Alabama first to follow Illinois in HS bass?

Alabama may be the first state to follow the lead of the Illinois High School Association in regards to sanctioning prep bass fishing.

The Alabama High School Bass Fishing Club Tournament Series starts March 6. A total of about 20 high schools are expected to enter angler teams for the event on Wheeler Lake near Florence.

So far the group does not have backing from the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Click here to read a story in the Florence Times Daily that has several quotes from Dave Gannaway of the IHSA. Quotes include the following:

“We had 2,496 students participate in bass fishing during the 2008-09 academic year,” he said. “Of that number, 55 percent did not participate in any other school activity. Bass fishing has allowed us to reach kids who had never shown interest in competitive sports.”