|
Nashville,
TN – Elite Series pro Brian Snowden may not be a Missouri native, but he’s come to love his adopted home region and feels the need to give back. Thus, rather than spending his down time between tour stops relaxing or pursuing other pastimes, he spent much of his time at home the past few weeks participating in Outdoors in the Ozarks. The program, founded by Republic High School teacher/coach Jim Huson, aims to introduce local high school students to outdoor activities like fishing and hunting that are readily available in their immediate locale.
“We start by teaching them fundamentals like casting and pouring leadhead jigs,” Snowden said. “They have seminars from nine to noon every day featuring both local and national pros.
One unique aspect of this program is that the students sign a participation agreement. If they fail to show up a certain number of times, they forfeit the right to attend the class, which would mean missing the true lure of the program – time on the water.
“Every Thursday we bus them over to Table Rock Lake to fish with the pros, guides, pretty much any local fisherman who’s willing to help out. They go two kids to a boat and they take what they’ve learned in class and apply it on the water.”
The youth are also taken on plant tours for local companies like Luck E Strike, Tracker Marine and Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro Shops also provides rods, reels, life jackets and prizes for the program.
“Andy Benson at Tracker Marine does a great job,” Snowden said. It’s certainly beneficial for the contributing sponsors, as well, since these young anglers are tomorrow’s ardent fishermen and consumers.
But the pros, who in the past have included not only Snowden but other tour-level anglers like Stacey King and Charlie Campbell, benefit as well:
“You get instant gratification by participating,” Snowden said. “It might be their first bass. Lots of these kids grow up in single parent households and it’s real satisfying to take them out on the water. I wish I had the opportunity to take a class like that when I was growing up.”
But in creating new angling addicts, Snowden may be creating more competition for himself in an already stacked local field. Some of his pupils have already gone on to achieve success in both Heartland Pro-Am and Central Pro-Am events. Today’s student may be tomorrow’s fellow Elite Series pro.
|
