Is Bass Fishing the Next Big High School Sport?

From the story in Illinois’s Springfield State Journal-Register:

The Illinois High School Association has hooked more schools to participate in its one-of-a-kind state championship bass-fishing tournament this year. Eleven central Illinois schools will compete in the sectional tournament April 23 at Lake Sangchris. Top finishers will go on to compete in the state finals at Carlyle Lake May 7-8. So far, 225 schools are entered, up from 199 in 2009.

“I’m pleased we have 26 more additions,” says Dave Gannaway, Illinois High School Association assistant executive director. “Schools are financially strapped, and they are trying to figure out how to keep the sports and activities they have. “It’s not a good time to add activities or sports, so I’m pretty amazed we have this increase.”

As more and more schools offer angling as a sport, do you think it will ever attain the same level of acceptance as more traditional high school sports? For all you ex-high school jocks out there, would you be happy to see your sons (or daughters) give up football or baseball for a baitcaster?