Upperman Bees fisherman Gunnar Ballard will head to Oklahoma to compete in the national championship next month.
Ballard along with fishing partner Steven Clark have begun a fundraiser to help with expenses. Ballard said he is grateful for everything that has happened this season.
“I’m super thankful for the opportunity to be out here and for my dad taking us fishing and everybody that’s contributed and just loving life,” Ballard said.
Ballard said the tournament could come down to which way the wind blows. Ballard said the air pressure can make the fish rise.
“If it’s sunny, it can be different colors that you’re gonna use and, you know, same thing with clouds,” Ballard said. “If it’s raining, it can impact it, and then the pressure, the pressure’s really high like the air pressure.”
Ballard said the lake in Oklahoma is similar to a lake he and his family went down to in Florida a few months ago. Ballard caught his personal best while fishing in Florida.
“I learned a lot, especially about a lake I never thought about being at,” Ballard said. “It showed how different it can really be traveling far away to fish.”
The championships will take place in June, with qualifying taking place over three days.
