THANKS TO cell phones, video games, and social media, there have never been more distractions for our youth. Although we are technically more connected than ever before, we can sometimes feel more isolated than ever at the same time. Because all these preoccupations exist inches from our faces, we feel more cut off from the world around us.
Although there are some great benefits to all these technological advancements, there is something no app can give you. There isn’t a swipe or a click that can replace the sense of calm and wonder you feel being present in nature.
This is the simple mission of fishing coach Phillip Petty: “To get kids involved in the outdoors and away from video games and cell phones.”
It started as just a group of kids that wanted to fish competitively in tournaments. It has now transformed into an organization that sends young fishermen to compete on a national level.
Back in 2016, Petty’s daughter was looking for an alternative to playing softball. At the time, school fishing tournaments had begun to gain momentum. The Pettys’ are an outdoorsy type of family. Having always enjoyed fishing, hunting, and nature, they decided to start a group. At first, it was very small, including coach Petty’s daughter, son, and a handful of other kids.
“We weren’t part of any organization or anything like that, other than just a group of people getting out and fishing a little bit,” Petty said about the early days of the team.
Since then, the team has grown in members and accolades. It is a community organization that exists outside of any specific school. It includes students from middle school, high school, and homeschool. There are kids in the group from Coffee County, Bedford County, and Rockvale. This diverse group has one unified goal: to get outside and do a little fishing.
In the previous season of 2022, Jackson Wells, Caden Davis, Kaden Freeze, and Kylan Mantooth went all the way to the nationals. To put this success in perspective, there are around 420 registered teams in the state of Tennessee. Of those 420 teams, only 50 are allowed to advance to the nationals.
The teams compete in seasons put on by Tennessee Bass Nation, an offshoot of Bass Masters. As evident in the name, the type of fish the kids are aiming to hook are bass. There are three eligible species in these tournaments: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Tournaments typically last a weekend, and Fridays are the official practice day. Kids are excused from school for a certain amount of days to compete. Those excused absences come in handy, as the team gets to travel all over the state to compete. This is an amazing opportunity for the kids to see the beautiful and diverse lakes, rivers, and waterways here in the Volunteer State.
Fishing teaches our kids patience, persistence, presence, and the importance of conserving our natural habitats. During the off-season, the team does its part to contribute to local conservation work.
For coach Petty, fishing is a family tradition… one he is insistent on passing on. “Pretty much, I have been fishing since I was old enough to really remember— going out with my grandpa and my dad on Tims Ford Lake.”
Keep an eye on the continued success of the Coffee County Fishing Club. As of the writing of this article, they are leading the region in points. If you want to join, the main barrier to entry is having a boat and a boat captain. If you are in school, love to fish, and have the means then contact coach Phillip Petty at (931) 636-3149. GN
