For 20 years, the fishing club at UW-Whitewater has brought students with a shared passion for fishing together. The team competes in tournaments all over the country, attends fishing expos and plans trips out to the water to fish as a group.

To start their year, the club had a booth set up at the Wisconsin Fishing Expo, where people of all ages and experience attended. As they hand out flyers, the club also sells apparel, showcases club activities and hosts a minnow race for kids. The race involves minnows in a horizontal track where the kids tap on the end of it with a stick, causing the minnows to race to the other side. The winner of this race gets to pick their prize, such as a fishing bait or sticker.

At their booths, UW-W’s fishing club also takes the chance to educate others about the world of fishing and the opportunities that come with being part of the organization. For many current members, fishing club was the draw to attend Whitewater.

“That’s kind of how they draw the younger audience to the expo,” said Casey Milbauer, Treasurer and Social Media Chair. “We try to get that first impression through the minnow races.”

The club has its eyes on several tournaments this season, including those at the Mississippi River Pools 7 and 8, the Chetek Chain of Lakes and Big Green Lake. However, they can only attend so many competitions with their funds.

“We don’t have the funding to provide boats or the storage to even keep our own boats on campus. So if we send some people out to tournaments, they’re using their own boats and their own fishing rods. Pretty much everything that they’re bringing with them is all paid for by them,” Milbauer said. “The only thing that we can do to cover their costs is pay for their entry fees, some gas to get down there and hotel costs.”

To build up their funds, events like the expo, fundraisers and sponsors are crucial. One of the many fundraisers they host is the Battle of Big Green on Big Green Lake, where community members can sign up for an open fishing tournament. Sponsor-wise, the club has a plethora of sponsors. With their sponsors, each member in the club receives discounts on fishing-related purchases.

While the fishing club at Whitewater isn’t as big as its competitors and doesn’t have as many resources available, simply being able to send out members to these tournaments is a victory in itself.

“Just you being here is already a bigger step than everyone around you,” fishing club president Keegan Rossing said. “Holding that confidence there that whatever happens, it’s still a win.”

Although there tends to be a shroud of worry for members as they make their way to competitions, the moment their line hits the water, all of that worry turns into adrenaline and passion for the thing they enjoy: fishing.