It all started half a century ago and my friend, the late Kinny Haddox, wrote about the birth of high school bass tournaments, how they got kicked off and the part he played in getting this circuit up and running.

Louisiana Sportsman magazine ran an article written by Haddox about the first-ever documented high school bass tournament. Know where it was held? At Jake’s Boat Dock on Lake D’Arbonne 50 years ago.

“I was a 23-year-old sports and outdoor writer for the Monroe newspaper when we came up with the idea of high school fishing tournament joking late one Friday after a hectic night of high school football. Several of us were talking about fishing that midnight when a sports story came across the AP wire about the formation of the new World Football League. We joked about what might come next and out of the blue, I said, ‘Well, I guess high school fishing tournaments.’ We all had a good laugh, but the idea didn’t go away. The next spring, there we were lined up at Jake’s on D’Arbonne,” Haddox wrote.

That first tournament offered a trophy and a rod and reel combo to the winners. Entry fee to fish was $2.50.

“Wow, how things have changed,” Haddox wrote. “Following a recent high school championship event on another lake, local tourism officials estimated a $1.5 million economic impact from the events.

“As I watch today,” Haddox continued, “I just grin and enjoy the fact that these kids, most of who will never win a slam-dunk contest or play under the Friday Night Lights, are finally getting to show their stuff and grow a sport that so many of us love dearly.”

I had visitors this past week, nephew Ben Dupree, his wife Kristen and their 15-year-old son, Michael. Talking with Michael triggered my digging until I found the Kinny Haddox article because Michael as a high school sophomore is a member of the Calvin High School bass fishing team.

“I’ve been a member of our team for the past two years and right now, my partner and I are tied with another team from Winn Parish for first place in our parish circuit which includes teams from Winnfield, Dodson and Calvin. If we keep our points up, we’ll go to regionals and hopefully do well enough to go to the state tournament on Toledo Bend,” said Michael.

Michael’s largest bass so far has been a 5 ½ pounder and the lakes their tournaments are held on include Black Lake, Caney Lake, Cane River and Grand Bayou.

“Black Lake and Cane River are my two favorite lakes and my favorite lures are a weighted Ole Monster worm and a Sinko.

“I’ll cast close to structure, like a stump or log and the bite is usually subtle. You’ll feel a tap or the line moves off to the side or just feels heavy. That’s when I set the hook,” he said.

“My dad was boat captain for my partner and I but this year, we’re letting dad rest and using my brother, Reagan as captain as he has his own boat and is a good bass fisherman, having caught one weighing nearly 10 pounds.”

It is indeed gratifying that kids today can enjoy a sport that started in the state on Lake D’Arbonne 50 years ago, something they can enjoy for as long as they live.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com