The fishing legacy continues to run deep in the Davis family with ninth grader Fisher Davis winning the TBF/FLW 2016 Junior World Championship held recently on Lake Guntersville in Alabama.
Davis, son of Tilly Davis and professional angler Mark Davis, took a big step out from under his father’s shadow with the win. Fisher Davis and Fisher Bissell were known as “Team Fisher” throughout the junior high season. They finished as team of the year in Arkansas with Fisher Davis qualifying for the national tournament.
The national championship sponsored by The Bass Federation was held on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Fisher stated that the lake is a long narrow river lake. He focused on fishing the brushy areas when possible.
The tournament was comprised of two days of competitions. The participants were separated into regional brackets with winners advancing to the finals the next day.
Fisher was one of 37 junior anglers to take to the water the first day. He was one of eight anglers placed in the central division.
The temperatures were blistering on the first day of fishing. Fisher stated that the first day was more difficult in some ways because you were sharing a boat with an angler from another division. Fisher recalled that he was having some success in a brushy area, but had to relinquish control of the boat to the other angler.
“I tried to talk him into staying where we were, but he wanted to try a different spot.” He said.
Unfortunately the new spot wasn’t as fruitful, but Fisher was able to weigh in four fish at 10 pounds. His stringer was fifth best on the day and the win in his division qualified him for the finals.
The second day of fishing freed Fisher to fish where he wanted to fish. The weather shifted as well with rain clouds cooking things off.
Fisher stated that he caught four fish early and was able to catch two more, allowing him to cull a fish. He weighed in a five fish limit at 12 pounds 15 ounces, which was well beyond the second place stringer of 11 pounds three ounces turned in by Scott Sledge of Greenwood, Indiana.
Fisher felt consistency was the key to winning the tournament. He stuck to the brushy and grassy spots both days using a junebug colored, Texas rig to catch most of his fish.
Fisher, who is a member of the Mount Ida Junior Bass Hookrz fishing club, was excited to be able to represent his school and state. Although the fishing team isn’t a “team sport” it is recognized as a club.
Fisher won a $2,500 scholarship by winning the national championship. He hopes his victory might encourage other local students to get involved in team fishing.
When asked about his success he stated that his father, Mark Davis, has been a big source of encouragement and advice.
Fisher is already looking forward to the upcoming high school fishing season which will begin later this fall.
