Pickett County celebrated a national championship win as the Bobcats fishing team paraded around Byrdstown.
Sophomores Max Moody and Rex Reagan entered Clarks Hill Lake in Georgia for the first time in their fishing career. They left the lake victorious after catching almost 37 pounds of fish over the three-day tournament. Moody said the support from friends and family after the win became overwhelming.
“We just got some congratulations from friends and everybody kind of bragging on us and telling us how good we’ve done,” Moody said. “It’s a pretty good feeling to have the support from your kids that you went to school with.”
The Bobcats used a five inch Zoom Winged Fluke and a Hog Farmer Smoke Shad as part of the bait on a Queen Tackle jig head during the tournament. Reagan said the jig head was the smallest one used in the tournament. Reagan said the jig head made the biggest difference.
“They really just ate whatever you put in front of them,” Reagan said. “If you just got it in front of them, they were gonna eat it no matter what you [did.]”
Head Coach Anthony Scott said the team gained confidence as fish swarmed their bait each day. Scott said he received phone calls over the last week with friends and family who were amazed at the accomplishment.
“For freshmen and now sophomores to win the national championship, it’s just crazy,” Scott said. “And it shows how good of fishermen Rex and Max are.”
Reagan and Moody finished a pound and four ounces ahead to win the championship. The pair will look to become the second fishing team in United States history to three-peat next season.