Celestine, Indiana: The Indiana SAF State Championship was held on Patoka Lake April 12, 2025. A total of 63 teams from across the state competed and had to contend with multiple weather systems leading up to the event. Warm sunny days prior to the event turned to historic rain and flooding for the area with 10-15 inches of rain raising the lake level 8 ft just prior to the event along with temperatures dropping into the low 30’s at takeoff. The lake fished very tough for most of the field as only 23 of 63 teams brought fish to the scales.

Taking the top spot was the team of Abygale Boyd and Hunter Trainor with 10.68 lbs. The Lew’s Big Bass award for the event went to the team of Jena Chandler and Kane Finke with a 5.36 lb largemouth. Rounding out the qualifying positions were the teams of Jakob Dreher and Lukas Dreher, Jena Chandler and Kane Finke, Wes Warnock and Eli Vanness, Aaron Backus and Luke Tucker and Hunter Whaley and Cooper Halton.

The 2025 Virginia State Championship was held April 5^th on (Buggs Island) John H. Kerr Reservoir. Aiden Meyers and Graydan Brown of Wildcats took 1^St place with a winning weight of 5 fish 12.48lbs and big fish of 3.02lbs over the other 5 teams. Aiden and Grayden said they thought this was the first state championship of any kind that Rockbridge County High School has ever won. Way to go!

2nd Joshua Smith and Landon Ray Honaker High School Tigers with a weight of 5 fish 10.34.

3rd  Ben Washburn and Wyatt Reynolds Ridgeview Junior Anglers with a weight of 5 fish 10.10.

4^th  Caden Hash and Blake Hall Smith County with a weight of, 5 fish 7.56.

5^th  Ethan Sage and Colt Sage Smith County with a weight of , 4 fish 7.39.

6^th  Zach Huff and Gene Carter Virginia SAF with a weight of, 4 fish 4.87.

Watch for these teams in the future.

Ravalin and Cox Win the TBF High School Open Challenge Event held on the California Delta at Russo’s Marina, Bethel Island on Sunday, 6 April 2025.  Sunday was the 4th day of a warming weather trend following unsettled weather. 34 Teams competed in this tidal fishery.

Zane Ravalin and Troy Cox of the Oakdale Mustangs get the Win with a 16.10 lb. bag in what turned out to be a very close race to the top.  Less than ½ pound separated 1^st to 4^th Place.

Brayden Baker and Brody Chait from Vista Del Lago secured 2^nd Place with 16.04 lbs.

Murdoc Mcginnis and Andrew Noberto, also from Vista Del Lago, secured 3^rd Place with 15.79 lbs.

Niko Mirante grabbed Big Fish honors with a 7.30 Giant.   That earned him a fishing rod donated by Steve Cooper (YouTube Channel, In Deep on the Delta).  Niko will be picking up his rod at The Bass Hole tackle shop on Bethel Island.

Rounding out the top 10

4^th Place, Carson Drowell, Mason Totten of East County Student Anglers with 15.75 lbs

5^th Place, Matthew Mckeough, Lucas Sebastian of Delta Saints with 15.03 lbs.

6^th Place, Logan Dekleva, Landon Mason of Hughson High School with 14.81 lbs.

7^th Place, Holden Carr, Eli fisher of Oakdale Mustangs with 14.51

8^th Place, Jax Soto, Evan Birck of Delta Saints/Delta Teen Team with 13.86 lbs.

9^th Place, Austin Barnes, Niko Mirante, of San Joaquin  Bassmasters with 13.45 lbs

10^th Place, Brenner Lynn, Bryce Deheyn of Socal JR Bass Club with 12.24 lbs.