Harlan County bass fishing team coach Kevin Blakley says fishing is a passion that many young people develop very early in life.
“You will find that young kids gain a love and a passion for the sport of fishing almost immediately, often going on fishing trips with their dads or grandpas,” he said. “They often think about catching that huge bass from their local lake. They dream of one day becoming a professional bass angler and becoming a Bassmaster Classic Champion.”
Those dreams are one step closer to becoming a reality for Harlan County High School senior Dalton Blakley, who will continue his athletic and academic career after signing to bass fish with Kentucky Christian University. Blakley, a five-year member of the Harlan County High School Bass Team, will be making history, as he becomes the very first collegiate level bass fishing signee at Harlan County High School.
Blakley has been with the HCHS Bass Team since its creation in 2017 under his father.
“Dalton is a very hard worker both in the classroom and on the water. But, when it comes to bass fishing, he has always been so meticulous in perfecting his techniques and using his electronics. I always felt like he would be able to fish at the next level,” Blakley said. “It’s amazing how our program has grown in just a short period of time and it has been so special and one of the best experiences of my life being able to be a part of it, especially with my son. I am so proud of him.”
Being in competitive tournament fishing for most of his school age career, Blakley became a student of bass fishing very early, picking up and learning to throw his first bait casting reel at just 3 years old and fishing his first tournament with his dad at 5.
“Fishing has always been a passion of mine as long as I can remember,” said the younger Blakley. “Ever since I picked up that first rod and reel I’ve been hooked.”
While being on the HCHS Bass Team, Blakley has fished in the Bass Pro Shops High School Series for four years where he has been a Classic Championship qualifier finishing in the Top 25 out of 600-plus high school anglers for three of those years. In addition, Blakley has fished in the KHSAA Region 4 Regional Tournament for five years, finishing as high as sixth in the region to qualify and represent HCHS in the KHSAA State Bass Fishing Championship. However, Blakley’s accolades do not stop there. Most recently, Blakley recorded a first-place finish on Dec. 3 at the Brandon Card College & High School Open on Norris Lake. He also has an additional 10 first place and 18 top ten finishes in local and club tournaments throughout east Tennessee and Kentucky as a high school angler.
“When I visited KCU, it just felt right,” Blakley said of his decision to attend Kentucky Christian. “I had a feeling of being home. Coach (Gene) Nornhold and my future teammates were wonderful to me, and I could not have asked for a more inviting atmosphere and visit. I knew KCU was where I was supposed to be.”
Fishing with the most elite collegiate bass anglers in the country, Blakley will be competing in two professional tournament trails, which include the Major League Fishing (MLF)/Abu Garcia College Series and the Strike King College Bassmaster Series. The Strike King College Bassmaster Series is a televised event that will offer Blakley and the most talented anglers from across America an opportunity to compete for a national championship and a spot in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.
Blakley is no stranger to what it takes to succeed in bass fishing and knows it is not going to be an easy road.
“Fishing alongside the best college anglers is going to take a lot of early mornings and long days of practice, hard work, dedication and miles and miles of travel, but this is just a dream come true for me having an opportunity to go fish at the collegiate level and continue doing what I love, I have truly been blessed,” he said.
With a 3.8 grade point average, Blakley is an honor student student at HCHS and will pursue a degree in physical therapy at Kentucky Christian.