'Just keep fishing no matter what:' Blue Bullets ready to compete in state tournament

KNOXVILLE — Knoxville High School junior Titus Cramer has been down this path before but freshman Gage Fox has not.

The pair will represent the Blue Bullets in the state bass fishing tournament, which will take place this weekend at Carlyle Lake in Carlyle.

Cramer and Fox qualified for state after placing third in the sectional competition on Thursday, May 5 at Lake McMaster in rural Victoria. The duo reeled in five pounds and 12.5 ounces worth of bass in the sectional.

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"We were surprised. It was just a matter of ounces that we got third," said Tim Cramer, who is Knoxville's fishing coach and also Titus' dad. "It was really tough fishing conditions. The bites were few and far between. We just couldn’t catch any big ones."

"It was just don’t tap out — just keep fishing no matter what," Fox said of the pair's mindset at the sectional, and they will have that same mentality in Carlyle.

Prior state experience will help

Along with Maddox Nichols, who graduated in 2021, Titus Cramer won a sectional title, and the tandem took part in the state tourney last spring, so Cramer's got a game plan worked out for his second go-round.

“I’m feeling better than last year because now I’ve got a little experience on the lake. This year, I’ve got a little more confidence because last year we fished it," Cramer said. “It’s a tough lake though. There’s still a lot of boats out there, and there’s not a lot of good spots even though it’s a big lake (25,000 acres and Illinois' largest lake).

"Everybody is competitive and trying to fish the same water," Cramer added. “Obviously, we want to win. Getting in the Top 10 would be cool but I’d like to win though and go home with the big trophy."

Fox, who also wrestles for the Blue Bullets, knows what it'll take to win.

"Five fish and a few kickers," he said. "A lot of weight."

“We’re just going to go in confident and get the job done, hopefully," Cramer interjected. “For me, I just stay confident. I know what I’m doing. I’ve been there before — just stay confident and fish how I fish.”

Fox will be doing the same thing.

Cramer, Fox 'compliment each other'

Cramer is also playing baseball for the Blue Bullets this spring, so he hasn't had much free time to fish alongside Fox.

But Cramer, who also takes the hardwood for Knoxville, hasn't had any difficulties adjusting to having a new fishing partner in Fox.

"He’s a good fisherman so it’s not hard," Cramer said. "We’ve tried to fish together a little bit lately just so we can get more used to each others fishing styles."

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But they already work well together.

“Those two guys kind of compliment each other with their fishing styles," Tim Cramer said. "I’m looking forward to watching those two guys grow."

Lifelong fishermen

Titus Cramer, 17, and Fox, 15, have both fished most their lives, and what do they like about fishing?

"I think what I like the most about it is every day it’s a different challenge," Cramer said. "You have to go out and try to figure out that pattern and what those fish are eating.

"It’s just a different puzzle every time.”

“It’s fun and you’re outside," Fox said.

Check out last spring's story: Two members of Knoxville High School's bass fishing team set for state meet

Quick facts

Knoxville's other team members — George Brown, Noah Daily, Hunter Strom and Justin Zimmerman — were in the school's second boat during sectional action, and they missed out on making it to state.

ROWVA, United, Spoon River Valley and Williamsfield's fishing squads came up short, too.

There are 320 high schools across the state who sponsored bass fishing teams this season, and 282 schools did in 2021.

The Illinois High School Association nixed the bass fishing season in the spring of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The IHSA's state series for bass fishing began in 2009, and 199 schools fielded teams that spring.

Matthew Wheaton can be reached at (309) 315-6073 or at mwheaton@register-mail.com. Follow him on Twitter @matthewlwheaton

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: IHSA Bass Fishing: Knoxville's Cramer, Fox set for state tournament