BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County High School anglers Alex Bowen and Aaron Mills are like brothers. So it’s no wonder the duo finished in second place for Kentucky’s 2022 Angler of the Year and earned a spot in the national fishing tournament Aug. 11-13 in Greenville, S.C.

Alex is the son of Anthony and Roberta Bowen, and Aaron’s parents are Scotty and Misty Mills.

Fishing has been more than a sport for the two anglers. They’ve traveled together, shared experiences and created a bond that will last a lifetime. They’ve also formed lasting bonds with their teammates, coaches and boat captains.

Fishing isn’t just fun for Bowen and Mills. They put a lot of hard work into studying the fish, their habits and their environments. Live bait isn’t an option, so it makes it tougher to catch the fish.

Bowen had a love for fishing all of his life and began fishing on the high school team as a middle schooler. If he had a high school partner, he was allowed to start fishing with the high school team early. His dedication paid off in the form of a $72,000 scholarship to fish at his college of choice. He chose Kentucky Christian University to pursue a career in nursing.

Mills plans to attend KCU in 2023.

The two have been fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to places such as Michigan, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and all over Kentucky. Team captains Levi Lowe, Nathan Fletcher, Scott Mills and Paul Stapleton are a few who have made sure the boys were taken care of.

Bowen and Mills have participated in a lot of fundraising to earn money for their trips. Their families sometimes dip into their own pockets to make sure the boys attend the fishing competitions.

Bowen has personally reached out to pro fishermen who have fished the areas and asked them for advice. He and Mills recently had the opportunity to meet and speak with pro angler Ott Defoe.

The majority of the tournaments have at least 100 boats. Bowen and Mills have placed in the top 20 and top 10 in several of those.