by Irene Luck

What happens when you are prepping for a competition and the world suddenly shuts down around you, ending your season? And then, your team is stymied because of a pandemic.

That’s just what happened to the Louisa County High School Lunkers, a group of young anglers, in March 2020 as they were practicing for a fishing tournament.

“We were at a lake that Friday evening in March when we received word from the high school that the team needed to come home,” said Brad Baber, whose son Logan was one of the anglers. “We weren’t even sure what had happened or what was going on.”

Because the team was a club through Louisa County Public Schools, it had to follow the system’s guidelines, ending all competitions for the season. When school started back in the fall of 2020, concerns about Covid and the necessary protocols to keep students safe prevented the club from re-forming, much to the dismay of its members.

That’s when two parents – avid fishermen themselves – jumped into action. Baber met James Baker, James’ wife Tina, and their son Austin while fishing on Lake Anna. They both pulled up near the same boat dock, and Baber said he watched the Bakers through a few casts and not catch anything. They pulled away, and Baber trolled up to the same dock, tossed in bait, and caught a fish almost immediately. 

He said Baker pulled up alongside and began asking questions and Baber – eager to share his experience and knowledge – invited them to his house when they finished fishing. The two families became fast friends, and Austin and Logan became a fishing team on the Lunkers and later the Lake Anna Elite Anglers.

Baber has an extensive background in competitive fishing, having participated in numerous tournaments when he was younger.

“Because I once fished competitively and still participate in some tournaments today, I have lots of contacts in the industry,” Baber said. “I reached out to see what it would take to start a community team, and from there the concept took off.”

Baber and Baker worked through B.A.S.S. Nation to establish the youth team starting in November 2020 with two anglers and a boat captain. Those two anglers were Logan Baber and Austin Baker.

“As we got our feet wet and things in line, we invited those who had participated in the high school team,” Baber recalled. “At that initial meeting in November, we had 37 anglers, parents, and boat captains in attendance.”

And from that point on, Lake Anna Elite Anglers was born. The families tossed around several names before deciding on Lake Anna Elite Anglers, wording they felt encompassed the entire area and not just one locale. The team features two divisions: a junior division for children in second through eighth grades and a senior division starting with ninth graders until they graduate.

Eighth graders are in a unique position, as they can choose to remain in the junior division in which the boat captains offer help and advice. Or instead, they can move up to the senior division in which boat captains are restricted to driving only and can only go where the team members request.

For example, in the junior division, the boat captain can help them tie baits on, suggest places to fish, and recommend which baits to use. Once they reach the senior division, they must rely on their own experience and skills.

“We want to start them out when they are in elementary and middle school and teach them what they need to know before they hit the senior division, which is much more competitive,” Baber said. “These teams form lasting friendships with their teammates and boat captains.”

Initially, the anglers wanted to keep the new team low key while they worked out the kinks. However, it didn’t take long for word to get out. They now boast members from all around Central Virginia, including Hanover, Fluvanna, Spotsylvania, Orange, Remington, and the Shenandoah Valley.

“We have one team that drives two and a half hours to participate in tournaments with us,” Baber explained.

The team has been set up as a 501(c)3 organization, allowing them to hold fundraisers to offset the cost of tournament registrations, lodging, food, jerseys, and prizes for the tournaments they sponsor. The group typically holds two major fundraising raffles a year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

But how does a youth fishing team work? Each member chooses a partner for the season, and they fish together in each catch and release tournament. Each team has a boat captain who provides the bass boat they use. The Lake Anna Elite Anglers hold one tournament on Lake Anna a month, fishing against each other for practice and skill development.

The boat captains will often compete against each other in these local events. B.A.S.S. Nation has three to four qualifying tournaments typically held at Lake Gaston, Kerr Lake, the Chickahominy River, and Smith Mountain Lake.

Each team must compete in one qualifying tournament, and they are awarded points for their catches. The eight-hour tournaments require the teams to bring in 10 bass, which are weighed and ranked for finishing places before being released. Teams that finish in the top four in any qualifier are automatically eligible for the state tournament, which has a field for 16 teams. Other teams fill any vacant spots by earning points in each of the qualifiers. At the state level, the top two finishers advance to the national competition.

One of the unique aspects about participating on a fishing team is the exposure the anglers receive for their skill. There are numerous colleges that have fishing teams of their own and offer scholarships to anglers. Baber said he was aware of two colleges in the state that have teams, Virginia Tech and James Madison University. Both of these schools have scouted members of the Lake Anna Elite Anglers in the last year.

While the group hasn’t had anyone advance to nationals yet, they have had a team qualify for the state tournament the last two years.

Fishing can be an expensive hobby, but having the fanciest equipment doesn’t matter to the fish. Baber said that teaching anglers to use what they have, to learn where the fish hang out, and to entice the fish to go after the bait is more important.

Because of his contacts, Baber often gets bait, poles, and other items donated. Some of this equipment is new and some is used, but all of it comes in handy.

“What you use to fish on Lake Anna on a clear summer day doesn’t work on a cloudy winter day or an overcast spring morning,” Baber said. “And what works on Lake Anna won’t work at all on the Chickahominy River or the cold deep waters of Lake Gaston or Kerr. You need to know where to use your various baits, when to use them, and how they work.”

Baber has also sought sponsors for the team who get their business names and logos proudly displayed on the team’s jerseys and sweatshirts. Over the summer, Baber solicited new sponsorships for the season that began with a local tournament on September 11.

Lake Anna Elite Anglers is open to anyone, but Baber reminds potential members that it is like a sports team and requires practice, work, and commitment. At the banquet held over the summer, 25-30 anglers expressed an interest in participating. However, Baber said the number of individuals he can accommodate is based on the number of bass boats and captains he has available.

“We want to get the younger kids in and give them an opportunity to fish,” explained Baber’s son Logan. “We want them to know there are scholarships available, and even if they don’t choose to go the pro route, fishing is something they can do the rest of their lives.”

Logan has been fishing with his dad since he was three years old. He hopes to be able to go on the professional circuit once he finishes his education.

“There’s nothing like the adrenal rush you get when you start catching fish,” Logan said. “And being outside and enjoying God’s creation is a definite plus.”

“Being outside, having fun, and learning a lot builds a camaraderie with the kids,” Baber explained. “They meet like-minded kids from everywhere when they go to these tournaments and learn all kinds of tips and tricks when they follow their favorite pros.”

When asked how the community could assist the Lake Anna Elite Anglers, Baber had several suggestions.

“Each team is responsible for securing its own bass boat and captain, although I will help them where I can,” Baber said. “But, our real need is for more fishermen in the community to step up and volunteer to work with these young anglers.”

A bass or fishing boat is required by B.A.S.S. Nation to participate in the tournaments, as other types of vessels don’t allow the anglers to get into shallow areas.

Donating items to be used as prizes is also helpful since the anglers can’t receive money as winnings. Baber often gives them gift cards or fishing equipment that has been donated, but sometimes he has to purchase them, which takes money from the team.

“I’m looking for gift cards to restaurants where the kids like to eat, like Subway, McDonald’s or other restaurants; fishing supply stores or other items the anglers would enjoy,” he said.

Since the Lake Anna Elite Anglers is a non-profit organization, it has a board of directors consisting of Brad Baber as president, James Baker as vice president, Tina Baker as treasurer, and Jen Baber as secretary.

To keep up with their activities, fundraisers and other news, visit the group’s Facebook page at Lake Anna Elite Anglers. For more information on the team or to volunteer as a boat captain, contact Brad Baber at 540-538-2160.