2026 SAF Open Challenge Tournament was hosted by Alabama Bass Federation and Auburn / Opelika Tourism at Lake Harding, PO’Boys Landing, Salem, AL on 3 October 2026.

Following the day’s tournament competition the High School team of Caston Carden-Sawyer Sheffield of Shelby County High School Wildcats finished first place with a 5 fish limit pushing the scales to 14.02. Second place team was Trent Dunnam-Etham Williams of Satsuma High School Fishing Team with 11.08. Greyson Price-Aidan Monson of Spain Park Fishing were third with 10.11; Cayden Pressley Keough-Canon Murphy of The Heritage School were fourth with 8.09; Max Plemmons-Hunter Dayton of Plainview Fishing Team were fifth with 8.07.  Finishing in the top six of the High School Teams was Eli Schwieker-Landon Stegall of Hewitt-Trussville Fishing with 7.08.

Tournament Big Fish honors were captured by the team of Trent Dunnam-Ethan Williams of Satsuma High School Fishing Team with 4.00. The team received a Big Fish Bonus certificate presented by Davis Bait Company.

The following teams have qualified for the 2027 High School National Tournament, Caston Carden-Sawyer Sheffield, Shelvy County High School Wildcats; Trent Dunnam-Ethan Williams, Satsuma High School Fishing Team and Cayden Pressley Keough-Canon Murphy of The Heritage School. Greyson Price-Aidan Monson of Spark Park Fishing had previously qualified for the 2027 High School National Tournament.

On September 12th, the NYS TBF High School and Junior High Championship took place on beautiful Paradox Lake. The high school division was incredibly close, with all of the teams finishing within just one pound of each other. After a foggy start hard-fought day on the water, Morgan Delehanty and Kieran Fulong came out on top, taking home 1st place in the High School Division and securing their spot in the the National Event on Lake Hartwell.

Taking the 2nd Place finish in the high school was Cameron Hildenbrand and Jaden Rion, Finishing in 3rd was Ryan Knapp and Jason Gibson.

The Junior High Division was just as competitive, with the top teams battling it out right until the end. Aidan Law and Danny Keyser put together an outstanding performance to claim 1st place and, with the victory, punched their tickets to Nationals! Congratulations to all of the anglers who competed and represented their teams on Paradox Lake. What a great day of junior fishing and competition!