Penn’s Outdoors

As you know, I am a big fan of the efforts of the students and advisors that are involved in the Penn State bass fishing club.  The rise in collegiate bass fishing clubs across the Country is a great thing for the sport of fishing.    I first learned of the PSU bass fishing club when I watched David Grube competed on the Ultimate Match Fishing television show. 

Some competitors on the show over the last couple of seasons, especially the pro anglers, have not been very sportsmanlike.  Controversy makes good television these days.  Not David, he conducted himself in a way that would make every Penn State fan proud.  He didn’t win but fished hard and showed a National audience, along with his fellow competitors, that collegiate bass fishing has some very skilled fishermen.

I am very appreciative that David has taken some time to talk to us about the show and collegiate bass fishing. 

I first saw you and learned of the PSU bass fishing club on Ultimate Match Fishing College Edition.  What were the coolest things about being on the show?

One of the most exciting parts of being on the Ultimate Match Fishing College Edition was being able to represent PSU in a head to head competition. I also got to meet and make friends with a bunch of other individuals striving to become professional fishermen.

It seemed like you fished really well and just didn’t catch enough breaks. How satisfied were you with your performance?

I did the very best that i could and like you said i just couldn’t quite get the big fish that i needed. I was fairly satisfied with my overall performance. Anytime you can win a head to head match up and advance to the next round gives an angler a boost of confidence.

Had you fished Lake Oneida previously?  Did you (do you) like the lake?

I had never fished the lake before and had a great time fishing there. I can’t wait to get the chance to go back and try my luck again soon.

Where are you from?  What are some of your favorite fishing waters?

I am from Denver, PA which is located in Lancaster County. I enjoy fishing the Lower Susquehanna River, Upper Chesapeake Bay, Marsh Creek, Blue Marsh Lake, and various over small bodies of water in PA.

How did you get involved with the PSU bass fishing club?

I found out that PSU was trying to get a club started through our current advisor Scott. Once I headed to University Park I started to attend meetings and tried to help anyway I could to improve the club.

What have been your favorite parts about being in the club?

I really enjoy talking and fishing on the water with the different individuals in the club. We have so many unique fishermen that have been fishing for years. Each individual has his or her own special lure presentations and I know that I have learned a lot from just watching and talking with everyone.

What advice do you have for a new student at Penn State who wants to get involved?

If you love to fish and are interested in becoming involved don’t be shy we are always looking for members to build up our growing club. I encourage everyone in the club to become an active member which means fishing club tournament, attending meetings, and help with conservation and community service projects. Whenever you are out and about in the community you are getting your name out to potential sponsors and new members. 

Where do you see the future of collegiate fishing headed?

Wow this is a tough question. Well i would have to say that I believe college fishing could someday become as large as Professional Bass Fishing. It seems that the public likes to see emotion and new faces on the TV. The college teams work hard all year to become the best in the country and all this hard work shows up in the national tournaments all across the country. I have people asking me when is the next college tournament going to be on TV and the excitement in their faces leads me to believe that college fishing has a very bright future.

If you would like to get involved with Penn State bass fishing club, go to their web site for more information.