moore said the team knew about the tournament because his nephew was previously on the WCU fishing team.
"We try to go out and help them raise money for their travel expenses. Everybody helps everybody in this sport," Kevin Moore said.
Kevin Moore said his son and Brooks were the only high school students who showed up to compete, but hauled in 9.84 pounds and finished 12th out of 43 boats.
Brooks is a new Haywood Anglers member and the Fontana tournament was his first fishing with Evin Moore.
"He's doing really well," Kevin Moore said.
Although the Bassmaster High School Series doesn't pick back up until late February, Haywood Anglers is putting on its own benefit fishing tournament from 7 a.m. — 3 p.m. on Jan. 28, at Lemmons Branch at Lake Fontana.
Registration begins at 5:45 a.m. and the entry free is $100. First place pays $400, second place $200, third place $100 and Big Fish is $50.
All proceeds go toward travel, lodging, entry fees and food for the Haywood Anglers. See event flyer for more details.
"It helps us get out and get more experience," Kevin Moore said of the tournament.
The boys hope it helps draw some more sponsors to their cause. In addition to the initial team sponsors, Kevin Moore said the team had gotten four more sponsors since December.
"I was going into this totally blind, but now we're getting more support from the local area," he said. "Some of the sponsors are really stepping up and helping us out and pointing us in the right direction."
Haywood Anglers also uses the offseason to regroup and rebuild before the new season begins.
"We take a little time to invest back in our gear," Kevin Moore said. "We're in the process of upgrading our fish finders. The fish finders alone have come such a long way."
It won't be long, however, before the boys are back on the water, competing for the next big big fish.
Haywood Anglers' next Bassmaster tournament is March 3 at Pinnacle Boat Access at Lake Norman.
