Eatonville's Wolfe, Mohler win Washington High School Bass Fishing tournament at Alder Lake
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Easton Wolfe and Callie Mohler have made a habit of winning.
The Eatonville High School bass fishing duo, last year’s state champions, topped a field of 20 teams to claim first place at the Washington State High School Bass Fishing tournament last Saturday, May 30th at Alder Lake. Wolfe, a freshman, added to the team's banner day by claiming Big Bass honors, landing the largest individual fish of the tournament.
The win capped a strong showing for the Cruiser tandem, who credited patience, teamwork and a willingness to adapt as the keys to their success on the water.
"The key to our success was being patient, working together as a team and staying positive throughout the day," Wolfe said. "We kept fishing hard and hoped for the best."
Mohler, a junior, put it more simply.
"I'd say the key to my success was probably just keeping my line in the water the entire time and just not giving up," she said.
The pair spent the day experimenting with different presentations to find what the fish wanted, adjusting their approach as conditions evolved.
"We worked well together by trying different baits and techniques to figure out what the fish were biting," Wolfe said.
The turning point of the tournament came when Wolfe landed his biggest fish of the day, a 3.32-pound bass that proved to be both the team's anchor fish and the largest of the entire field.
"That fish gave us a lot of confidence and made us feel like we had a real chance to win," Wolfe said.
Mohler's biggest fish of the day weighed 2.6 pounds. She said she wasn't convinced the pair had done enough to win until late in the day.
"I honestly didn't think we'd win until we saw the other teams at weigh in," she said.
Wolfe and Mohler were guided throughout the tournament by boat captain Jaiden Sobczyk, an Eatonville High School alum and 2023 Washington State High School Bass Fishing champion. Sobczyk described conditions on Alder Lake as favorable, with a comfortable mix of sun and overcast skies and very little wind allowing the team to move around efficiently.
"We focused primarily on the west side of the lake because it offered the calmest conditions," Sobczyk said. "That made it easier for the kids to fish effectively, and we were able to consistently find fish throughout that area."
One of the day's most critical decisions came when Sobczyk made a move to an unconventional spot, an area more commonly associated with trout than bass and located well off the beaten path. The gamble paid off.
"It was an area known more for trout and located in the middle of nowhere, but we found fish in about 70 feet of water actively chasing trout," Sobczyk said. "One of those fish ended up being a key big fish that helped Easton secure Big Fish honors and played a major role in the team's first-place finish."
Sobczyk said he worked closely with the pair all day, monitoring electronics and fish behavior while communicating adjustments in real time.
"I spend a lot of time watching the electronics and monitoring fish behavior while they're focused on fishing," he said. "I'm constantly communicating -- telling them when to reel faster, slow down or get ready because a fish is moving toward their lure. Technology plays a huge role in helping us make those decisions in real time."
Sobczyk said the biggest challenge of the day was translating his read of the water into terms the young anglers could apply.
"A lot of decisions are based on subtle things I'm seeing on electronics and fish behavior," he said. "Being able to explain why we're making adjustments and help the anglers understand what I'm seeing is important so they can develop those same instincts themselves."
For Sobczyk, watching the pair compete and succeed carries a personal significance.
"It's incredibly rewarding. Having come through this program myself, I know how much these opportunities mean to young anglers," he said. "Watching them grow, learn, improve throughout the day, and ultimately earn a win brings me a lot of joy."
The camaraderie between Wolfe and Mohler was evident throughout the day. Mohler said their approach has always centered on keeping things fun, regardless of where they stood in the field.
"We both just had fun and never let it get in between the two of us," she said.
Wolfe and Mohler next compete June 20-21 at Banks Lake.
Wolfe expressed gratitude to the following sponsors for their support: Osborn Concrete & Consulting, SC Cabinetry & Design, Rudnick & Sons Excavation, Puget Sound Precast, Static Electric, Meridian Family Auto Repair, PAC-NORTH Land Company, Wise Way Finish Carpentry and JM Knelleken Company. Mohler also thanked boat captain Jaiden Sobczyk.
Comments