(Editor’s note: Leading up to the 2013 FLW College Fishing National Championship – slated for April 19-21 on Beaver Lake in Rodgers, Ark. – CollegeFishing.com will publish weekly, in-depth features stories of each of the 25 national championship team qualifiers. At stake in the tournament is a first-place prize package that includes $30,000 in cash, a brand new, Ranger Z-117 bass boat and an automatic berth in the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup.)
Class: Senior
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Other interests: Fishing, fishing and fishing.
Class: Alumnus
Major: Business Management
Hometown: Denver N.C.
Other interests: I played college baseball at USC Upstate and currently work at Allstate Insurance as a claims adjuster.
Club Web site:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2205182440/
Q&A
CollegeFishing.com: How were you introduced to fishing?
Shane LeHew: My father introduced me to fishing when I was very young. I started fishing tournaments when I was around 14 years old and have fished in as many as possible ever since then.
Adam Waters: I was first introduced to competitive bass fishing by Shane LeHew, my partner in the National Championship.
CollegeFishing.com: What style/method of fishing are you most comfortable with?
Shane LeHew: I like shallow water power fishing, skipping docks with a jig and throwing topwater baits most of the time, but I like to think of myself as a versatile angler. I like learning new ways to catch fish.
Adam Waters: Typically I enjoy fishing shallow water with a fast presentation.
CollegeFishing.com: What did it feel like to qualify for the 2013 FLW College Fishing National Championship? How do you plan to prepare for the big event?
Shane LeHew: It feels awesome to be able to fish an event like this and to have a shot to fish in the Forrest Wood Cup. My goal in life is to become a professional angler and this is a great way to get me started towards that goal.
As far as preparation is concerned, I have fished the lake once before as a co-angler on the FLW Tour and finished in the top 10. So, hopefully, some of the past knowledge I have gained will help us this year.
Adam Waters: Qualifying for the 2013 FLW College Fishing National Championship is really a privilege. To have the chance to represent the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on a national stage is a great accomplishment that will create many great memories and hopefully a national championship for the Charlotte area.
CollegeFishing.com: Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.
Shane LeHew: I don’t really have anything crazy or interesting as I spend all my time fishing working and going to school right now.
Adam Waters: My lifelong dream was to play college baseball. After I graduated high school, I got the opportunity to join the USC Upstate baseball team where I played for two years. Due to back surgery from a weightlifting incident, I had to end my career in baseball. After the surgery and the end of my baseball career, I began participating in college fishing tournaments and found a new passion that kept my competitive nature high.