Elites visit Palatka High

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A group of Bassmaster Elite Series pros used the canceled fishing day as an opportunity to visit Palatka High School for a meet-and-greet with students. Pros involved in the impromptu event were Cliff Prince, Bernie Schultz, Drew Cook, Jason Williamson, Jamie Hartman, Drew Benton, David Mullins, Dale Hightower, Bill Lowen and Matt Herren.<br><br> Most of the anglers in the group gathered at CP Deli in Palatka for breakfast after Cliff Prince’s wife, Kelley, asked them to visit the high school at which she serves as one of the deans.
A group of Bassmaster Elite Series pros used the canceled fishing day as an opportunity to visit Palatka High School for a meet-and-greet with students. Pros involved in the impromptu event were Cliff Prince, Bernie Schultz, Drew Cook, Jason Williamson, Jamie Hartman, Drew Benton, David Mullins, Dale Hightower, Bill Lowen and Matt Herren.
Most of the anglers in the group gathered at CP Deli in Palatka for breakfast after Cliff Prince’s wife, Kelley, asked them to visit the high school at which she serves as one of the deans.
Groups of students headed straight for the anglers to ask questions, take photos and learn more about the business of professional bass fishing.
Groups of students headed straight for the anglers to ask questions, take photos and learn more about the business of professional bass fishing.
Students like Theodora Foster was one of those really interested in what is involved in professional bass fishing.<Br><br> “It’s actually pretty interesting,” the 15-year-old Foster said. “You ask a little kid, ‘What do you want to do when you grow up,’ you wouldn’t say ‘a fisherman.’ You’d say, like, an astronaut or a basketball player.<br><br> “I’ve never personally gone fishing before, but I want to.” <Br><br> She said she was surprised by some of the rules of the Bassmaster Elite Series. <br><br> “They said they always catch and release,” Foster said. “I was like, ‘Why would they let it go if they’re trying to win something.’ I thought they would eat (the bass) for food, or something.”
Students like Theodora Foster was one of those really interested in what is involved in professional bass fishing. “It’s actually pretty interesting,” the 15-year-old Foster said. “You ask a little kid, ‘What do you want to do when you grow up,’ you wouldn’t say ‘a fisherman.’ You’d say, like, an astronaut or a basketball player.

“I’ve never personally gone fishing before, but I want to.”

She said she was surprised by some of the rules of the Bassmaster Elite Series.

“They said they always catch and release,” Foster said. “I was like, ‘Why would they let it go if they’re trying to win something.’ I thought they would eat (the bass) for food, or something.”

Students not only asked questions of the pros; they also were interested in the boats and electronics used to catch bass.
Students not only asked questions of the pros; they also were interested in the boats and electronics used to catch bass.
The school’s assistant principal, Michelle Tucker, said the visit by the Bassmaster Elite Series pros was important to broadening the horizons of some students. “This provides something for our kids to see who typically don’t see these things,” Tucker said. “Even though we live on the river, we have children who never travel across the bridge. We have kids who never even go to the river; they don’t participate in fishing. They don’t experience life. Life to them is Putnam County, and this provides them a way to see what the rest of the world has to offer.
The school’s assistant principal, Michelle Tucker, said the visit by the Bassmaster Elite Series pros was important to broadening the horizons of some students. “This provides something for our kids to see who typically don’t see these things,” Tucker said. “Even though we live on the river, we have children who never travel across the bridge. We have kids who never even go to the river; they don’t participate in fishing. They don’t experience life. Life to them is Putnam County, and this provides them a way to see what the rest of the world has to offer.”“I’m just in awe of these boats. It’s something I’m not real familiar with, so it was great coming out and listening to some of the rules. I had no idea.”
Students weren’t the only ones taking photos. Pros like Bernie Schultz also documented their visit.
Students weren’t the only ones taking photos. Pros like Bernie Schultz also documented their visit.
The Palatka High School fishing team gathered for a photo will the 10 pros who visited the school. Sharon Harris, Palatka High Schools’ medical teacher the opportunity for students to mingle with pros and learn more about the business. <br><br> “We have students sitting in our classrooms that this is their dream — to do this one day,” Harris said.
The Palatka High School fishing team gathered for a photo will the 10 pros who visited the school. Sharon Harris, Palatka High Schools’ medical teacher the opportunity for students to mingle with pros and learn more about the business.

“We have students sitting in our classrooms that this is their dream — to do this one day,” Harris said. “It’s a great opportunity for the students to come out here and talk about the rules and the fishing, and how they got into this.”

When the anglers arrived, they lined their boats up so students could walk around and see the rigs.
When the anglers arrived, they lined their boats up so students could walk around and see the rigs.