Marble Falls fishing club preparing to host high school state tourney on Lake LBJ
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
HORSESHOE BAY — It might be several weeks away, but organizers of the Texas High School State Bass Fishing State Championship are following the example of the anglers they serve.
It’s never too early to start.
Lorna Ellis, one of the organizers of the high school fishing club at Marble Falls High School, said they are bracing for more boats for the 2014 state tournament. That event is March 15 on Lake LBJ.
She has been told by members of the Texas Bass Federation that the event will draw more than 100 boats. Last year’s state tournament, which was the first one conducted on Lake LBJ, drew 68. Each boat has a captain and two student-anglers.
Federation organizers have decided to offer multiple regional-qualifying bids that are based on the number of entries to the state tournament, Ellis said.
“Regional competitions will get you to nationals,” she said.
Because the state is so large and to give high school anglers equal chances to qualify for regionals, the federation has been discussing holding other regional-qualifying tournaments, Ellis said.
“There has been such growth in our East Texas communities,” she said. “They’re developing a high school trail; they’re lake intensive like we are.”
Events in East Texas are drawing about 250 boats. Ellis said seeing the sport grow always was one of the big priorities for the club here.
The local organizer has two theories for why the sport is expanding.
From a parent’s perspective, the first is because anglers can win scholarships at some events. That will be the case at the state championship again this year. In 2013, the event gave out four scholarships totaling $3,000. Ellis said none of that is possible without area businesses sponsoring the tournament and the club.
“I credit our community for embracing and funding us,” she said. “We’re fortunate in Marble Falls; we can pay entry fees.”
The other is because she believes people enjoy being part of a team.
“They may not be a traditional athlete, but they’re great anglers,” she said. “They have a passion for this and now they can represent their school. I think it’s healthy competition and community involvement.”
Ellis refers to the club in Marble Falls as a blended club because it draws students from other area high schools, including Burnet and Faith Academy. There’s talk of some students based in West Texas joining the Mustangs.
But, she said, a blended club is not unique. Once it becomes clear to other adults how to emulate what the Marble Falls club is doing and a high school has a good number of anglers, they will leave the local club to form their own, Ellis said.
In 2012, only Austin Westlake and Marble Falls had a club. One year later, high school clubs now exist at Leander Rouse, The Faith Angler Network, Lake Travis, Austin Hyde Park, Florence and Round Rock.
Some of the students who compete for those high schools were a member of the club at Marble Falls at one time.
“We didn’t do anything unusual or different,” Ellis said. “We were early to the race. We took the bull by the horns. We paved the way.”
The local club is holding its Winter Open on Lake LBJ on Feb. 22. Ellis anticipates some out-of-town teams will compete to get a feel for the lake before the state championship.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 2014 Texas High School Bass Fishing State Championship
WHEN: First light March 15
WHERE: Lake LBJ starting at Lake LBJ Resort and Marina at Granite Beach, 200 Wirtz Dam Road in Horseshoe Bay
TO SPONSOR: Call Bill Rives, executive director of the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, at (830) 693-2815