Middle-schooler took top prize in local fishing tournament
While most kids his age hang out, play video games and compete
in sports such as baseball and football, Hollister’s John Perry III
is happiest when he’s got a pole in the water and a fish on the
line.
Middle-schooler took top prize in local fishing tournament
While most kids his age hang out, play video games and compete in sports such as baseball and football, Hollister’s John Perry III is happiest when he’s got a pole in the water and a fish on the line.
“He wants to be a professional fisherman someday. He loves fishing. It’s his life right now,” said Sheri Perry, his proud mom. “He fishes all the time and he always wants to watch all of the fishing shows on television.”
So far, his dedication to the sport has paid off.
Just a few weeks ago, the 14-year-old Rancho San Justo eighth-grader entered his first fishing tournament and wound up taking first place after hauling in a 2.5-pound Rainbow Trout out of San Justo Reservoir.
In all, there were 31 competitors of all ages. Some of them probably had lures that were older than Perry, but no one caught a more impressive fish.
For his efforts Perry brought home the $310 first prize, which means that he may technically already be a pro.
“I really like fishing a lot,” Perry said. “I like it most when they bite and reeling them in.”
Perry already has a decade of experience under his belt as he and his dad, John Perry II, who used to tournament fish, have made fishing a weekly event since he was a small boy. The two fish all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
“We mostly fish for bass,” the younger Perry said. “I like fishing bass because they put up more of a fight.”
“He always says, ‘Wow that was such a good fight,'” Sheri said. “He’s really into it.”
In fact he’s so into it that he gets up on weekends at 4 a.m. just to start getting ready, even if he and his dad aren’t planning to leave the house until 5:30 a.m.
The Perrys will typically fish throughout the region. John and his dad enjoy taking out the family boat to fish in either the San Luis Reservoir or the adjacent O’Neil Forebay area, which are both located near Los Banos.
“The fish are a lot bigger in there,” said Perry, who most often releases everything that he catches with his dad. “Sometimes, we eat them, but not much.”
To haul in his winning catch at San Justo, Perry used a “Green Rooster Tail” lure. He prefers using lures over live bait.
Most of the time, he fishes off the family’s aluminum boat, which has a motor for trolling. Lately, Perry has had to do a lot of fishing from shore as his dad has had some health issues, which has sidelined him in recent months.
Whether he’s casting from shore or trolling off the boat, Perry is at his happiest.
“About the only part I don’t like is the long drive over to the lake or waiting for a fish to bite,” he said.
His younger brother Garrett doesn’t like to fish at all, because he says “it’s too boring” but Perry can’t get enough of it.
In addition to using a rod and reel, he has also tried fly fishing too, but likes using a reel because “it is a lot easier.”
“We’re all very proud of him,” Sheri said. “I like to see him fish. I think it’s the perfect hobby for a 14-year old because it keeps him out of trouble.”
John Bagley can be reached at
jb*****@pi**********.com
.
