(Editor’s note: Leading up to the 2012 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship – slated for April 13-15 on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C. – CollegeFishing.com will publish weekly, in-depth features stories of each of the 25 national championship team qualifiers. At stake in the tournament is a first-place prize package worth $100,000 as well as a chance for the winning team to compete in the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup.)
Class: Senior
Major: Building Construction
Hometown: Hampton,Va.
Other interests: Hunting.
Class: Alumni
Major: Fisheries Science
Hometown: Pulaski, Va.
Other interests: I really like to build things, especially woodworking.
Club Web site: www.hokiebass.com
Q&A
CollegeFishing.com: How were you introduced to fishing?
Rejzer: I was introduced to fishing early on in life. I started out fishing the Chesapeake Bay with my parents before I could even walk
Blevins: Like the average kid, my dad and uncles were big factors in me getting started fishing. They used to take me to the lake and rivers around home and we’d fish for anything that would bite. Back then though I didn’t care what I caught as long as it was a fish. But after doing all kinds of fishing there isn’t anything that comes close to bass fishing.
CollegeFishing.com: What style/method of fishing are you most comfortable with?
Rejzer: I’m most comfortable flipping heavy cover and sight-fishing.
Blevins: Even though my favorite way to fish is with pretty heavy line and a football jig, I have grown quite accustomed to finesse fishing – mainly because of the lake I fish back home. But after traveling to different places in college to fish tournaments, I now realize the importance of being versatile and not getting stuck in my ways.
CollegeFishing.com: What did it feel like to qualify for the 2011 FLW College Fishing National Championship? How do you plan to prepare for the big event?
Rejzer: I’m proud to say this is my third FLW College Fishing National Championship. With two finishes outside of the top 5, I’m more anxious than ever to win this one. I started my research on the lake as soon as the location became public. For now, my best information comes from old reports and studying the weather. I just need to get out there now.
Blevins: It was awesome – not only because I have been to the championship before and know how much is on the line, but it is going to be my last college tournament ever! It has been awesome fishing with FLW because of the people and recognition our school has gotten. But I also hope this will be a stepping stone to furthering my tournament fishing experiences and being able to take my passion to the next level.
I’m a working man now so time is hard to come by. But I plan on making it down to Lake Murray one or two weekends just get a look at the lake and find some features I think the bass will be holding to come tournament time. Hopefully I can pinpoint a lot of good areas during those trips. And, ideally, I’ll be able to hone those down to the real productive ones during the official practice day.
CollegeFishing.com: Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.
Rejzer: During my first bass tournament, I used two spinning rods and competed in my parents 17-foot Boston Whaler that I rigged to be a bass boat. It has two pedestal seats, trolling motor and a 120-quart cooler/deck extension. By the way, my parents weren’t too happy when they saw what I did to their boat.
Blevins: I think by now most everybody knows that I was the only boy of seven siblings! So I’ll go with a nickname by best friend and fishing partner from college gave me, “Bear Claw.” It’s really more of an inside joke between him and me but I do have my nickname displayed on my VT fishing team hoody.
