Jesse DeBauch from Gillett has been named Master Angler of the Year by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association.
Gillett, WI – The senior in high school achieved this title by catching all 34 eligible species of fish within a single calendar year, a feat that required extensive travel, research, and countless hours on the water. DeBauch, who grew up surrounded by nature, credits his father for fostering his love for fishing. “Ever since I was little my dad worked at the deer farm, so I was always outside a lot and always spent a bunch of time outside with deer and fishing,” he said.
To earn the prestigious title, each fish had to meet a minimum size requirement. “All these fish are giants pretty much for making the requirements,” DeBauch explained. “So northern have to be 25 inches, musky have to be 42, walleye have to be 26 or 28, so they all have to be like trophy fish that you try to have to catch. DeBauch and his father researched fishing locations online, often traveling across Wisconsin and into the Upper Peninsula to find the right waters. “It’s a lot of internet, both of us doing research trying to find where all these different species are,” he said. The most challenging fish to catch was the musky. “It took us a couple months of trying,” DeBauch admitted. “We’d take some breaks here and there, but it was definitely the musky. We caught quite a few that just didn’t break 42 inches.”s doing research trying to find where all these different species are,” he said.
Despite the challenge, DeBauch remained determined. Competing against anglers from across the state, he acknowledged moments of doubt. “Yeah, there were moments when we thought maybe not getting all 34, but we did it last year and got all 34 too,” he said. “It was more or less hoping that none of our competitors would catch more fish than us or bigger fish.”
Balancing school, sports, and fishing made for a demanding schedule. “The biggest obstacle is being in different sports while trying to do this,” DeBauch said. “Being in three different sports and trying to catch 34 different species of fish—not a lot of time to try and do this, so a lot of your spare time is fishing, trying to catch these fish.”
Looking ahead, DeBauch hopes to turn his passion into a career. “I might want to try to start a guide service eventually once I make enough money and start making a living,” he said.
From early mornings on the water to extensive research and determination, Jesse DeBauch’s achievement highlights the dedication it takes to be a true master angler.
Article courtest of WeAreGreenBay.com (WFRV).
