I set my alarm for 4:30 am, knowing I will wake up with excitement before it even goes off. Then, the boat ramp anxiety sets in a bit. But all of this is so familiar to me that the love of this sport outweighs the stresses.
It’s been almost 8 years now since we met in a classroom with Welton Pickering, Owen, Kade, and a handful of other students and parents to form this club. But like all good things, it seems like yesterday.
I gently wake my wife as I am getting ready. Tournament jersey, check. Hat, check. Sunblock, check. Sunglasses, check. Most important, a prayer of thanks and for God’s watching eyes for our safety. Never a prayer to win.
Denise always wakes up happy to help me with the snacks for the day, the truck and trailer, as well as help others coordinate getting on the water. We make our way down a dirt road at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis. Only a single boat ramp is open due to the years of continued drought. This is a battle we fight more often now. We get the boat in the water, truck parked, and beach the boat until it’s time for the release. Cade and Grayson climb aboard and get all their food, drinks, and tackle situated so it won’t be in the way when we start running around the boat, fighting fish. It’s hard to believe it’s the last tournament of the season. As the sun comes up, the last of the 68 boats unloads in the water. Jeff, our tournament director for Faith Angler Network, plays the national anthem over a loudspeaker and says a morning prayer, as almost 70 boats put around the water, trying not to bump into each other. Just as quickly as we got on the water, we are off to a fast start! Lifejackets on and safety switch engaged, we are blasting off as fast as a 250 horsepower Mercury 2-stroke will go. A literal race to the other side of the lake because where there is grass, there is bass, and everyone knows it.
After about 30 minutes of over 60 MPH speeds, we throttle down and coast into a small cove. The banks are lined with piles of large rocks, and I can see the submerged grass on my graph. This is the spot! The boys get their bearings back after a white knuckle ride and find their respective positions. All of our rods are pre-rigged and laid out for each angler. 4-5 rods, each with a different presentation. At this point, we have already determined exactly what to start with and when we will change our tactic. Grayson recently broke his leg from a fishing accident on the Medina River and is sporting a grey autographed cast. He is usually the point man, but today he is leaning on a seat in the rear for stability and to avoid getting in the way. Cade is at the bow and looking to put the first fish in the box. Ned Rig, that’s what’s for breakfast! We make a few passes around some grass, and soon enough, we land our first keeper. Lake Travis is large, and the water can be very clear in areas. Bass love clear, clean water, but it does present a challenge. If you see them, they can see you! We have to be methodical in how to present our tackle. We toss him in the live well and keep to our plan as long as we can. One thing I have certainly learned is to fish with a plan and fish what you are confident in. If you use a Texas Rig, crank bait, or drop shot most places, you probably better have that lined and ready at all times. We spend the morning catching fish and culling to keep the larger ones. You never know how some days are going to play out. Sometimes we put in a lot of practice and planning for a tournament and catch 40 fish, and sometimes we are lucky to turn in 4 for 5. That’s fishing for you… Around 1:30, we make our last few casts and begin the ride back. After about another 30 minutes, this time with much bigger waves from all the recreational boats, we make it back to the weigh-in. In these tournaments, you turn in your 5 best fish for a combined weight. This is a great opportunity for kids to compete and feel a little public speaking pressure as they walk across the stage with their catch. “Boat number 21, Cade and Greyson! So, tell us, what did you catch them on? Is there anything you would like to say about your fishing season?” The young anglers might get questions like these and several others as they stand on the stage facing crowds of around 200-300+ people. And you know what, it’s good for them!
As we wait and watch 68 teams, 136 kids walk across the stage, I take the time to look around. Seeing so many families, grandparents, brothers, and sisters all together in the outdoors enjoying God’s creation. This always fires me up and confirms my love for all of it! The crowd gathers and watches as the teams walk up from the boats with their bags full of bass, making their way to the weigh station. As a boat captain, your work is done at this point. I have found more and more over the recent years that this is my calling, my discipleship. Jesus said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men” Matthew 4:19. I know what that means now, and I will always be listening to him with my heart and soul for guidance on this. This time we may not have placed in the top 10%, but that’s secondary. The boys are happy and getting some much-needed rest and hydration. Just as quickly as it started, it’s finished, and everyone is safe and on the road home. Maybe you’ve heard the saying “The tug is the drug,” and I can tell you, it’s a real feeling. Same as the kids, I am leaving this tournament, waiting and daydreaming about the next time I get to set a hook or watch the kids fight a largemouth bass. If your kid’s “drug” is bass fishing, I am here to tell you that you all are blessed!
Boerne Bass Club’s mission statement is: To create a bass fishing club for area youth, keeping intact our Christian-oriented ideals and guiding principles, and in doing so, to develop future leaders in our community who have outstanding character, values, and share a love for the outdoors. This is something we truly believe in. Boerne Bass Club competes in the Faith Angler Network organization. We believe in putting Jesus Christ first and that God made all this for us to enjoy, respect, and conserve for future generations to come. This program is available for kids in grades 6-12, boys and girls. You don’t have to be a seasoned fisherman or woman; we will teach you! If you have a child interested, have a boat and want to volunteer to take kids fishing, or want to sponsor or donate to an amazing cause, please reach out to us! Denise and I want to preserve this opportunity for kids as long as we can, but that takes help.
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Cheers,
Jed Mazour
