As colorful bait glides through the air and boat engines create a bubbly roar, fishermen spend hours on the wavy waters of Wright Patman Lake to see who can topple the biggest lake monster.
On Oct. 4, 2025, the Texas High School Bass Association (THSBA) hosted a fishing tournament at Wright Patman Lake. The event consisted of 31 schools divided into 161 teams. Despite heavy competition, senior Ethan Jones left victorious with a 5.53-pound bass.
“It was one of the five regular-season THSBA tournaments on Wright Patman Lake,” Ethan Jones said. “I pre-fished two weekends before and the day before the tournament. I had really good practices, but I was nervous coming into the tournament because I was worried the fish weren’t gonna bite as well on tournament day.”
In order to win awards as an angler, fishermen must memorize the patterns fish move in, the food they hunt for and the proper gear for each environment.
“[At the tournament], I caught all my fish [by] flipping a soft plastic bait that replicates a crawfish into shallow submerged bushes and trees because fish love large heavy cover,” Ethan Jones said. “I’ve gotten a lot better in the past couple of years at casting and knowing where to cast [to] give myself the highest chance to catch a fish. I’ve also gotten better at being able to work my bait, triggering more bites.”
While success did come in the end for Ethan Jones, the process does not always go smoothly. Head coach Keith Jones strives to prepare his athletes and remain motivational while on the water.
“He went [for] a couple of hours and didn’t catch a fish. I had to remind him to stay focused and not get frustrated, even though he wasn’t getting bites,” Keith Jones said. “I told him that if it was tough on him, then it was probably tough on everyone, and it was.”
For many, fishing creates lifelong experiences outside of high school competition and can serve as both a lucrative career and a leisurely activity.
“My dad taught me everything I know. He’s taken me [fishing] ever since I could walk, and it’s a passion we both share,” Ethan Jones said. “I plan to fish for the Texas A&M University Bass Fishing Team in College Station. I will likely fish several circuits with the Aggies, like Texas Bass Nation, College Bassmaster and the Collegiate Bass Circuits.”
