Wabash Valley College Alum Drew Gill Pursues Opportunity to Fish South African Waters 

Drew Gill, a 2022 graduate from Wabash Valley College, will be representing Team USA in the upcoming World Black Bass Championship. The 19th edition of the event takes place from September 4–6 on Arabie Dam, located in Limpopo, South Africa. Team USA will be competing against over 15 other countries in the tournament. Gill, along with five other anglers—Logan Parks, Kyle Welcher, Scott Martin, Jacob Wheeler, and Ott DeFoe—make up USA's competing team. Kevin VanDam, bass fishing's all-time winningest competitor and coach for Team USA, handpicked and compiled the team. Team USA will be split into three pairs who will fish as partners each day.

Gill credits his introduction to high-level fishing to his time spent on the WVC Bass Fishing team. In two years, Gill and his teammates fished over 30 events. Gill and his freshman year partner Zeb Frasure and sophomore year partner Jonah Potts collected multiple top-10 finishes as a duo, and Gill and Potts finished in the top 10 in the Bassmaster Team of the Year race his sophomore season. "College fishing laid the groundwork for me on how to deal with big tournaments on high-level fisheries and how to signify patterns on bodies of water you are not familiar with," Gill stated. Gill also highlights how his time on WVC's Bass Fishing team set a standard for him to follow while competing as a team.

"When it comes to a tournament where you are competing for points rather than an individual team finish—college or Team USA—it becomes a convenience to have teams to share information with. It all comes down to communication. Having a tight-knit atmosphere where you can share knowledge allows the whole team to succeed. Using your highest teams to elevate the team as a whole is very important in both college fishing and the Black Bass Championship," Gill shared.

Gill will be partnered with Ott DeFoe, the 2019 Bassmaster Classic Champion and 2011 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year. DeFoe has secured several victories in Major League Fishing events and tournaments. "Ott is a Classic champion, with over 3.2 million dollars in winnings, who has fished for many years and is a shallow-water fisherman who understands current," Gill said. "In addition to all of his fishing accomplishments, he is an incredible guy and is someone I have wanted to spend some time with in the boat, so this opportunity is something I have been waiting a really long time for," he added.

Gill has an impressive list of accomplishments himself. He is a two-time Bass Pro Tour champion, finished second in Angler of the Year in 2024, and third in Angler of the Year in 2025.

"Even though we are fishing in South Africa, bass are all the same everywhere and the cues remain the same. There is more diversity in the lake we are traveling to. In terms of breaking down the fishery, there are other fish to take into consideration. Bass respond to the same cues no matter where they are, such as current, daylight cues, etc. Every fishery in general is different, so different is the standard in regards to bass fishing," stated Gill on his plans to navigate time on the water during practice and the tournament.

Leading up to the championship, the anglers are allotted three days of practice on Arabie Dam. The dam is located on the Olifants River, which is known for producing large fish, potentially leading to high weights during the tournament. "The main difference in practice is that you can communicate during the tournament. There really is no specific practice strategy, so you can kinda practice during the tournament and continue sharing information throughout the competition with the other competitors on Team USA," shared Gill.

As Gill prepares to take on the world stage at the World Black Bass Championship, his journey from Wabash Valley College to a career in professional bass fishing is a testament to his dedication, skill, and passion for the sport. Representing Team USA alongside some of the biggest names in bass fishing, Gill is not only showcasing his talent but also carrying on the values of teamwork and strategy he developed during his collegiate career. Fans and supporters can follow along with Team USA's progress throughout the tournament by visiting usaangling.org. Whether fishing on familiar waters or navigating new territory abroad, Gill continues to prove that success in bass fishing comes from preparation, collaboration, and a drive to compete at the highest level. 

Article by Emmarie Bires