Reeling them in with the Haywood Anglers

Dec. 4—Five high school fishermen are casting lines to try to land the biggest bass, win tournaments and even earn a college scholarship.

Haywood Anglers Fishing Team has competed in three tournaments in Bassmaster's North Carolina High School Series.

Five Tuscola High School students — Dirk Bizub, Canaan Gentry, Evin Moore, Bridger Jones and Mason Rathbone — comprise the fishing team.

"We all wanted to fish and fish competitively," Moore said. "So we came together."

Bizub, who has never competed in fishing tournaments until joining the Haywood Anglers, said he's fished for fun since he was about 4 years old.

Jones, meanwhile, has fished alongside Gentry since they were 8 years old

"We all figured out we loved it by fishing [local] tournaments, and we've always watched fishing on TV," Jones added.

In competitive fishing, the more, the merrier, and the team hopes to expand its roster.

"We want to get more kids involved from the community," said Kevin Moore, Evin Moore's father.

One of the club's unique features is that it's not associated with any one school.

"We can take homeschool kids, kids from Pisgah, Shining Rock, or wherever," Kevin Moore said. "We want to build our team bigger. We're here for the county."

One holdup for a lot of people is the price tag. Along with equipment — from rods and reels to lures and cold weather clothing — any new members will need a boat and funds to get them to each tournament.

Haywood Anglers has six sponsors to help them get to the lake: Pioneer Feed and Seed, Haywood Ace Hardware, Blue Rooster, Clark and Leatherwood, Pitts Towing and Dream Catchers Fishing Tackle.

"Thank goodness we have people in the community who are willing to sponsor the team," Kevin Moore said. He said the team is always looking for new sponsors to help them get to more tournaments.

Launching out

So far this season — which runs in late fall and early spring — the Haywood Anglers have competed in three tournaments: Lake James, High Rock Lake and Lake Norman. The team will compete in three more tournaments in 2023. The best four placements will go toward the state tournament qualifications.

Haywood Anglers currently launches two boats; only two fishermen are allowed on each.

Moore and Rathbone partner on one, while Gentry and Jones partner on the other. They are seeking a partner for Bizub, who fishes with Moore in the South Carolina series.

When the boys enter a tournament, they compete for a plaque, prize money and scholarships.

"Tons of colleges are giving scholarships to these kids," said Brian Gentry, Canaan Gentry's father. "College fishing is huge."

The right cast and landing of the big fish could catch the eye of one of the college scouts that commonly attend the tournaments.

But landing a big bass isn't easy.

"These lakes they're fishing on, they haven't fished on them before," Kevin Moore said. "Some other schools have been competing since middle school, parents are tailgating, and the teams have big sponsorships."

JR Frisbee, Bridger Jones' grandfather, said the competition is tight, and landing fish is a challenge.

"There's been 100 to 125 boats on the water," Frisbee said. "Probably 50% come up with one or no fish."

When it came time to launch the boats in their first tournament at Lake James in October, the boys' nerves were high.

"We all had big eyes when there were 100 boats in the lake," Jones said. "You've got the jitters because you're nervous because you don't want to have zero fish when you weigh in."

Canaan Gentry said Lake James felt like the oddball tournament because it was their first time fishing competitively at that level.

"We adapted and figured out a plan," he said.

The race to find the perfect fishing spot and start working the fish is a race against time and competition.

"I've always been super competitive in whatever I've done," Rathbone said. "Getting up there and seeing your points on top, it's nice."

Bizub said it's all about the adrenaline rush for him.

"There's no better feeling being side by side racing to fishing spots. You usually have about eight hours, but it goes fast," Bizub said. "Before and after the tournament, you're best friends. Once you blast off, there are no friends."

Canan Gentry added that fishing competitively adds another layer to fishing.

"When you go out and try to win money, it puts a little ease to you, and it's an adrenaline rush," he said.

And despite their hard work driving the trucks and booking the hotel rooms, fathers and grandfathers cannot fish or advise the boys, so they captain the boats.

"We can't fish, and we can't get them unhung. They make the decisions," Kevin Moore said.

Bizub said the Haywood Anglers were looked at as the new kids on the block at their first tournament. But after Gentry and Jones finished 6th and Moore and Rathbone finished 9th out of 84 boats, other teams took notice.

In the next two tournaments, Frisbee said the team finished in the top third in each tournament. What's all the more impressive, he said, is that the boys are doing it all on their own.

"It's something that nobody else can do for them. It's totally up to them. You can't buy your way into this sport. It depends on your ability and dedication to it," Frisbee said.

Brian Gentry said he loves watching the boys make the decisions that land them at the top of the standings.

"They're pretty much calling their own plays on the water," he said. "Watching their maturity and the mental aspect of [fishing] is what is really impressive."

Kevin Moore said the team has placed pretty well so far and gained a knowledge of experience doing it.

"They've come in with some good weight. Hopefully, we can keep capitalizing on that," Kevin Moore said.

Bonding over fish

Along with a chance to test their skills against the best high school anglers in the state, the boys have become fast friends, too.

"You get to be surrounded by a great group of people," Jones said. "And you connect with them on a whole different level."

Kevin Moore said the boys get to work together and have a lot of fun.

"Sitting back and watching them figure out what the fish is on, working together, and helping each other out has been great," he said.

Frisbee said the boys' partnership is tied to the relationship they develop on the water.

"That's what has impressed me," he said. "To see the developments of the partnerships these kids have."

But the partnership is not without its ups and downs.

"Even though you're a team, we disagree all the time," Bizub said. "We figure it out, and we make it happen. To me, that's how it works well."

Brian Gentry said finding a good tournament partner is more complicated than finding a wife.

"Dad calls it a relationship," Canaan Gentry added. "Because we bicker and then find a way to work it out."

Haywood Anglers' next tournament is March 4, 2023, at Lake Norman's Pinnacle Boat Access on NC Hwy 150 in Mooresville.

Those interested in joining Haywood Anglers can contact them via Facebook @Haywood Anglers Fishing Team or on Instagram @HaywoodAnglers.