HOW TO START A B.A.S.S. HIGH SCHOOL CLUB
B.A.S.S. High School Nation clubs foster leadership, problem solving and public speaking skills,
promote environmental awareness and responsibility, as well as teach kids the fun of fishing. If
your club is ready to contribute to the future of our sport, follow these easy steps to start your
own B.A.S.S. WHAT YOU NEED:
1. A desire and commitment to encourag
e youth fishing
2. A minimum of two (2) interested students grades 9-12, and a club advisor. Once your club makes the decision to form a B.A.S.S. High School Nation club, you should begin
recruiting members. Once established, the B.A.S.S. High School club needs to begin holding regular meetings
and activities. Advisor duties will include supervising the meetings and functions of the
club, helping the students hold elections for their officers, planning club meetings and programs and,
of course, helping the students learn about the great sport of fishing. When planning the programs for the club, keep in mind that the programs should
be fun, interesting and interactive. Programs that are dull, unorganized or too long will lose
the students attention. Ask for the students input when deciding on the agenda and activities;
remember, it is their club. Listed below are some suggestions to help with the planning. SUGGESTIONS FOR B.A.S.S. HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MEETINGS
“How-To” Clinics
● How to fish various lures (arrange a meeting place where a swimming pool is available
for demonstrations).
● How to make lures.
● How to wrap rods.
● How to repair rods and reels.
● How to put line on various types of reels.
● Discuss various rod/reel combinations and their advantages and use.
● How to properly maintain your fishing equipment. Guest Speakers
● Officers from sponsoring adult club
● National B.A.S.S. officials
● Area or local professional fishermen
● State B.A.S.S. Nation officer or director
● Outdoor editor of area newspaper
● Representative from conservation or sportsmen’s organizations
● Representative from State Department of Natural Resources
Safety Programs
● Demonstrate the proper way to wear a life jacket.
● Provide instruction on when a life jacket must be worn.
● Demonstrate the proper way to board a boat.
● First-Aid Kit — Contents and Use
● Study for the boater’s safety course. Make an Activity Book
● Collect memorabilia of club’s activities.
● Involve all members. Have each member responsible for a section.
● Take the book to all club activities to display their achievements. HIGH SCHOOL CLUB PROJECTS
Conservation Projects
● Educate students about ongoing conservation programs in your area.
● Organize a lake cleanup.
● Adopt-a-Waterway or -Highway Program.
● Stock a local pond or lake with fish.
● Plant fish habitat with Christmas trees (where laws permit).
● Collect recyclable products and take to a recycling plant. Hold Tournaments
● Tournaments don’t always have to be from a boat.
● Fish from the bank.
● Prizes can be donated fishing equipment (rods & reels, tackle boxes, lures). Community Service Projects
● Hold tournaments for physically challenged children.
● Donate canned food to elderly and needy during holidays.
● Donate clothes to needy charities.
● Let club members help with big adult club projects (i.e. building a pier, raising
money for charity, restocking lakes, help at adult tournaments, fish care). Fund-Raising Events
● Hold a tournament with the help of an adult club.
● Make lures to sell.
● Candy sales and raffles also work great.
● Proceeds to go for bass habitat improvement, a favorite charity
