Sun, Jul 05 2009
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Published July 14, 2008 10:07 pm - Mann follows fishing dream Good Hope teen cutting teeth as BFL co-angler By Justin Graves jgraves@cullmantimes.com GOOD HOPE — Jake Mann had a tough decision to make this summer.
After spending the summer as a co-angler on the BFL Bama Trail, Mann decided he wanted to finish out the BFL season and try to qualify for the regional tournament at South Carolina’s Lake Murray. But there was one catch: If Mann finished out the BFL season, he wouldn’t be able to play football at Good Hope High this year. Even though Mann had been playing football since he was in elementary school, the Good Hope junior went with his gut and chose bass fishing over the pigskin. “It was a tough decision,” Mann said. “I just had to do what I thought was best for my future. Football is fun, and I’ve always enjoyed playing. But more than likely, my football career will end when I graduate from high school. “But fishing is something I plan on doing after high school. And if I stick with it, there’s a chance I could be a pro angler one day.” As of right now, Mann doesn’t regret his decision. But that doesn’t mean he won’t miss football — especially once the season begins. “I’m pretty sure I’ll miss (playing football),” Mann said. “That’s going to happen when I’m sitting in the stands listening to the band play. But deep down inside, I know I made the right decision.” Judging from what Mann has accomplished as a co-angler on the BFL Bama circuit, the Good Hope junior may be right. Just over halfway through his first season, Mann has posted three top 10 finishes and won over $700. But more importantly, the 16-year-old co-angler has been able to learn a thing or two about bass fishing along the way. “I’m one of the youngest people fishing the trail,” said Mann, who is currently the third-ranked co-angler on the BFL Bama Trail. “Most of the people I’ve been paired up with have been doing this for a lot longer than me. So I’ve been able to watch how different people fish and pick up a few things at the same time.” Fishing may not be contagious, but Mann caught the passion from someone else: His father, Terry. “My dad has been a boater on the BFL for a few years,” Mann said. “He’s the one that got me into fishing. he’s been carrying me all over the state this summer to tournaments.” Even though Mann’s father is a BFL boater, the father-son duo haven’t been paired together in a tournament. In fact, Mann usually doesn’t get to meet his partner until the day of the tournament. But even though Mann has been fishing in tournaments with strangers, he’s been able to meet some interesting people. 
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