Carroll County High School students Patrick Parker and Nolyn Glacken aren’t known for being talkative, but their fishing skills are speaking volumes.
The quiet duo has been reeling in success on Kentucky waters for a few years, and now they’re casting their lines into a much bigger pond: the Bassmaster High School National Championship at Clark Hill Lake in Georgia. Only 11 teams from Kentucky earned a spot in the prestigious event.
“It started as just a fun hobby,” said Patrick, who grew up fishing with his family at a neighbor’s pond. “Then we thought, why not compete while doing something we already love?”
Nolyn, who also started fishing as a child, long before he and Patrick even knew each other, agreed. “It’s a lot more competitive now, but still fun. I enjoy being outside. We started fishing together in eighth grade and just stuck with it,” Nolyn said.
The two officially joined the high school fishing team in seventh grade and began competing in tournaments a year later. Since then, their weekends have been filled with early mornings, long practice days, and even longer tournaments. They sometimes spend 8 to 10 hours on the water, strategizing every cast.
“This isn’t just tossing a line and hoping for the best,” said their boat captain Josh Glacken, who is also Nolyn’s dad. “They research lake structure, water depth, clarity, and temperature. They practice on-site before every tournament to figure out where the fish are biting and what baits work best.”
The pair competed in two specific tournament trails this past season, earning the Angler of the Year title in one. That win secured their spot at nationals. They’ll have just three days to practice on Clark Hill Lake, a place they’ve never fished before, followed by a two-day competition. To advance to the final day, they’ll need to place in the top 25.
“We’re doing what we can to prepare; watching videos, studying maps, learning from public info,” Nolyn said. “We can’t talk to guides or locals because of the dead period rules, so it’s all up to us.”
Bass fishing tournaments come with strict rules, from minimum fish lengths to fish care requirements. Each team can weigh up to five fish per day, but penalties apply for dead or undersized fish. Keeping fish healthy in scorching summer temperatures is an art in itself, involving live well additives, oxygenation, and even carbonated drinks to stop bleeding.
“You really learn to care for the fish,” said Nolyn. “It’s part of respecting the sport.”
While they each have their favorite techniques - Patrick prefers Texas rigs while Nolyn enjoys topwater strikes - both understand the deeper values the sport instills.
“They’ve had days with no catches,” Glacken said. “But they stick with it, encourage each other, and they’re always willing to help younger or less experienced teams. That says a lot.”
With nationals just days away, the quiet competitors are staying focused, hopeful, and ready to represent Carroll County on a national stage.
“It can all change in 30 minutes,” said Nolyn with a grin. “We’re just going to give it everything we’ve got.”