(Editor’s note: Leading up to the 2011 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship, slated to be held April 7-9 on Kentucky Lake at Murray State University, CollegeFishing.com will be publishing semiweekly feature stories highlighting the 25 national championship qualifiers. At stake in the tournament is a first-place prize package worth $100,000 as well as a chance for the winning team to compete in the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup.)
Class: Senior
Major: Spanish International Trade
Hometown: Reeltown, Ala.
Other interests: I like to write and have started writing for FLW Outdoors Magazine as well as maintaining my own blog about fishing related stories. There’s honestly not a lot that I do outside of fishing. I like to hang out with friends, family, and my local youth group.
Class: Sophomore
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Cullman, Ala.
Other interests: Playing golf
Club Web site: auburn.edu/bass
Q&A
CollegeFishing.com: How were you introduced to fishing?
Baker: My dad fished his whole life and I grew up in the boat with him fishing every weekend as a child. I have had the privilege of fishing with one of the best fisherman I know for years. He won two state championships along with several other tournaments. He could have likely made it as a pro but he did the honorable thing and worked to provide for my mom, my sister and I. You’ll always see him and my mother in the front row proud and supporting me no matter how the day goes on the water. Their support has contributed to whatever success I have had over the years.
Lee: Well none of my parents or uncles fished so I had to learn on my own and from a few friends my age. I grew up fishing several small lakes near my house learning different tactics and patterns.
CollegeFishing.com: What style/method of fishing are you most comfortable with?
Baker: I love to use power fishing techniques for big largemouth in shallow water. I like to flip as well as throw frogs, spinnerbaits and shallow crankbaits.
Lee: I grew up fishing Lake Guntersville so I am very comfortable punching matted grass – it’s just a fun way to catch them.
CollegeFishing.com: What did it feel like to qualify for the 2011 FLW College Fishing National Championship? How do you plan to prepare for the big event?
Baker: Well it was pretty awesome. We were sitting in 11th after day 1 and we made a huge comeback and wound up sitting in third place after day two. I was especially excited because I graduate in December and this is my last season to fish for Auburn University. We finished third overall last year at Nationals and it was a little bittersweet. It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life but it was tough to be that close and not win. It’s just amazing that we have another chance!
My partner and I will likely travel to the lake this winter for a couple days and then I plan to be there again two weeks prior to the cutoff. We don’t like getting help so the most important thing for us is time on the water.
Lee: It was really quite awesome because it’s my first year fishing the FLW College Fishing events. I plan on practicing a good bit for this. I really just want to learn the layout of the lake more than anything because from the middle of March to the first week in April, the fish are on the move. I just want Shaye and me to be with familiar with the water so we can make changes when we need to. That will be the key.
CollegeFishing.com: Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.
Baker: I love to travel. I’ve spent time in Peru, Ecuador, France, Italy, Portugal, as well as studied in Spain. My church is currently planning a mission trip to the Honduras for the summer.
Lee: N/A