TROUT CREEK, Mont. — May 16, 2026 — The Montana Student Anglers 2025/2026 State Championship concluded Saturday on the scenic waters of Noxon Reservoir, bringing together top high school anglers from across the state for a full day of competitive bass fishing and sportsmanship!

Hosted in Trout Creek, the championship featured student teams competing for state honors and National/World Championship qualification opportunities through the Student Angler Federation. Anglers launched from Lakeside Resort at first light and weighed in their catches Saturday afternoon following a competitive day on the water. Despite being a cold, blustery and rainy day, with periods of heavy rain and snow-pellets, the students (and boat captains!) demonstrated persistence and fortitude, with all 16 teams weighing-in excellent bags of largemouth and smallmouth bass at the end of the day.

Congratulations to our 2025/2026 State Champions – Sean Kincaid and Karsen Keller!

Sean and Karsen brought in the biggest bag of bass in MTSA history with 24lbs 12oz of feisty smallmouth bass!

In 2^nd place, graduating seniors, prior state champions (2022/23) and 2025/2026 MTSA Team of the Year – Christian Rensel & Drake Dawson with 20lbs 15oz – We will miss you next year!!

3^rd place – defending state champions (2024/25) – Trent Tennison & Wyatt Daken with 20lbs 10oz.

Special shout-out to Bryton Martin (left), who is also graduating this spring! Best wishes, and we’ll see you on the water!

MTSA leadership is proud to see the growth of youth fishing across Montana and thankful to the families, boat captains, volunteers, and sponsors who make our events possible!

Additional event photos can be found on the MTSA Instagram and Facebook sites.

Kansas TBF High School and Junior state championships was held at Melvern Lake on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This year the weather cooperated with us and we had a cool morning but warm afternoon. There were 8 high school and 4 junior teams competing this year. The fish cooperated with us too! After registering the teams, a prayer and the national anthem, the boats were off. We weighed in under sunny skies with a good crowd of parents, relatives and friends cheering on the teams.

With a winning weight of a 5 fish limit, Greyson Harper and Garrison Currie, captained by Garrett Currie found 13.39 pounds and took top honors for the high school teams. There were 2 other teams that also had limits so fishing was much better this year.The Junior championship was won by Landon Weller and Noah Halvorson, captained by Brad Weller. They had 2 fish for 5.63 pounds.Both winning teams were presented with their trophies and each received a Lew’s American Hero spinning combo donated by TBF Kansas, plus several packets of lures.
Doman’s Outdoors of Lyndon, KS also donated rod/reel combos and lures for the anglers. They have been a great sponsor for several years.

The morning started off cold, and the wind picked up in the early afternoon, but the kids battled through it and brought in some solid bags. Nikolaus and Elijah took the win with a five-fish limit weighing 11.5 lbs and also earned Big Fish with a 3.62 lb fish. Ethan and Beckham took 2nd place with five fish weighing 9.94 lbs.
Charlie and Michael came in 3rd place with four fish weighing 7.45 lbs.

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