.Bass Fishing Club offers Boilermakers Opportunity to Wade into Casual, Competitive Fishing
Quiet mornings spent on a calm lake, wading a mountain stream, discovering a local pond or trolling deep waters for big-game fish create a tight bond among anglers of all ages.
It’s these moments that officers of the Purdue Bass Fishing Club cherish and seek to share with their members. The club provides a point of connection for anglers of all skill levels and interests, ranging from expert anglers to beginners.
“Whether you’re sitting on the boat and hanging out, or actually fishing versus just casting a line, you’re out there with your buddies enjoying the day,” says Brady Metzger, the club’s tournament director. “That’s really what it’s all about – going out and enjoying yourself.”
Club activities include social events, outdoor shows and expos, and club and national tournaments. Biweekly meetings are held on campus and usually consist of discussion, planning events and sharing fishing tips and techniques. In the past, the club has also hosted guest speakers, including professional anglers. The club is open to anyone interested in catching any species of fish – not just bass.
Club dues range from $40 per semester to $60 annually. Dues include access to tournaments, sponsorships and discounts. Members do have to purchase their own gear, though club sponsorships can provide discounts on rods, reels, tackle and even some apparel. Members can also earn perks through the club’s Angler of the Year program, which awards points based on participation in meetings and events, performance in tournaments and more.
In addition to formal events and outings, the club provides opportunities for members to fish locally, whether it’s a quick outing after class or a long day on the weekend. Club members meet around campus to travel to various fishing holes in the Wabash and Tippecanoe watershed for casual outings. Finding someone to fish with is as easy as asking who wants to go through the club’s GroupMe.
“If you ask, more than likely, someone will go,” says Tim Radtke, president of the club.
Radtke initially became involved with Purdue Bass Fishing as a freshman when his dad sent him a post from the club’s Facebook page. Like many club members, Radtke had grown up fishing with his father and found a way to continue his favorite hobby and make friends through the club.
“It’s been a good chance to meet other fishermen and meet people that I will probably be best friends with for the rest of my life,” Radtke says. “I love this club more than anything at Purdue. It’s the most fun I’ve had here.”
In addition to opportunities to build camaraderie and friendship, the club also offers a gateway for anglers interested in competitive fishing. The club hosts tournaments for its members throughout the year at in-state locations such as Geist Reservoir (Fishers), Lake Freeman (Monticello) and Lake Monroe (Bloomington). Prizes are typically awarded for positions of finish as well as the biggest fish.
The club also participates in intercollegiate fishing tournaments such as a Big 10 Tournament and holds an annual competition with anglers from Ball State University, Indiana State University and Indiana University. The Boilermakers and Hoosiers also face off in the Minnow Bucket, the fishing equivalent of the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry. Purdue won the last iteration of the Minnow Bucket, held in spring 2022.
Opportunities to compete in Major League Fishing and Collegiate Bass Fishing tournaments are growing in popularity among members. Radtke says he routinely receives interest from high school students interested in fishing competitively at Purdue specifically due to the club’s participation in such tournaments. In the case of Casey Cornelius, the club’s vice president, competitive fishing is what brought him to Purdue.
“If Purdue didn’t have a club, I wouldn’t be here,” Cornelius says.
Cornelius, Radtke and Metzger are among the club’s members that have represented the university at Major League Fishing and Collegiate Bass Fishing Series events around the nation. This fall, the team has already sent groups of anglers to several locations and events, including Lake Erie to fish a Major League Fishing event, as well as the Collegiate Bass Fishing Series Big Bass Bash held on Kentucky Lake near Paris, Tennessee.
Club members have enjoyed success in many tournaments, often against nationally ranked varsity fishing programs. In July, the club sent four teams to the Major League Fishing College Central Conference tournament held on the Mississippi River in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The club’s top two teams, consisting of Ross Carter and William Bruin, and Mason Bohland and Metzger, each qualified for the Wiley X College Faceoff with their performance. Bohland and Metzger placed second in the nation, while Bruin and Carter placed sixth. This fall, club member Travis Ely hauled in the sixth-largest bass at the Big Bass Bash.
The club’s success in tournaments is a testament to the fishing knowledge, persistence and resourcefulness of its members. Tournaments often pit Purdue anglers against programs sponsored by athletic departments, which include university-funded resources such as scholarships, boats, garages, gear, sponsored travel and the benefit of arriving to tournaments several days or even weeks ahead of the competition dates to learn the lake. Purdue anglers must navigate the challenges of funding their own travel, potentially driving 6-8 hours with their own boats and learning an unfamiliar lake in less time, all while balancing their desire to compete with their class schedules. Tournaments held on Thursdays and Fridays can further complicate travel plans and academic pursuits.
The club funds its activities through sponsorships and fundraisers. Sponsorships come from participation in national tournaments and local events, such as the Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show, as well as local connections. The club is also in the process of setting up an online store to sell club apparel.
No matter where an angler’s interests may lie, they’re likely to find someone with a similar background or interest in the Purdue Bass Fishing Club. The club boasts members from around the country as well as international members.
“There are kids here from all over the world and from all different majors, and everyone has a different fishing background – whether it’s fishing ponds, lakes, rivers, the ocean or competitive fishing,” says Metzger. “I think that’s ultimately the greatest part of the club.”
It’s the bond created among fellow anglers, whether from Purdue or through connections made on the tournament trail, that Cornelius also cherishes most.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned from this club is how something so simple can bring together so many different people and how easy to it is to talk to people when you can relate to something as simple as liking to catch fish,” Cornelius says. “Anyone can go out there and do it. Getting this many people in one place is amazing because it’s a giant family. Immediately, I feel close to all these people.”
Individuals interested in learning more about the Purdue Bass Fishing Club can connect with the organization via Facebook or Instagram, or email Radtke.