It’s always fun to be in on the start of something big, and Logan Mount is glad he was part of raising the bar in college fishing.
“I got involved in college fishing by accident in 2008,” Mount said. “One of our fraternity members told us that LSU was starting a school team to fish a circuit sponsored by the National Guard and FLW. We got several two-man teams together and fished the first tournament after that on Lake Falcon. Our team finished fifth. It was awesome. I fished every year after that at LSU and we have some great teams from around the state. ULM, Louisiana Tech, Northwestern, McNeese and Southeastern have teams with some great fishermen.”
Now there are several circuits for college anglers and even high school teams getting into the act. The results are established. Perhaps the crowning achievement for fishermen who came through the college ranks is former Auburn fisherman Jordan Lee, who won the Bassmaster Classic in 2017. He first qualified for the world championship as a college angler.
The highlight of college fishing for Mount was when he and partner T.J. Goodwyn weighed in the last sack of the day at the 2011 College Classic National Championship as part of the Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans. Fishing in nearby Lake Verret, they landed a sack of bass that put LSU over rival Alabama to claim the championship. Mason McCain, Doug Greenman, Douglas McClung and Travis Laurent were also on that six-man team.
“Each year now, more and more young high-energy anglers come into the pro scene with that tournament experience already in their back pocket because of college fishing. That means pro tournament fishing is going to be tougher and tougher, at least that’s what I think,” Mount says. “Another great thing about starting fishermen in college is that we learn a huge feeling of responsibility to the sport. We catch fish, release fish and try to catch them again. It’s not just about ripping lips. Fish care is paramount and we preach conservation.”