Fatima Bass Club members Addison Bower and Colton Scheulen caught a combined 9.39 pounds with the largest bass weighing 2.84 pounds at the National Youth Fishing Association (NYFA) Stockton Lake championship on June 7-8.

Coach Matt Baker is pleased with the final outcome. “They had a good finish down there at Stockton,” he said. “We fish in a high school tournament series and had six boats this year, but Addison and Colton did the best.”

Baker and Dick Bower pushed for the club a few years ago and began with three boats. “It kind of exploded,” Baker said. “There’s a bunch of different kinds of rag-tag high school series going on all over the place, and we stumbled into this one. It’s been a really good deal for the kids.”

Fatima anglers compete at Bull Shoals Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and Table Rock Lake to qualify for the championship.

It’s important to understand how the competition is set up. Baker explained that each two-person team has a captain; he worked alongside Bower and Scheulen this year.

During weekend tournaments, Saturday is geared for the captain and two anglers. “We fish with the kids on Saturdays, give them advice, and mentor them,” said Baker, noting the Pro Team Association (PTA) competition provided learning opportunities. “Our fish count toward the total weight for the team.”

Dick Bower captained the boat with his daughter, Addi, and Colton. The trio earned eighth place in the state PTA competition with 1978.50 points.

The team of Captain Dusty Backes, Hayden Backes, and Cash Mengwasser scored 1871.75 points for 22nd place, and Captain Baker, with Eli Massman and Hunter Hoelscher, earned 52nd in the PTA championship with 1441.48 points.

Also representing Fatima in the PTA and NYFA this spring were Team 4: Captain Jason Wilbers, Noah Wilbers, and Brooks Robertson; Team 5: Captain Lucas Wilde, Jace Crede, and Colton Vanderfeltz; and Team 6: Captain Justin Bax, Kayden Bax, and Will Berhorst. Each captain is required to remain with the team of anglers throughout the series.

On Sundays, the captains drove the boat but did not fish, and only the four best bass were kept and weighed for the team score.

Baker believes the best experience for the kids is just being in a tournament setting. “You’re fishing against other people, and it’s competitive, and the weigh-ins are a whole different experience than just going out, on your own and fishing for a few hours and going home,” he added. “So, them fishing on a clock against other people is something that most kids never experience. The camaraderie is a big part of it, too. Wherever we go, whether it’s Bull Shoals or Table Rock, we travel quite far. We get a cabin, and the kids get to hang out together. It’s just a completely different scene than your normal high school sports activity, and I think they enjoy that a lot.”

The learning aspect is important as well. “All those lakes are different, and most people don’t think of it that way,” said Baker. “They just think they’re dumb fish, and you go down there and catch them however you want to catch them. That is certainly not the case. We teach them to look at water clarity and depth, and the type of fish, whether it’s smallmouth or spotted bass, or even the different strains of largemouth. Wherever we go, there are different scenarios. Being able to break down the lake and the weather, and the time of year, I mean, there’s a lot to learn. Most of the kids are very receptive to looking at that stuff, paying attention, and learning the sport. I think if you ask all of our new captains this year, it’s a big eye-opener for them. Bass fishing has exploded across the country, especially in tournament fishing. A lot of our captains are good fishermen, but I think it really opened their eyes to how damn tough it can be. You don’t just go out there and catch 100 fish every day. It can be tough.”

Osage County has its share of professional anglers ready to help the bass club in whatever way is needed, Baker said. “All those guys have provided information about what the fish are doing, and if we need baits or whatever,” he added. “They’re behind the scenes and aren’t looking for any shout-outs for it. They just love seeing the kids fishing and learning.”

While the future is uncertain, Baker believes the foundation the bass club sets will benefit the kids for years to come. “I don’t think any of these kids plan to go pro, but there are a bunch of local bass clubs around that fish regularly, so it gives them a nice introduction to that,” he noted. “Getting kids outside is a big thing too, away from the run-of-the-mill sitting on the couch every day. Fostering a love for the outdoors is a big motivation.”

Sponsors this year were Wieberg Red-E-Mix, Sports Afield (Dale Struemph), the Dickneite family, Gasconade Bass Club, Fatima Booster Club, Hilke Ice, and Bait Cave Custom Lures.

“We appreciate the support of our sponsors,” said Baker. “Without them, we couldn’t provide this experience.”