Upperman High School fisherman Ben Wilson is entering his fifth year with the Bees’ fishing team, closing in on the end of a youth career that has taken him from a rain-soaked first tournament to becoming one of the Upper Cumberland’s most consistent high school anglers.
Wilson said his love of the outdoors, especially being on the water, is what drew him into competitive bass fishing long before he joined Upperman’s program.
“All throughout my life when I was a little younger, I’ve always had the enjoyment of being outside and especially fishing,” Wilson said. “[My grandfather] used to own an outdoor store and he got me into the idea of tournament bass fishing and when I heard at Upperman there as a fishing team, I jumped on it, I dove in head first and that’s where I am now.”
Wilson’s competitive journey began in fifth grade with his first tournament on Dale Hollow Lake. Wilson spent nine hours on the water in rainy conditions without catching a single fish. Despite the tough outing, Wilson said the experience helped him quickly realize that bass fishing is far more challenging than it sometimes appears.
“Maybe you turn on the TV, you watch the Bassmasters, you watch all these pros and they’re catching big fish left and right,” Wilson said. “Maybe that’s not how it’s always going to be.”
Wilson said those early lessons helped him develop the patience and persistence necessary to succeed in high school tournaments. One of his most memorable moments came last October, even if it ended just shy of a win. Wilson and his partner, Cade Austin, finished second out of a 250-team field in a tournament, an experience Wilson said still stands out as one of the proudest of his career.
Wilson said he located a productive grass mat in a creek off the main channel and capitalized on a strong frog bite, hauling in 15 pounds from the area.
While traditional techniques still play a role, Wilson said modern technology has also become an important tool in competitive fishing. Using sonar technology, Wilson said anglers can locate fish more efficiently and adjust their approach throughout a tournament.
“When in doubt, scope it out,” Wilson said. “We’re trying to get a better bite of fish or a more quantity bite of fish instead of quality [by using a sonar.]”
As his time with the Bees’ fishing program begins to wind down, Wilson’s journey reflects the steady growth of high school bass fishing, a sport that rewards patience, preparation and the willingness to endure the occasional rainy day on the water.