South’s Bass Fishing Team is helping veterans by raising money and hosting tournaments.
The team is running a gofundme page in combination with the veteran’s tournament, and they have raised a total of $7,215: $2140.00 in donations and $5075.00 in rods, reels and tackle and other non monetary gifts.
“Our idea was if they are going out fishing then they should have some good equipment to fish with,” said head coach and science teacher Patrick Scanlan. They recieved 35 rods and reels through money from the fishing’s teams various sponsors and donations. Every veteran that rents from Wakanda boats recieved a rod and reel as well as a tackle box to keep.
The idea started with two of the team’s anglers, Mike Bobich and Jack Blomquist, who were practicing at Lake Springfield for the Illinois Bass State Tournament when they noticed another tournament happening called “Take a Vet Fishing.”
“There was a guy there (Bill) with no boat so we gave up our boat and practice time, which kind of sucked but it was the right thing to do,” said Bobich.
“Bill wound up winning the tournament. He caught over 30 fish that day,” said Scanlan. Assistant coach Robert Bobich, father to Mike Bobich, saw whenever Bill lost a lure, he would stuff two in his pocket so he wouldn’t have to bother for more.
“I enjoyed fishing with Bill since it’s something not a lot of people do. The veterans don’t really get a lot of recognition for what they went through and did,” said Bobich.
This experience inspired the fishing team to run a tournament for veterans to donate money and fishing gear.
This was the first veteran’s tournament that our bass fishing team has run. Instead of raising money for themselves, like other fishing teams, they raised money for veterans.
It was hosted at Bangs Lake, Wauconda Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 10 by head coach Scanlan and the many assistant coaches.
“The main focus of Take a Vet Fishing is so that veterans suffering from PTSD can connect with people that have similar interests, we hope that can help them,” said Scanlan.