Fishing team finishes season in 2nd place

ULM is currently ranked second out of 159 collegiate fishing teams that make up Association of College Anglers.

Arkansas Tech, who won the first ever ULM invitational last April, totaled the most points to earn ACA School of the Year.

ACA ranks teams through a point system that awards one point for every team overtaken during competition in 22 sanctioned events. Bonus points are available for hosting events and participating in the Berkley Conservation Institute program.

The ULM fishing team earned points for its prominent runnerup honor by placing in the top-five in all but one tournament it entered.

It also hosted an event and submitted multiple Berkley Conservation Institute projects to recieve points.

All members have returned this season and have their sights on the biggest catch of them all, the School of the Year.

“We are really aiming for first place with a better team and everybody back,” said President Paul Clark. “We know more about the format and how the system works now.”

Weekends are spent fishing in areas around Monroe at places like Lake Claiborne, Caney and D’arbonne.

ULM started the 2012 fishing season last month with a fourth-place finish at the Arkansas Tech Invitational on Lake Dardanelle.

In October, the team will travel back to Dardanelle with experience and knowledge for the first tournament of the school year.

ULM fishing advisor Dan Chason said that other teams are accustomed to fishing various types of fish, such as smallmouth (bass), that aren’t native to this area.

“Our guys network with other teams and locals to find out what works in these areas,” said Chason.

The ULM fishing season starts and ends in July, but tends to be slow in the fall.

“Spring to mid-summer is the busiest,” says Vice President Nick Ladart. “That’s when we’ll fish two-to-three tournaments a month.”

There are some new faces on the team this season and they come in looking to out-fish the veterans. “I’m not going to say any names, but there are some new guys that are going to make these older guys work even harder.” said Chason.

In September the team will be selling tee shirts around campus to cover trips and other expenses.

They are also planning dates where members will park their boats in front of the sub so the community can meet the team.

ULM Fishing team members:

Paul Clark- President

Nick Ladart- Vice President

Brian Eaton- Treasurer

Brett Preuett

Blake Deron

Jackson Blackett

Trapper Munn

Blake Alford

Jacob Slade