To junior Austin Cater, fishing was just a way to hangout with his friends.
“Once COVID happened, me and a couple buddies, we would just go to the pond and just try to catch as many fish as we could in a day,” Cater said.
Over time, his love for fishing grew. Today, he spends his free time fishing at local ponds and competing against his friends. Despite being in school, he still finds time to go fishing weekly.
“I go every weekend,” Cater said. “I try to go at least once a week. Most of the time I go three to four times a week. I can get it done for something I love.”
He’s a part of the Kingwood Bass Fishing Team, which competes in tournaments hosted by the Texas High School Bass Association.
“The people and friends I’ve made throughout the club have been people who I will cherish for a long time,” Cater said.
The club is more than just a meeting place for fishermen. It also helps prepare the students for their upcoming tournaments.
“The school has helped us by giving us off Fridays before the tournaments, to pre-fish and get everything we need to know about that lake and that specific day,” Cater said.
Outside of the club, he also fishes competitively. Starting the season last year, he was ready to compete.
“So last year in my first two tournaments, I came in super confident in the season and I bombed,” Cater said. “I didn’t catch any fish the first two tournaments and I really thought this is not for me.”
Despite not catching anything in those tournaments, he still had the confidence to try again. The next opportunity he had was the Rayburn Fishing Tournament, which consisted of people from all around the region.
“The very next tournament at Rayburn, I go around and get fourth place out of 220 boats, so it really spun my entire tournament series around,” Cater said.
Fishing is not easy and the supplies cost money. For Cater, he advised others who love the sport to get involved and use whatever they can find or afford.
“People are going to always have nicer stuff than you,” he said. “You just got to go work harder, and appreciate more of what you have than what they have.”
