For Pickett County Bobcats fisherman Rex Reagan, fishing has been a lifelong obsession, one that began almost as soon as he could walk.
Reagan started picking up a fishing rod as a baby. Since then, Reagan said he has spent his whole life knowing nothing but the water. Reagan said his father used to take him fishing all the time, which is what got him started early on in his career.
Now a senior on the Pickett County Bobcats fishing team, Reagan has translated that early passion into results that few high school anglers in the country can match. Alongside teammate Max Moody, Reagan has claimed back-to-back Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championships, including a 36-pound, 11-ounce winning total over three days at Clarks Hill Lake last year.
But Reagan said success is not just about raw talent, but rather about preparation and discipline.
“Keep everything on your boat,” Reagan said. “If something breaks on your boat, I fix it immediately. Always keep everything good and in shape. Always fishing, just keep myself warmed up and in shape all year round.”
Regardless of weather, Reagan said he is always on the water. Rain, shine, 30-degree cold snaps or 80-degree warm spells, he keeps fishing. Reagan said that availability is his greatest strength.
“I never take any breaks off,” Reagan said. “I’m always fishing somewhere, so that keeps me up to date. But I just stay fishing all the time.”
Reagan’s deep family roots in fishing also give him an edge. The Reagan family has navigated the waters across the Upper Cumberland for generations, giving him a keen understanding of local waters. Still, Reagan said he emphasizes adaptability. Reagan said if one does not get a bite in an hour or two, it might be time to change lures. Reagan said if one does not get a bite in an hour or two, it might be time to change lures.
“Fish change so rapidly,” Reagan said. “It can be cold for a week, 30, 40 degrees and then it can jump up to an 80-degree warm spell. But fish are always changing and you just have to adjust.”
Reagan has also excelled on the state and regional level, winning the Central Tennessee Championship with a 19.54-pound bag and earning co-angler points titles in the Tennessee Bass Nation circuits.
With multiple national championships already under his belt, Rex Reagan is casting not just for bass, but for a future that could see him competing at the college or professional level, carrying the Pickett County Bobcats’ legacy even further.