The Wabash Valley College Bass Warriors Team would like to introduce to you our co-angler of the month, Mason Gross. Mason is the son of Mitch and Mary Ann Gross of Carmi, Illinois. He is a freshman at Wabash Valley College and is currently majoring in business and marketing.
The first event of the season for Mason was a Major League Fishing Abu Garcia College Series event on the Detroit River. Mason teamed up with Jason Mendenhall and had one keeper that weighed 2 lbs. 12 oz. which was good for 58th place. His second event, also with Mendenhall, was the Wabash Valley College Collegiate Bass Invitational held on East Fork Lake in Olney, Illinois. The duo had two keepers that weighed 3.92 lbs. good for a 22nd place finish. His next stop was Association of Collegiate Anglers AFTCO Open on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas on October 9th and 10th. Gross and Mendenhall one keeper on the weekend for a two-day total of 2.61 lbs. good for 140th place finish out of 215 boats. Gross teamed up with teammate Hunter Capehart the following weekend at Lake of the Ozarks near Osage Beach, Missouri. The two managed to catch one keeper in the final central conference Major League Fishing Abu Garcia College Series event of the season. Their keeper weighed 1 lb. 11 oz. and secured them a 122nd place finish out of the 149 boats in the field. In January, Gross teamed up with Isaac Irvin in the first Strike King Bassmaster College Series event of the 2022 season that was held on the Harris Chain of Lakes near Leesburg, Florida. Gross and Irvin had a two-day total of 9 lbs. 14 oz. good for a 206th place finish. The highlight of Mason's season thus far came a couple of weeks ago at an out-of-conference MLF Abu Garcia College Series event held on the Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama. Gross teamed up with Isaac Irvin and caught a five fish limit good for 20 lbs. 1 oz. and a 10th place finish out of the 219 boats in the field. This was a one-day tournament and qualified them for the 2023 Major League Fishing National Championship.
When asked what his favorite lake was to fish on, Gross replied, Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama with Lake St. Clair being a close second. Outside of fishing, Mason enjoys waterfowl hunting and boating. His most memorable moments thus far are qualifying for the MLF National Championship at Lake Guntersville and getting to experience true northern smallmouth on Lake St. Clair. We expect big things from Mason the remainder of his freshman season.
Those interested in learning more about the Wabash Valley College Bass Team can visit www.wvcwarriorathletics.com, click on Club Teams and select Bass Fishing. High school juniors and seniors that have an interest in a campus visit can fill out the recruiting questionnaire and Coach Gill will contact them to discuss the team and schedule a campus visit. You can also keep up with WVC Bass Team news by following them on Facebook @WVC Bass Team and on Instagram @wvcbassteam.
Mason Gross and Jason Mendenhall caught some nice smallmouth in practice but only had one for 2 lbs. 12 oz. in the actual tournament at the Detroit River
Gross and Mendenhall had two keepers in the WVC Collegiate Bass Open on East Fork Lake good for 3.92 lbs.
Gross and Mendenhall had one keeper at the AFTCO Open on Lake Dardanelle in October. The keeper was good for 2.61 lbs.
Mason teamed up with Hunter Capehart at Lake of the Ozarks in an MLF Abu Garcia College Series event. They had one keeper for 1 lbs. 11 oz.
Isaac Irvin and Mason Gross had a two-day total of 9 lbs. 14 oz. at the Harris Chain of Lakes good for 206th place.
Isaac Irvin and Mason Gross had five keepers for 20 lbs. 1 oz. in and MLF Abu Garcia College Series event on Lake Guntersville.
Isaac Irvin and Mason Gross with their 10th place plaques and a 2023 National Championship qualification with the MLF Abu Garcia College Series.