Hayden Pinho, left, and his fishing partner and brother Hunter Pinho, show off their catch from a recent tournament. They qualified to represent Patterson High School in the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School National Championship Thursday and Friday on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.
—Submitted Photo
PHS makes third trip to Bassmaster nationals
Patterson High School’s brother fishing duo, Hayden Pinho and Hunter Pinho, have traveled to Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee, to compete Thursday and Friday in the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School National Championship. They will compete with more than 350 teams from across the nation, including Ontario, Canada, for scholarships and prizes.
Senior 2018 Hayden Pinho and sophomore Hunter Pinho competed in several state-wide tournaments to earn a bid to nationals. Teams earn points based on the quantity and quality of fish caught in these competitions. The teams compete in a total of five tournaments during the season, including three state qualifying tournaments.
The duo’s tournament standings are:
—Atchafalaya Basin, 11th out of 222 teams.
—Bayou Segnette, 42nd out of 197 teams.
—Calcasieu River, seventh out of 171 teams.
—State held in Toledo Bend, 20th out of 155 teams.
—Louisiana vs. Mississippi, first out of 30 teams.
They finished seventh out of 252 teams in the Louisiana trail to earn them a return trip to fish nationals.
This will be Hayden Pinho’s third time in as many years to Kentucky Lake. In 2015-16, he and Ian Doucet were the only high school bass fishing team in St. Mary Parish. They were trail champions which earned them a spot at nationals. In 2016-17, the brothers teamed up to earn the state runners-up designation and cinching a trip to nationals.
The duo hopes to fish consistent and use the knowledge from the previous years to finish in the top 10 percent of anglers.
At Kentucky Lake, pre-tournament registration and briefing takes place Monday. Official practice will be Tuesday and Wednesday.
Day one of the tournament begins Thursday. Following Friday’s day two of fishing, the field will be cut to the Top 12.
Day three on Saturday will see the Top 12 fish for the title with the top team being crowned Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School National Champion.
Serving as captain to the PHS duo is Hal Pinho Jr., their father. Hayden Pinho will attend the University of Louisiana — Lafayette in the fall. He will also fish for the Ragin Cajun Bass Fishing Team.