Student Angler Federation Announces Three-Year Advance schedule of the 16th, 17th and 18th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship
After a record 15th annual event in 2024 where over 435 teams, 1,300 participants and 3,500 attendees from across the globe assembled, The Bass Federation’s Student Angler Federation (SAF) announced today a new strategically aligned three-year schedule.
The High School Fishing World Finals is without a doubt, the event that launched the growth in High School Fishing. TBF founded the National High School Fishing program and its club curriculum in 2006. That has led to more high school age young people becoming anglers and forming clubs to join our industry than any other single item in the history of our sport. All HS youth programs in the nation can trace their roots to this program, the first world finals held in Arkansas in 2010 or one of the first SAF school clubs founded in 2006. From there, the SAF program, backed by TBF and MLF, has grown into the industry leader and the world’s largest and longest running High School Fishing Program.
The last several years championships have offered well over three million dollars in college scholarships and youth prizes, all with NO entry fees and has advanced to the point that schools and families need more time to plan like most other premier sporting events. To better support that need, SAF has set up a three-year rotation on a large scale across the US so anglers anywhere in the world can plan travel, raise funds and chart a path to reach the pinnacle in High School Fishing.
First up is the 16th annual event in 2025 on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma June 24-28, 2025. This will be the first time this event visits Grand Lake which has a world class facility built by anglers for anglers and will easily accommodate this, the largest participation event in all of bass fishing.
“We live and breathe fishing in Grove, Oklahoma, and to host a world-class championship of this caliber with
student anglers from around the world is an honor. Our town is super excited for the June 2025 High School World Final Championship that will be held at Wolf Creek Park. Stated Brent Malone, Grove Convention & Tourism Director. We have hosted thousands of tournaments in past years, but when you get to showcase our lake and community to families from all over the country you get excited to roll out the red carpet. We will be ready and prepared to make these student anglers feel at home in our wonderful community.”
In 2026 for the 17th annual the Championships will look to another new location, Lake Cumberland, KY. Hosted by the Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission Russell Springs, KY. June 23-27, 2026.
“We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to host the High School Fishing World Finals and
National Championship out of Halcomb’s Landing in June of 2026! Said Danielle Wilson, Executive Director of the Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission. This is an exciting milestone for our community, marking this the first time an event of this caliber has come to our area. The tourism impact will be significant, drawing thousands of anglers and visitors from across the nation and providing a substantial boost to our local businesses and economy. This is a positive step forward for Russell County, and we look forward to showcasing the unique charm and hospitality of our community on a national stage.”
Then June 22-26, 2027 the 18th annual event will head back to angler favorite, Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC.
“We are very proud to once again be working with the TBF\SAF to host our third High School World Finals and National Championship in 2027! The leadership of Anderson County has provided us with a world class
facility in Green Pond Landing as well as the resources to attract event such as the World Finals. The future in bass fishing certainly is our high school anglers and we look forward to the opportunity to host them once again in our community. Our team at Anderson County has worked very hard to ensure that we’re a destination for bass fishing with one of the top facilities in America and our fishery, Lake Hartwell, has been named a Top 100 Bass Lake in America! We could not be more excited about hosting the future of our sport right here in Anderson!”
In the competitive fishing arena, there is just no way around travel for the anglers, industry staff and partners it is expected as fishing is no different than championships in baseball, softball, cheer or dance. Couple that with the fact that few places can accommodate an event of this size on the water for a week we are proud of these premier locations that have stepped up to host. It is the industries largest participation event but designed so that as many young anglers as possible can have a chance at one of the many scholarships offers totaling more than 3 million dollars each year and to experience the comradery of an event this size where lifetime friendships are made.
“This is the second time we have announced a three-year schedule for this one-of-a-kind event. In fact, the
entire format of the event itself was designed with input from anglers, clubs and families and while it is unique in the fishing industry it is comparable to any other official High School sport program as a double elimination event.” Stated TBF President\CEO Robert Cartlidge. “This 3-year schedule allows our anglers and families to plan well in advance to attend these premier events and the locations are spread out geographically to help equalize travel as much as we can and to ensure that no angler will fish a 4-year high school program on the same lake every year.”
The popular four-day High School Fishing World Finals and National championship combined event format is a very unique structure where all anglers compete for three days with a second chance round designed to keep everyone in the running until the final day cut. The dual event format saves families money by not having to make two trips to different premier events and it is all accomplished with NO entry fees! For full details, check out HighSchoolFishing.org. You can get your club affiliated with SAF and compete! All TBF, SAF and MLF High School Fishing events are no entry fee events. To register, anglers only need to be a member of the Student Angler Federation (SAF) which is a mere $25 per year and includes full SAF and MLF memberships. Join online at HighSchoolFishing.org.
The Student Anglers Federation (SAF) is proudly sponsored by industry leading companies: Ranger Boats, Rapala Crush City Baits, Bass Pro Shops, Garmin, Favorite Fishing, Lew’s, Cabela’s, Seaguar, Strike King, Eagle Claw, Fishlab, St. Croix Rods, Rapala, Sufix, Pursuit, Gemini, VMC, Seviin, 13 Fishing, Aqua-Vu, Googan Baits, KastKing, Hammer Bullets, Faculty of Fishing and our partners in fishing at MLF.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for 50 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2006 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.
