BU student showcase with Corey Horelick.

My love of fishing started when I as a young boy.  My dad would take me to the lake fishing from shore, at first for anything that we could catch.  Once I started to catch Bass I was hooked, that’s all I could think about was fishing.  When could I go fishing!  My obsession with fishing became so great my dad actually sold his motor cycle and bought us a Bass boat.

Tournament fishing began for me in 2009, I was 15, and that’s when my dad and I joined a local club called the Bass Hawgs.  One fall night while we were fishing a Thursday night open we meet a great couple that ran the Rhode Island Jr Bassmasters.  After a long conversation with Ron & Terri Bestwick I signed up for the next season.  The summer of 2010 was a whirl wind summer.  I fished along with other youths throughout Rhode Island, and met some great guys that took time out of their busy schedules to volunteer to take us juniors out fishing.  That July I fished our Jr SQT (state qualifying tournament) and won first place and was headed to the Eastern Divisional.  Wow!  What and experience to fish in the Bass Federation Nation Eastern Divisional, just to walk across the BASS Stage was an honor.  I knew that Bass fishing had to be in my future, all I wanted to do is fish.

For Christmas that year my grandparents purchased me and my dad tickets to the Bass University.  I could hardly believe it I was going to get to meet some of the greatest pro anglers and my idol Mike Iaconelli.  Of course it was a very exciting weekend for me not only was it my 16^th birthday I was going to learn to take my fishing to the next level.  My dad and I where the first to arrive and we got a front row seat.  I took more notes in those 2 days than I had taken all year in school. 

It was great to hear Mike Iaconelli go over how to break down a new body of water and how to catch fish.  I really never fished outside of CT & RI so this was very valuable information as I take my fishing to the next level.

Pete Gluszik talked about fishing in tidal waters.  This was very helpful since living here on the East Coast we have several Rivers that we fish tidal waters during tournaments.

All of the other speakers gave us great tips and lots of useful information.  But I will never forget Gerald Swindle’s motivation speech which had us laughing and crying. 

After attending the Bass University I spent the year perfecting what I learned at the Bass University that cold & snowy January weekend.   I could not believe how much my fishing changed.  I was fishing more consistently and catching bigger bass.  I ended up placing 2^nd in the juniors for 2011.

As the fishing season came to a close, I asked my grandparents to send me to the Bass University again as Christmas gift.  My dad and I attended the Bass University again last March eager to learn.

This year John Crews taught me how to improve drop shot and flipping techniques which came in very handy at the Northern Open. 

David Walker talked about top water fishing and fishing a jig, this has become my favorite technique while fishing. 

Gary Kline gave a great motivational speech about living in the moment and fish simple.  He told me to fish with a clear mind.  I found this to be very true as I started my season and my co-angler in the club tried to get in my head.  I quickly remembered what we learned at the Bass University. 

As I went in to my second year fishing with the Kent County Bass Anglers and My third and final year in the RI JR Bass masters I was determined to have a great year.  I started out my year winning my first adult club tournament at 18 years old this past May.  In July I fished the SQT’s for the RI JR Bassmasters, and won first place becoming the RI JR State Champion for the second time. 

This past spring I decided that I was going to fish the Northern Bass Open on Cayuga Lake in NY.  What and experience that was for me.  I really struggled on the first 2 days of practice.  Day 3 of practice was great I started my day launching side by side with Mike Iaconelli, it was nice to see that he remembered me from the Bass University.  As I practiced on day 3 I had to really think about what I was doing and apply some of the techniques that I had learned at the Bass University.  What a feeling when I caught my first 4.5 pound small mouth as some of the pro’s watched from a distance.  I was able to catch a few more before heading back to the launch.  

As I fished Day one of the open as a co-angler, I was in 19^th place heading into day 2.  Day 2 was tough, the weather changed and it was a tougher bite.   I finished day 2 in 44^th place, not bad for my first big tournament.   It was really nice to see that Mike Iaconelli came in 5^th place and Pete Gluszek came in first place, earning his spot in the Bass Master Classic.  It was really a great honor to fish with some great Anglers.  The Bass University will really help you take your fishing to the next level.  While attending the Bass University you get to meet some anglers and great people.  I met Tom Presnell in 2011; he also fished the Northern Bass Open and came in 4^th place on the co-angler side.   I am already planning my next trip to the Bass University to learn what I could have done differently.

This past Saturday was my final tournament fishing with the RI JR Bassmasters.  I came in second place finishing the year in 1^st place earning Angler of the year “Mr. Bass”.  Next week I will head to Boston to fish the Bass Federation Nation Eastern Divisional on the Charles / Mystic River. 

For those of you that have thought about going to the Bass University or want to take your fishing to the next level, you won’t be disappointed go and learn from some of the best Angler’s and meet some great people.  

I would like to thank the Bass University for everything that you have taught me over the past two years!

Corey Horelick