Wallace State BASS Fishing Club conducts first meeting of season

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State Community College’s BASS fishing club held its initial meeting of the 2014-2015 season last week. Wallace State BASS club faculty sponsor Joe Hendrix, an industrial electronics instructor, said 25 new students have already joined the club.
Wallace State’s BASS club is entering its third season.
Wallace State’s inaugural dive into BASS fishing during the 2012-13 academic year was very successful as Ethan Flack and Logan Shaddix teamed up to advance to the Carhartt College Series National Championship in August 2013, finishing 15^th nationally among 64 teams. Flack and Shaddix advanced to the national event after finishing 14^th at the regional competition.
The club’s second season ended in early July at the BASS Collegiate Wildcard tournament in Florence. Wallace State fell one spot and eight ounces short of qualifying for nationals. Justin Rivers and Colton Henderson made up Wallace State’s top angler pair at the Wildcard tournament. Wallace State competed last fall and spring at Guntersville Lake, Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake, Smith Lake and Pickwick Lake.
It’s not too late for Wallace State students to join the club. Any student who have a love for fishing and the outdoors and is welcome to hook on as a member. Full-time students are the only ones eligible to compete in tournaments. The dues for joining the club are $50 per year. Those fees include $30 for BASS for membership and the other $20 is dedicated to the club, including jersey fees.
Those interested in the club can call Hendrix at 256.352.8154 or email him at joe.hendrix@wallacestate.edu. Diesel Technology Instructor Jeremy Smith is also a sponsor.
The club will be hosting a fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Birmingham-based Alabama Aquarium and Pond Services is coming to campus to help the club determine what fish are currently in the college’s larger pond. Their electrofishing process temporarily stuns fish to allow a survey but does not otherwise harm them. Alabama Aquarium is donating their services to the college but a portion of proceeds from sales of pond supplies and services at event, which is open to the public, will benefit the club.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.