Cedar Rapids Prairie fishing team ‘casting lines’ in national meet

When it comes to sporting events in Iowa this time of year, the options are somewhat limited.

There’s a handful of road races each weekend, auto racing at several tracks each week and youth to adult softball daily. There’s minor league baseball and, of course, high school softball and baseball.

There’s a relatively new kid in town, too, on the high school scene. And Cedar Rapids Prairie wants you to know about it.

The “Prairie Fishing Team” is participating — no, competing — in the 16th National Bass Federation High School National Championship in Grand Lake, Okla.

Iowa is allotted 16 spots in the national tournament and Prairie took five of those spots.

This is a big-time fishing tournament with 500 boats competing for a record $3.8 million in scholarships and prizes.

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Nikki Frese is a mother of two boys who love to fish and was instrumental in getting this program off the ground. She heard about high school fishing a few years ago and then read an article in The Gazette about the Cedar Falls High School team.

She reached out to the Tigers’ coach, who was “super helpful” in how to get the Prairie program off the ground. She went to the Prairie administration with the idea and here we are.

She now is one of six on the leadership board for a team that sports 40 anglers.

“Since officially casting their lines in 2022, the Prairie Fishing Team has grown into one of Iowa’s most dedicated and thriving student angling programs — building on teamwork, mentorship and a shared love for the outdoors,” the information sheet about the team reads.

Frese helped put the press release together. “Casting their lines.” That’s clever.

“It give kids that maybe aren’t involved in other sports that team comradery ... and grows other skills,” she said. “It’s another avenue out there for kids.”

Just like baseball, softball, football, wrestling and every traditional sport you can name. You’ve heard before there’s something special about being part of a team, the life lessons it teaches each member.

“It give them a little bit of drive,” she said.

“The Prairie Fishing Team is a competitive bass fishing program, where student anglers train, strategize and compete just like traditional sports teams — but with lakes and rivers as their playing field,” the release states.

It doesn’t have to be on a field or a court or a mat to be a sport. That’s good stuff, too.

Each team consists of two student anglers and a volunteer boat captain. Zach Havlik is one of those “coaches in the boat” with Prairie “fisherboys(?)” Tucker Havlik and Micah Frese.

He helps the boys with a variety of tasks — making sure they are following all the local regulations, providing supervision, as well as “encouragement and insight into fishing techniques.”

Havlik said the most important part of his job is “safety.”

While on the Grand Lakes reservoir Monday afternoon, he said he knew nothing about “playing field.”

“Not one bit,” he said.

He relies on information found on YouTube and other sites, any local information he can collect and knowing what to look for. He passes the knowledge to his “players,” who are free to offer their thoughts.

Tucker Havlik and Micah Frese were in the boat Monday with Zach, searching for the sweet spots they will race to on Wednesday morning, when the tournament officially begins.

“It’s been a little bit of a struggle,” Tucker said.

“Yesterday was kind of rough,” Micah said.

Micah said another day of searching for the “sweet spot” will put them in a good place on Wednesday.

“We found a couple of good spots, but we’re looking for more,” he said.

Other members of the Prairie team in Oklahoma are Peyton Meyers and Tristen Eddy, Kaden Phelps and Elijah Eddy, Gavin and Nolan Flatgard, and Jake DeBoer and Parker Wilson.

The tournament starts Wednesday and daily coverage will streamed live.

“I’ve always liked fishing,” Tucker said.

Sounds like a good way to spend a day.

Comments: (319) 398-5861; jr.ogden@thegazette.com