Center Grove Student Earns Top 25 Finish in National Bass Fishing Competition

Photography Provided

Center Grove High School (CGHS) junior Brennan McDougal competed against the very best kayak bass anglers from 40 states in a three-day national championship tournament in October, at Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Alabama. McDougal, who serves as president of the CGHS Fishing Club, was the second youngest participant among the 305 qualifiers in the event, and was the youngest among the top 100 to make the cut for the championship round on day three. 

Brennan McDougal

McDougal finished 23rd and earned prize money for the first time in his young fishing career. He totaled 244.75 inches for his three-day total.

“Although I really wanted a top-10 finish, it was such a surreal feeling getting on the big stage for making a check and being in the top 30 in the event,” McDougal says. “It felt so good to finish among the best anglers in the country at such a young age. I had a great tournament, improving every day for my five-fish total, which is hard to do.”

In just two short years, McDougal has captured three third-place finishes in kayak bass fishing tournaments in Indiana, and claimed “Big Bass” honors in two of those events.

“Being out on the water is what I love,” he says. “To be out in the outdoors just doing what I love relieves so much stress, and makes me a better person on and off the water. I simply love tournament fishing because I’m a competitive person.” 

Brennan McDougal

2021 will be a busy year for the junior angler, competing in national tournaments in Kissimmee, Florida, and Shreveport, Louisiana. Once McDougal graduates from high school he wants to further his tournament bass fishing career at Adrian College in Michigan. 

“I do want to continue fishing on the pro level as I grow up,” McDougal says. “I absolutely love what I do, and I’m so proud to represent Center Grove on and off the water.”

When McDougal isn’t competing in state and national tournaments, he’s organizing local pond tournaments as president of the Fishing Club. McDougal is in his second year as the president of the 40-member club.

Brennan McDougal

“The CG Fishing Club’s goal is to give kids the opportunity to make new friends through the sport locally, and even improve to start fishing tournaments around the community,” McDougal says. “Our club competitions involve ponds around the community where kids duke it out to win prizes based on the top finishers.”

For information on how to join the CGHS Fishing Club, message the club’s Instagram page (@CGHSfishing).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Send me your media kit!

hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "6486003", formId: "5ee2abaf-81d9-48a9-a10d-de06becaa6db" });