Kade Ellender and Caden Doucet have high hopes for their senior year
Another high school bass fishing season looms for two Sulphur High School Fishing Team members whose goal is to make it to nationals in 2026.
Kade Ellender and Caden Doucet proved to be among the state’s best this past season. They aim to be the same and more in 2025-26.
Luke and Jennifer Ellender’s son began bass fishing with his dad at an early age and still does. Luke Ellender captains for his son and Doucet. (Luke’s paw paw, Steve Ellender, also fills in as captain.)
“He’s pushed us to be the best we can be,” Kade Ellender said about their high school tournaments in either the family’s Ranger RT188 or their X19 Xpress Pro Bass powered by a 200-h.p. SHO.
“He’s taught me everything,” the senior-to-be said. “It’ll be different going to college and fishing by myself. I think he’s taught me enough and I’m very thankful for that. It’s great to grow up fishing with him.”
Kade Ellender noted one of the keys to any success he has enjoyed is being on the water as much as possible. And continuing to learn.
“I think we’ve been doing pretty good … fifth in (2024-25) Angler of the Year and sixth at the state championship,” Caden Doucet said. “Last year we went to nationals (at Lake Chickamauga). The first day (prefishing) it worked out good for us. We had approximately 13 pounds with a three-fish limit. The first day we were in the Top 10 or 15 … fell off the second day.”
At Lake D’Arbonne, site of the Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation State Tournament, the juniors had 11.16 pounds on Day 1 and 10.35 pounds on Day 2.
“We had a great year,” Kade Ellender said. “We’ve been consistent all year. Bayou Segnette, 11th. Henderson, 8th. Toledo Bend, 18th. Everywhere else in the 30s.”
Looking ahead
The Sulphur High Fishing Team members exude confidence going into 2025-26, starting with a LHSBN tournament Sept. 13 at Doiron’s Landing, Stephensville. Doucet said it’s a challenge because of the caliber of bass anglers statewide, plus being pushed by Sulphur High’s other top anglers, like Gage Dowers and Cade Whittington.
“I think this year will be our best year of fishing and we’ve been fishing together the past two years,” Kade Ellender said. “I think we’ve got it figured out now, especially how good we did this year.”
What makes them a good team?
“We both push each other the best we can,” Kade Ellender said. “We’re out on the water as much as we can, putting in as much work as possible.”
Going into his fourth year of high school bass fishing, Kade has developed a passion for competition.
“It’s a big deal to me and I’m going to continue fishing in college, too,” he said. “I would like to stay in-state. I’ve spoken to Coach Charles (LSU-S bass fishing team Coach Charles T. Thompson) before. I continue to look around at different schools to see which one fits me best.”
Favorite fishing spots
Caden Doucet, who’s working as a shop hand this summer at Directional Services South, an oil field drilling company, said he plans to attend Sowela Technology Community College in Lake Charles. He also wants to continue bass fishing post-high school level.
“It depends on work and all that … probably some of the (Bassmaster) Opens, that’s for sure,” he said, noting he got into fishing at age 3 or 4 with his father and while in middle school fished saltwater fishing tournaments.
His first year of bass fishing in school was as a sophomore when he paired with Kade, who fished with a different partner his freshman year and qualified for nationals.
Caden said he fished with Kade and his dad at Sam Rayburn Lake and Toledo Bend “a bunch.”
“I knew him from middle school and we live clos
Another high school bass fishing season looms for two Sulphur High School Fishing Team members whose goal is to make it to nationals in 2026.
Kade Ellender and Caden Doucet proved to be among the state’s best this past season. They aim to be the same and more in 2025-26.
Luke and Jennifer Ellender’s son began bass fishing with his dad at an early age and still does. Luke Ellender captains for his son and Doucet. (Luke’s paw paw, Steve Ellender, also fills in as captain.)
“He’s pushed us to be the best we can be,” Kade Ellender said about their high school tournaments in either the family’s Ranger RT188 or their X19 Xpress Pro Bass powered by a 200-h.p. SHO.
“He’s taught me everything,” the senior-to-be said. “It’ll be different going to college and fishing by myself. I think he’s taught me enough and I’m very thankful for that. It’s great to grow up fishing with him.”
Kade Ellender noted one of the keys to any success he has enjoyed is being on the water as much as possible. And continuing to learn.
“I think we’ve been doing pretty good … fifth in (2024-25) Angler of the Year and sixth at the state championship,” Caden Doucet said. “Last year we went to nationals (at Lake Chickamauga). The first day (prefishing) it worked out good for us. We had approximately 13 pounds with a three-fish limit. The first day we were in the Top 10 or 15 … fell off the second day.”
At Lake D’Arbonne, site of the Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation State Tournament, the juniors had 11.16 pounds on Day 1 and 10.35 pounds on Day 2.
“We had a great year,” Kade Ellender said. “We’ve been consistent all year. Bayou Segnette, 11th. Henderson, 8th. Toledo Bend, 18th. Everywhere else in the 30s.”
Looking ahead
The Sulphur High Fishing Team members exude confidence going into 2025-26, starting with a LHSBN tournament Sept. 13 at Doiron’s Landing, Stephensville. Doucet said it’s a challenge because of the caliber of bass anglers statewide, plus being pushed by Sulphur High’s other top anglers, like Gage Dowers and Cade Whittington.
“I think this year will be our best year of fishing and we’ve been fishing together the past two years,” Kade Ellender said. “I think we’ve got it figured out now, especially how good we did this year.”
What makes them a good team?
“We both push each other the best we can,” Kade Ellender said. “We’re out on the water as much as we can, putting in as much work as possible.”
Going into his fourth year of high school bass fishing, Kade has developed a passion for competition.
“It’s a big deal to me and I’m going to continue fishing in college, too,” he said. “I would like to stay in-state. I’ve spoken to Coach Charles (LSU-S bass fishing team Coach Charles T. Thompson) before. I continue to look around at different schools to see which one fits me best.”
Favorite fishing spots
Caden Doucet, who’s working as a shop hand this summer at Directional Services South, an oil field drilling company, said he plans to attend Sowela Technology Community College in Lake Charles. He also wants to continue bass fishing post-high school level.
“It depends on work and all that … probably some of the (Bassmaster) Opens, that’s for sure,” he said, noting he got into fishing at age 3 or 4 with his father and while in middle school fished saltwater fishing tournaments.
His first year of bass fishing in school was as a sophomore when he paired with Kade, who fished with a different partner his freshman year and qualified for nationals.
Caden said he fished with Kade and his dad at Sam Rayburn Lake and Toledo Bend “a bunch.”
“I knew him from middle school and we live close together,” he said.
Not surprisingly, both high school anglers’ favorite local fishin’ hole is Sam Rayburn Lake. Caden adds Toledo Bend to his list of favorites.
“I’ve grown up fishing it (Sam Rayburn Lake). It’s always a great time being there,” he said, then talked about his approach to fishing. “We look for hay grass and hydrilla. I try to throw a frog and a Fluke most of the time, and throw a shallow-water crankbait.
“The whole lake has plenty of fish to catch. We try to explore as much as we can to try to learn new stuff.”
e together,” he said.
Not surprisingly, both high school anglers’ favorite local fishin’ hole is Sam Rayburn Lake. Caden adds Toledo Bend to his list of favorites.
“I’ve grown up fishing it (Sam Rayburn Lake). It’s always a great time being there,” he said, then talked about his approach to fishing. “We look for hay grass and hydrilla. I try to throw a frog and a Fluke most of the time, and throw a shallow-water crankbait.
“The whole lake has plenty of fish to catch. We try to explore as much as we can to try to learn new stuff.”
