July 7, 2025
NATCHITOCHES – Three incoming Northwestern State University freshmen were named recipients of Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarship. Braxton Speyrer, Landon Watts and Josiah Shockley will be a part of the university’s bass fishing team and will compete in FLW, B.A.S.S. and Collegiate Bass circuits.
Funds for the annual scholarships are generated through the Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Tournament, held each year at Toledo Bend Reservoir, with a large portion also donated to the Fishing Team to defray expenses incurred with travel and competition. This year’s tournament held a record high of over 340 teams participating with the Poches donating a total of $48,000 to NSU.
The Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarship was established by Poche’s parents, Burt and Shelley Poche, to help others who share the same passion for fishing to achieve their goals while doing what they love. Poche was a 2015 graduate of Natchitoches Central High School and an avid outdoorsman. He excelled at tournament fishing and was a member of the NCHS Fishing Team and the NSU Fishing Team as a freshman.
Next year’s tournament will be held on March 28,2026.
Information on the NSU Fishing Team is available at Facebook.com/NSULA BassFishing.
