In major collegiate athletics, the transfer portal has been a talking point at the epicenter of college sports for several years now. The transfer portal allows student-athletes to leave their current institution and explore their opportunities to further their athletic and academic careers at a new school.
For the students, it’s a chance to get more playing time elsewhere, maybe be closer to home, or just find a change of scenery that gives them a fresh start. In the case of the schools and teams, the transfer portal offers a free marketplace for coaches to shop and add pieces to their rosters that can help them achieve major titles.
When it comes to the sport of collegiate bass fishing, student anglers are also using the opportunity to transfer schools to benefit their goals and careers.
“It’s really exciting, you know,” said Blake Tinsley, former Winona State angler and new member of the McKendree University Bass Fishing Team. “All of the hype around switching to a school like that, and all of the support from my friends and family has been great.”
Blake Tinsley competed in the 2023 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell this past May as a member of the Winona State fishing club. Over the course of the summer, Tinsley recently announced his decision to transfer to McKendree University, a two-time winner of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
“It turns out that they had one spot left on their roster this year. It was meant to be,” added Tinsley.
Transferring schools is something that is not new to the college fishing landscape. However, in recent years, teams and clubs from all across the country are utilizing transfers as an opportunity to strengthen their rosters and be competitive out on the national circuits.
When it comes to the sport of collegiate bass fishing, student anglers are also
using the opportunity to transfer schools to benefit their goals and careers.
In the 2022-23 race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia, each of the Top 3 teams in the final standings had anglers on their roster who originally began their college fishing careers at other schools.
Transfers don’t always occur with anglers moving from one major four-year college to another. College fishing is unique, in that community colleges, junior colleges, private schools, and major state institutions all compete amongst each other at the same level. For anglers that begin their careers at two-year colleges, the chance to transfer affords them the opportunity to go to a four-year school and finish out their degree.
College fishing is a great platform that allows anglers to grow their careers professionally, pursue jobs in the industry, meet new people, and make a lifetime of memories. To find out more about collegiate fishing and how you can get involved, visit collegiatebasschampionship.com.
Sounds good but the big schools will continue to have the edge. dlg
September 6th, 2023