Back Story: Allison Shaw Is Enjoying Her Moment in the Sun

There might have been a better way for a 24-year-old to spend her birthday, but Allison Shaw couldn’t think of one. There she was on Kentucky Lake in a tricked-out Ranger, at sunrise on a beautiful spring morning, seated beside her fishing buddy, Tom White, and preparing to do battle against 24 other teams in the opening round of the 2011 National Guard FLW National College Fishing Championship. The five best teams of the circuit’s five regions are here – including the defending national champions, University of Florida’s Jake Gipson and Matt Wercinski – for a three-day test that will determine who gets bragging rights and the $100,000 top prize.

Shaw, a Chico State co-angler, is the first female to qualify for the College National Championship and like everyone else here, she hopes to win a spot in the upcoming Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita in early August. At just a tad over 5 feet tall and always projecting a happy-go-lucky demeanor, Shaw doesn’t fit the mold of the typical bass angler, but appearances can be deceiving. Taught to fish at an early age by her father, John, she has fished with Chico State for three years. Past opponents can vouch for her ability and fellow club members can attest to her willingness to do what it takes to contribute to the team. You’ve got to like an angler who says her first important tournament lesson was remembering not to drink liquids while fishing to avoid any awkward bathroom breaks.

Nobody is going to describe All-America Shaye Baker of Auburn University as “perky,” or All-America Jesse Schultz of Indiana University as “vivacious,” but those words seem to fit Shaw to a T. She’s a serious bass angler or she wouldn’t be here, but Shaw’s not as intense as most of her male counterparts and plans to let her long brown hair down literally and figuratively during the event.

“This is the first time I’ve ever worn makeup in a tournament,” says Shaw, a recent graduate who majored in child development. “I’ve always tried to be one of the guys and show them I’ve passionate about fishing and helping the team excel. Now that I’ve made it this far, I want to do the best I can, but I also want to enjoy the experience.”

Kentucky might be Wildcat country, but Chico State anglers are the only Wildcats in this event. In fact, Shaw and White are here with fellow club members Marshal Smith and Parker Moran. The latter were runners-up to Sacramento State in the 2010 Western Division championship while Shaw and White came in third.

Although Shaw likes to joke with weigh-in crowds that she uses a pink Zebco spincast outfit in tournaments, she is quite adept with either spinning or baitcasting tackle. Her favorite technique is finesse fishing with drop-shot rigs and, while Kentucky Lake’s hefty bass are better known for taking their meals in big mouthfuls, a change in the weather might put the fish off their feed. Besides, California anglers are notorious for applying West Coast baits and techniques to catch hefty stringers of Eastern bass.

Win, lose or draw, Shaw is bound to have a good time. It’s not a farewell party, either, because she intends to continue to fish competitively if her life and career path allow. Who knows, Shaw might be the next Judy Israel, the Florida co-angler who was a regular on the FLW Tour and won more than $145,000 in her 15-year career.

“This [competitive bass fishing] wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment thing for me,” says the diminutive Californian, who lives in Calabasas, Calif. “I really get a kick out of it and I would love to continue tournament fishing if the right doors open for me.”

Depending on how well she does here, Shaw might get the chance.