Cast after cast, senior Kyle Dragulski fishes for his favorite, the largemouth bass, at lake Toledo Bend. He feels the freedom the water offers him, away from all his worries. The only thing on his mind is fishing.
“Fishing gives me a sense of freedom that nothing else can,” Dragulski said. “I feel as if it’s God’s calling.”
The bass club president Dragulski, the club’s advisor, Leland Mallett, and other members go fish on the lake whenever possible. Bass club mainly fishes local lakes such as Joe Pool and Lake Arlington. When out on the water, Dragulski loves helping inexperienced fishers learn the basics of fishing.
“When I won the PVA I felt so humble and ecstatic” Dragulski said. “I felt blessed because I was able to help a man fish and win the tournament.”
Dragulski won first place in the Paralyzed Veterans of America tournament (PVA) by catching five of the biggest fish. When Dragulski fishes for fun or for practice, he keeps what he can and releases what he can’t, but when fishing in competitions he always releases his fish at the end of the weighing.
“My hero is Bill Ritzell,” Dragulski said. “I have learned so much from him and I aspire to be like him one day. He is kind of the Yoda of bass fishing.”
Through all his hard work and dedication to the sport, he hopes to go professional. With his personal record of fish caught in a day totaling 70, nothing holds him back.
“I definitely think fishing is something everyone should try,” Dragulski said. “It changed my life forever, without fishing I don’t know where I would be.”
Dragulski started fishing at the age of three. After 15 years of fishing, Dragulski still devotes his time to building on his fundamentals, and maintains his fishing passion.
“My love for fishing can’t be summed up in a few words,” Dragulski said. “Fishing is a love of mine that will never leave, no matter what fishing will be there.”
The following are the results of the latest Bass Club tournament on Saturday, Oct. 19:
First Place – Bradley Ivie with 2 Bass weighing 2.09 pounds and a Big Bass Honors weighing 1.32 pounds
Second Place – Cesar Antuna – 3 Bass weighing 1.99 pounds
Third Place – Dalton Malicoat – 2 Bass weighing 1.74 pounds
Fourth Place – Garrett Brantly – 2 Bass weighing 1.64 pounds
Fifth Place – Tyler Arter – 1 Bass weighing 1.17 pounds
Sixth Place – Destiny Hurd – 1 Bass weighing 1.0 pounds
Seventh Place – Austin Franks – 1 Bass weighing .89 pounds
Eighth Place – Kyle Dragulski – 1 Bass weighing .80 pounds
Ninth Place – Michael Cole – 1 Bass weighing .79 pounds
Honorable Mention – Collin McGahey
Honorable Mention –Aaron Turner
Honorable Mention –Reanne Hurd
