In a different state with a different climate, Clarkston’s Dylan Matheis found himself with the same results.
The 13-year-old Clarkston Junior High School student traveled to Birmingham, Ala., the weekend of Feb. 16 for the Junior World Bassmaster Championship, where he took second place overall in the world for the 11-14 age group.
Matheis? two catches totaled five pounds and were second to 14-year old Jeffrey Toplis of South Africa, whose two catches were more than seven pounds in weight. He won the state tournament last fall to earn the right to go to the international competition. The finish earned the eighth-grade student a $2,000 college scholarship.
Matheis held the lead until the last four boats came in for the day.
‘I went out to see how many boats were left and the kid came in and he lifted the fish out and I said, ‘that’s not good,?? Matheis remembered.
Kristin Matheis, Dylan’s mother said her son has handled the narrow defeat well.
‘You want everyone to do well, but when you’re that close (you want to win),? she said.
‘We wanted him to have that recognition, but he did phenomenal.?
Matheis trained with professional angler Aaron Martens the day prior to the tournament. The 2005 Bassmaster Angler of the Year taught old pro Matheis some new tricks.
Martens taught him how to use a drop-shot rig, a technique Matheis had yet to master.
‘I was doing it all wrong,? Matheis said.
The professional taught Matheis how to reapply his lure on his fishing line for better results. Martens took time to show Matheis and his assigned partner how to better troll close to docks and other structures.
‘He taught us how to run the boat along pilings,? Matheis said.
‘He knows how to catch the big fish and not scare them away.?
Martens gave the young gun some equipment advice as well.
‘The first day (Martens) would show me what to buy and I went out that night and got it,? Matheis said.
Dylan said he will put the lessons of the pro into effect in the upcoming fishing season.
‘I went down there to win and to learn because it’s going to help me in my day-to-day fishing. Now I’ll have more techniques if the fish aren’t biting,? Matheis said.
Matheis? equipment didn’t have as quick of a trip down south as the Matheis family. After arriving, Kristin Matheis spent the entire first day of the trip tracking Dylan’s fishing rods and baits.
‘It was a nightmare because I knew it was important to him to have the right tackle. (The trip) didn’t start out so well, but we made it through,? she said.
‘I knew that she was going to find them. She would get them no matter what,? Dylan said.
Dylan said the hardest part of the competition was remembering the active spots on Logan Martin Lake. And after a bountiful day of practice on Saturday, the Sunday competition was bit more of a struggle for all the competitors.
‘I had no idea. I thought there were going to be a lot of fish coming in, but it turned out to be a bad day,? he said.
‘Each kid came in with at least a three-pounder and the next day, only a few kids came in with fish.
‘The weather changed from really cold to cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon and (the fish) got mixed up I guess.?
Matheis persevered and later caught a 3.1-pound spotted bass.
‘I fished docks the whole morning and I only caught that big one, I just got lucky. I ran my Senko right over his head and he hit it.?
With his victories at the league, state and now national level, Matheis said he keeps the same outlook on his sport.
‘I have to wait until I’m older to start taking it as a job,? he joked.