Continuing Top-Level and Grassroots Supportof Scholastic Angling

PARK FALLS, WIS. (September 19, 2025) – Collegiate and high school bass fishing have exploded in popularity over the past decade.
 
The Student Angler Federation estimates there are over 2,500 high school bass teams or clubs in the U.S. participating in their programs, and approximately 45,000 active students in those clubs, circuits, and regional trails. Some sources estimate the existence of as many as 1,200 more teams and competitive clubs at the collegiate level.

One can’t argue with the results. Younger and younger anglers are consistently earning top finishes in the world’s most prestigious professional bass-fishing tournaments.

Easton Fothergill is a 2024 graduate of the University of Montevallo, where he competed for four years and won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket. Just over a year later, he won the 2025 Bassmaster Classic. The Bassmaster Elite Series, alone, is riddled competitive anglers in their twenties, most of which gained valuable tournament experience fishing competitively in high school and/or college.
 
In Texas alone, the Texas High School Bass Association reports having over 200 different high school teams, the largest of which having as many as 90 or more team members.

Mark Hooker has coached and coordinated one of those programs for the past 13 years.

The Montgomery ISD Fishing Team is fed by two different high schools and is one of the largest and most successful programs in the Texas High School Bass Association. Even with the support of an active booster club, Hooker says finite resources are the most challenging part of running a successful program.
 
“We’ve had around 90 young anglers on our teams in recent years,” Hooker says. “It’s not easy getting all these kids consistently onto boats to practice, much less compete. You have travel logistics and costs, food and lodging, and they need to have all the rods, reels, line, lures, and other tackle, as well. Coaches and team coordinators have to be creative at times, and you need all the help and support you can drum up.”

Hooker says the St. Croix Rod and SEVIIN Reels Scholastic Programs have been a significant help.
 
“Huge, huge, huge,” he says. “I mean that. St. Croix has been with us since the beginning, and it’s been the absolute best way to get the volume of quality equipment my kids can compete and win with into their hands. But the truly amazing thing is that these programs are available to any team that asks. You just have to send a general inquiry email to marketing@stcroixrods.com asking for details on the St. Croix and SEVIIN Scholastic Programs, and within a couple days they get back in touch with the next steps. You send them your roster and they’ll provide order codes for up to five rods and five reels for every kid on your team. Are you kidding me? Without this program, most of my kids are going out and buying whatever sub-par rods and reels they can find on sale.”
 
St. Croix Rod and SEVIIN Reels’ support of high school and collegiate angling extends beyond their Scholastic Programs.
 
An offshoot of the well-established Bass Federation, the Student Angler Federation (SAF) is the leading organization providing resources, support, and opportunities for high school anglers. St. Croix Rod has been a long-time supporter of the SAF.

Nearly 400 high school teams from 40 different states recently competed in the SAF’s 2025 16^th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and Championship on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. On the final day of the event – St. Croix Rod and SEVIIN Reels Day – only one of the 62 anglers who made the cut to fish on Championship Saturday would win, but each would receive a St. Croix Rod and a SEVIIN Reel.

“Scholastic fishing programs provide tremendous growth opportunities for the thousands of young people who participate,” says St. Croix Vice President of Marketing, Jesse Simpkins. “St. Croix and SEVIIN have made it a continuing priority to support these anglers and teams directly through our Scholastic Program, as well as at the organizational level through donations to Student Angler Federation. We commend all of the organizers, coaches, and volunteers who commit the time and resources necessary to create opportunities for these student athletes to grow, compete, and make fishing a part of their lifestyle, as well as the other companies and industry representatives who donate to or otherwise support scholastic angling and student anglers.”

For more information on the St. Croix and SEVIIN Scholastic Programs, please email marketing@stcroixrods.com.

About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly crafting the “Best Rods on Earth” for over 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with skilled craftsmanship, St. Croix is the only major producer to still build rods entirely from design through manufacturing. The company remains family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing facilities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With popular trademarked series such as Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all types of anglers from around the world. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
 
About SEVIIN Reels
Wherever and however you fish, the reel in your hand should help create better experiences. Born from St. Croix Rod’s seven decades of design and manufacturing expertise, industry-leading customer service, and unbroken private ownership by the Schluter family dating back to 1977, SEVIIN reels are meticulously engineered and purpose-built to help anglers conquer every species on every piece of water on the planet. SEVIIN focuses on reels and reels only, designing and marketing products that improve the angling experience, regardless of the rods anglers choose. Seven seas, seven continents, seven days a week, SEVIIN reels are fueled by a collective love of fishing surpassed only by a passion to deliver the most reliable reels on the water. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.