Photo by Joshua Self (Creative Commons Flickr)

A new Fishing Club will debut next semester.

After wanting to spread their love of fishing to the school, juniors Logan Taylor and Austin Van Zand will debut a fishing club next semester sponsored by Ms. Melissa McGarr, English II and LTELL teacher.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Taylor said. “It will get a different group of people involved.”

As of right now, the club consists of only a team of two, Taylor and Van Zandt, who will compete in competitions around the area starting in November. They have each been fishing for 12 years individually and three together. They plan to start a lasting club that will be around after they graduate.

“I want to leave my ‘legacy’ at Legacy, and I want [the school] to keep [the club] going,” Van Zandt said.

Ms. McGarr will sponsor the club because of her love and history of fishing. She hopes to bring academic support to ensure that UIL requirements are met for when the clubs compete in competitions. The requirements include having a boat, a fishing rod and passing grades.

“Like bowling, it’s another club for students that are not interested in football, soccer, or baseball to name a few that can still gain something for their future,”  Ms. McGarr said.

The club fishes in different ponds and lakes around the area, compete in competitions and hang out with others that love fishing. Each individual members must have their own equipment: a fishing pole, lures and weights. To join the club, you must sign up during the first meeting. They briefly meet in Mrs. McGarr’s room and then go to a local lake or river.

“I know that a lot of other kids would enjoy and benefit from this club like meeting people who share the same interests,” Taylor said.

Ms. McGarr has already spoken with fishing fanatics who have given her connections on how to turn fishing into money for college for the members.

“I hope it impacts the school positively by showing another way students can earn scholarship money for college doing something they love,” Ms. McGarr said.