LINCOLN, Neb. – Eric Soe and Payne Ahrens of Gretna won the 2013 Nebraska State High School Fishing Tournament on July 27 at Harlan County Reservoir.
The Gretna Dragon team, with coach/boat driver Cory Roll, weighed in a five-fish limit totaling 15 pounds. Soe also caught the tournament’s biggest largemouth bass at 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
Soe and Ahrens advance to the regional tournament Oct. 5 at Lake Texoma, Texas. The regional champion advances to nationals next spring.
The Southern Valley Eagles team of Ian Coffey, Quentin Hadan, and coach Jim Williams finished second with four bass for a total of 14 pounds, 14 ounces. The Lincoln County Bass Bosses team of Drew Bailey, Jacob Zimbelman and coach Doug Zimbelman finished third with four bass totaling 14 pounds, 2 ounces.
Fourteen of the 21 competing teams brought 35 largemouth bass to the weigh-in station.
The state tournament is a cooperative program between the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and The Bass Federation – Student Angler Federation (TBF-SAF). The High School Fishing program includes a state tournament for every state in the continental United States, as well as Ontario, Canada. Two-person teams from grades 9 through 12 compete and are paired with a coach who provides a boat for competition.
