The Student Anglers Federation’s first High School event of the new calendar year was a huge success. Seventy teams, from five different states, came out and participated in the Bass Pro Shops/ Cabela’s Early Bird Challenge at Clarks Hill Lake in Georgia. Like at SAF events, this event was a National Championship qualifying event, and the seven highest finishing teams qualified for that event while all 70 teams are eligible to enter the 11th annual High School Fishing World Finals now.
The Marietta Bass Master Team of Brooks Anderson and Avery Hammock took top honors and the BOOYAH Big Bag Award, with a solid limit that weighed 13-10.
Following them in second place was Andrew Alexander and Dalton Eury, from the North Carolina Student Anglers Federation, with 12-09 pounds.
Third place went to Tanner Hadden and Caleb Hudson from Greenbrier High School with 12-07 pounds.
Big Bass of the day received two Lew’s reels and went to the team of Andrew Alexander & Dalton Eury with a 5-11 lunker.
As the weigh in progressed, anglers reported catching their fish in a variety of ways on a variety of different baits from both deep and shallow waters. Most of the better limits were caught out deep, from 20-40 feet of water on Carolina Rigs, Shakey Heads, and Sled Rigs. Other limits were caught in shallow water around docks and rocky points and banks on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits and jigs.
For a full list of tournament results and photos from the Bass Pro Shops/ Cabelas Early Bird Challenge event check out our schedule and results page.
