Franklin College

In the fall of 2024, Franklin College announced the expansion of its athletic offerings with the addition of competitive fishing.  Fishing joins cheerleading and eSports as co-educational opportunities for students outside of the 22 traditional NCAA sports that Franklin College supports.  More than 600 colleges and universities field competitive fishing teams in the United States, and it is believed that number is closer to 1200 considering the various clubs and affiliate programs at institutions. Fishing remains one of the largest leisure sectors in the U.S. economy, with an estimated $50 to $60 billion in annual revenue from equipment, licenses, boats, gear, travel and fishing-related services. The world of competitive bass fishing hit its stride in the late 1980s when Bassmasters (aka B.A.S.S. – Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) became widely publicized.  Founder Ray Scott and early pioneers like Roland Martin, Rick Clunn, Bill Dance, Hank Parker, Forest Wood and Johnny Morris helped fishing reach the mainstream through organized tournaments, television programming and the sale and production of industry products.  Forest Wood is the original founder of Ranger Boats, a brand currently owned by White River Marine and Bass Pro Group.  Bass Pro Group is the parent company of retailers like Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's.  Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 by Johnny Morris.
 
Fishing is a pastime shared by millions of people in the United States and around the world.  Being good at fishing is not unlike other sports and skilled activities.  It requires practice, talent, commitment and intuition.  Today's successful anglers combine patterns, proven methods and modern technology to compete in any number of tournaments trails (circuits).  Kevin VanDam of Michigan remains the winningest professional bass angler of all time with 29 career wins and total earnings of nearly $7 million.  Like many tournaments, college anglers generally compete as two-person teams representing their institution.  The rules are laid out in advance and generally involve the total weight of fish caught by each team over a multi-day period.  Circuits are often regionally-based with the most successful teams vying for spots in national tournaments and the hopes of becoming professional anglers.  Franklin College's inaugural tournament participation commenced in the spring of 2025, with the Grizzlies making their formal intercollegiate debut in the fall.