Jess Robertson and Trevor Leblanc will represent Nicholls State University in the 2015 Forrest L. Wood College Fishing National Championship Apr. 16-18 in Lake Murray, SC.

Leblanc, a senior from Houma, and Nicholls graduate Tyler Rivet started the Nicholls Bass Fishing Club three semesters ago. The club is self-funded with the members soliciting corporate donations and local sponsorship.

Robertson, a junior from Houma, is excited to represent the university on a national stage.

“Last spring, we had our first tournament and ranked third.” Robertson said. “We proved to the big schools that we could hang, and the corporate sponsors recognize that.”

In their first tournament as a club last spring, Robertson and Leblanc finished third at the Toledo Bend tournament. They caught five fish for a total weight of 17 pounds and six ounces. The third place finish advanced the team to the South Regional Tournament held last October in the Sam Rayburn Reservoir outside of Beaumont, Texas. The two anglers qualified for the national championship by finishing ninth with a two-day haul of ten fish totaling twenty-two pounds and six ounces.

Both students grew up with a fishing pole in their hands, harvesting the fertile waters of Bayou Black. The proximity of the Intercostal Waterway allowed for quick travels to happy hunting grounds such as Lake Hackberry, Lake Palourde and Flat Lake.

While some people view fishing as a leisure activity on weekends, Robertson and Leblanc see it as a competition. Both Robertson and Leblanc mentioned a thrill akin to the sensation a poker play gets while holding a possible flush; the next one could be the one that wins the whole pot.

“It’s similar to gambling in the risk/reward factor,” Leblanc said. “I can put up $50 for a tournament and get $500 for winning it or lose my money all together.”

This year, the teams in the FLW National Championship will be competing for a new Ranger Z117 bass boat and a spot on the FLW Cup, the top bass fishing tour in America.

“If you win at the FLW Cup level, you have a chance to become a pro angler,” Leblanc said.

However, before leaving for the 10-hour ride to South Carolina with boat in tow, the two must make sure to have their finances in order because year round fundraising does not always cover every expense.
“Everything is on the anglers,” Leblanc said. “Everyone wants to fish in the major tournaments, but they don’t understand how much money it takes.”

The team relies on friends and business to help with the expenses. For college students, those expenses can build up quickly and burn holes in bank accounts.

“You’re looking at $450 in gas for the boat and vehicle,” Leblanc added. “Plus, food and hotel room rates aren’t cheap.”

Each tournament the club does well in brings more interest and supporters willing to help build the program.

“My boss at Rotolo’s Pizza did a give back night for us,” Robertson said. “Anything that can help get us to the tournament helps.”