Caleb Clark had let his mind wander while out on the water.
The St. Thomas More bass fisherman and his teammate, Brennen Leger, had already reeled in four fish earlier in the morning during the final day of 2018’s Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation Junior Bassmasters State Championship. Yet, based on the recommendation of their boat driver, the duo went to deeper water on Toledo Bend in hopes of hooking the big bass to net them that elusive state championship.
Time passed with nary a nibble and the two boys began to lose focus. At least they were until driver — one of the most heralded bass fishermen in the state’s history — got the boys’ attention.
“The moment right before I caught that bass we weren’t focusing like we should have been,” Clark said. “He turned to us and said ‘alright boys, you guys need to do what you need and focus here.’ Not but a minute later I hooked into that nearly eight pounder.”
Clark reeled in a 7.71-pound bass, a personal record, which not only gave the duo the prestigious Big Bass title, but also gave them a total weigh-in of 20.67 pounds to help them win the state championship and help STM win the overall team championship.
“It was like an experience I have never had before,” Clark said. “Especially going into the final day of the state tournament and not knowing if we were going to beat the other team. And then to find out that we beat them by only two ounces it seemed like it was all part of the plan.”
What made it even more special for the Cougars’ fishing star was that he shared the moment with his driver. The man who drove the boat was none other than his grandfather, Jack Hains, who was the first man from Louisiana to win the Bassmaster Classic in 1975.
“It is just a blessing to be able to fish with my grandson,” said Hains, who was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. “Naturally, any part of your family that has the same love or passion for something as you do — it is certifiably a blessing to enjoy it with them. I love the time we spend together.”
So, did Clark grow up knowing that his “PawPaw Jack” was a big deal in the world of bass fishing? Clark always had a rough idea but then he found out at a tournament just how well-known his grandfather was.
“I can always remember at one of our tournaments a few years ago,” Clark said. “We pulled up and I am driving the truck as we are trying to put the boat into the water and I hear the tournament director say ‘that’s Jack Hains.’ That brought a smile to my face.”
As far back as Clark can remember, the outdoors has brought a smile to his face — in particular fishing. Clark always enjoyed the time he was able to spend in a boat casting lines with his grandfather. Clark credits that time spent with his grandfather for inspiring him to take competitive fishing more seriously.
“My grandpa and I are very close,” Clark said. “We probably fish every weekend. Ever since I was little he has always told me what to do and how to do it correctly. PawPaw Jack helped me get more serious when it came to the sport of fishing.
“You can go out there and just go through the motions like any other sport,” Clark added. “Or you can focus and get what you really need to get better and to become a champion. That’s what I have learned from him.”
“You have to really love it enough to really study it and he does,” Hains said. “He likes to harvest and now he is starting to locate. Everybody likes to catch them but when you start to recognize things and read water and know what is going on underneath the water and by the shoreline that is key.
“To fish at another level is about details,” Hains said. “Read the water, read what they are telling to you in the water and what the wildlife is telling you. A lot of the stuff that people look at and say that’s pretty really tells you about the fish. He is learning that.”
Clark also learned a valuable lesson from his grandfather about the difference between fishing without a care in the world and fishing against hundreds of other skilled anglers.
“It is a very stressful sport — especially tournament fishing,” Clark said. “Fun fishing you can just go out there on the water and be relaxed. You don’t have to worry about catching fish. You don’t have to catch five fish that is better than everyone’s else.
“Whenever you get in a tournament situation, you start feeling the pressure as time winds down because you know what is needed to win,” Clark added. “You figure out how to deal with that.”
Clark has already figured out that fishing will be part of his near future.
This weekend Clark, along with new partner Thomas Wiltz, will look to win another title at this year’s state championships being held at Berwick Landing in Morgan City. If the duo wins or finishes second overall, the Cougar stars will earn a spot in the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series National Championship.
Regardless of what happens this weekend, Clark plans on working on skills this summer at his favorite fish hole at Lake Martin while preparing to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where we will be a member of the Ragin’ Cajun Fishing Team.
Clark also has aspirations of following in his grandfather’s famous fishing footsteps — becoming a competitive bass fisherman and one day casting his rod and reel in the Super Bowl of bass fishing — the Bassmaster Classic.
“That makes me feel great,” Hains said of his grandson’s dreams. “It is tough a gig. I am not going to kid anyone. It is not a can of corn. You have to go out there and develop techniques and put in the work.
“That’s how you get guys that start winning two or three tournaments,” Hains added. “It’s not like you go out there and you are the lead car out there. That’s not the way it works and he knows that and is ready for that. I couldn’t be prouder.”