I've personally given two different high school teams between $500-800 worth of plastics and other assorted tackle. So, your opinion that nobody helps them is bogus and laughable.....

You are not the only one Doug as you pointed out. I can think of a bunch of guys that do the same. Thats a cool way to pass on some gear to those that will enjoy it. Wsa talking to a custom lure maker last week and he sends all his blems and mispours to HS teams. Most of the time you could not tell the blem and since they are high end custom baits the kids love it.

The truth is if one gets off their rear and goes and works and saves then they can afford a boat.

Complaining and playing the "poor pitiful me" card won't get you a boat.....

There was a HS kid on the TFF who I was friends with on FB. He made skirts. Really a gung ho kid. Everyone tried to lend him a hand on FB. He would post on here great questions and never got anywhere with them. People somewhat ignored him. He has since started college this year and passed on the dream to another kid.

I have seen kids offer to detail boats only to be run off....either from smart comments or lack of replies.

We like to say we are helping, but half the time it's right under our noises.

I know the struggles of coming from a non fishing family, I was lucky to get a rod for xmas. I was lucky enough to go to college. I was lucky enough to get a job and make a living. Spent all my money fishing and traveling....now my torch is out and it's time for someone else to pick it up. I tried to help my buddy and his son figure it out (high school kid) and due to financial strain they can't afford a boat. Poor kid. He used to text me weekly asking for fishing tips, now he never fishes. Since started running with the non fishing crowd and lost all interest. One less person who will get into the sport.

I for one felt that way with golf as a kid. I had my grandfather's look alike Pings. Old bag and trying to compete against kids who grew up on the country club, new sets of clubs yearly, along with new bags. Could I compete? I was so far behind the Eight Ball. Now years later, my golf game is better and I often think, what if I grew up at the country club and had all the new big drivers (instead of old wood driver by Wilson)....would I have made a career out of it, would I have played in college?

Many adults can't even afford the boat they want.....not to mention getting a boat that is safe enough for your kiddo to go out on Rayburn in 4' waves.

HS Teams require a boat for every member/2 man team. Gonna be costly.

I think Mark has hit the nail on the head, it's about drive. If you have it you will find a way, too many these days just want to say it's too hard. And don't have the drive to get up off their butts to do anything about it.

If you look hard you will see many very cheap used boats that need a little tlc to get going.

I once bought a 100.00 plastic john boat on craigslist to get back on the water, saved for another year and bought a 98 sx185 that needed a battery, carbs rebuilt and a lot of tlc for 3k and was on the water again.

I bet if I looked hard enough I could find a boat that was "tournament capable" for under 2k that needs some elbow grease on cl...

I guess a team can only have one boat if they only have 2 members.

I'd like to take the ball, but I never venture into the TFF as much as I used too. Especially not the bass section....ya'll are too stressful.

I'm out of the fishing scene now, I don't even fish, don't have any spare time, all I do is work so my baby can have a home, food and diapers. I work paycheck to paycheck now days. Sorry!

Might be good for a firefighter who has spare time!

A team can start with one boat. If that's all they have they will have to take turns fishing.


You have the first $100 donation if you get the ball rolling.....

I'm match that $100...you now have $200 donated towards the team of your choice's boat...don't be the guy that just sits on the sidelines and says you can't score....get in the game...we are giving you the ball!