An Open Event

On Saturday
December the 6^th, many of your MISD Fishing Team members opted to
fish a brand-new tournament trail put on by the Texas High School Bass
Association. A bunch of you reading are probably saying to yourselves, “wait a
minute, isn’t that the same organization the MISD Fishing Team has competed in
the past 12 years?” Well, the answer
would be both yes, and no.

Yes, in fact
the THSBA is indeed the same organization which the MISD Fishing Team has been
competing in for over a decade. No, in that this is the first year that the
THSBA has offered an “Open Event,” where Individual Teams would be vying for
Cash, instead of the normal scholarships. Also different, there would be no
Team Championships or Points awarded towards Angler of the Year, or Team of the
Year. Strictly fishing for Cash, which is wholly different for High School
Anglers. Lastly, two other substantial changes were that 7^th & 8^th
grade students were allowed to enter, and Captains could fish alongside their
Anglers, with their creel counting towards the total weight. In most cases, a
total family affair.

So, the
Derby was on, and 78 Teams of 7^th through 12^th graders
descended upon Lake Conroe. The morning was cool and crisp yet tolerable, and
the afternoon turned out nice with temperatures in the 60’s.

With weather
not being a factor, which is a rarity this time of year, many Teams exploited
this and brought in nice 5 fish limits. None more than a pair of Conroe High
School students in Jack Cobler and Preston Wilson. These Anglers from the Bayou
Division of the THSBA showed why they are the reigning Anglers of the Year in
their Division, bringing 5 fish to the scales that weighed 21.24 pounds,
claiming the first prize of 2216.00 for First place. They also had the 2^nd
biggest Bass of the event, which earned them another 184.00.

Also doing
well from Conroe High School were Charles Dendy and Payton Leeck. They were
able to bring in 5 fish of their own weighing 16.34 pounds, which landed them
in 3^rd place, earning the pair a nice paycheck of 482.00 for their
efforts.

Also placing
in the top ten in this event, and cashing checks were two Teams from MISD. Jacob
Riley and Brenner Kirklin brought in a 5 fish limit weighing 14.88 pounds,
nailing down 7^th place for 166.00

Right behind
Jacob & Brenner in 8^th Place were Cade Przborski and Gavin
Nabors. This pair of MISD Anglers brought in a 5 fish limit which weighed 14.48,
earning them an identical payout of 166.00.

MISD also
had another highlight for the day, as the Team of Tyler Gerbrect & Zane Kibbey
brought in the big fish of the event. Their fish weighed 8.09 pounds, which
earned them 736.00.

Overall,
being that this was the first time that MISD Fishing Team members participated
in an “Open Event,” things went well. Next up for the Team is of course the
annual Montgomery Christmas Parade, where we hope to see all of you out to
enjoy this time-honored tradition here in Montgomery.