Lund recently announced that it is joining a partnership involving the Student Angler Organization and Rapala Student Angler Tournament Trail, which will debut in 2018.
According to a news release from Lund, the fishing industry is enjoying a resurgence with an infusion of young anglers – similar to the youth movement in trap shooting, which has seen a rapid growth of high school trap-shooting teams, high school fishing teams also are springing up.
Minnesota is just one of the states to see this flurry of activity, and is one of the key reasons why the SAO started its Student Angling Tournament Trail, according to the release. Minnesota has experienced exponential growth in the number of schools starting fishing teams, and with all this growth comes a need for more events and tournaments in which these young anglers can participate, Lund said.
The circuit is scheduled to open June 22 on Lake Minnetonka, with four other regional events to follow on Lake Mille Lacs, Gull Lake, Lake Pokegama and Lake Minnewaska. The season will culminate with the Tournament of Champions, scheduled Sept. 9 on Minnetonka.
Last year, Lund supported a few high school teams and worked with their coaches, including Jason Bahr from Brainerd, Stephen and Brenda Picht from Grand Rapids, Chris Wedes and Kolt Ringer from Minnetonka and Timothy Bray from Pequot Lakes.
“Lund’s commitment to student angling is second to none," Bahr said. "I am very proud to be part of the Lund team that’s focused on growing the sport of fishing through high school angling."
For more information on the Student Angler Tournament Trail, go to www.studentangler.org.
