Feb 22, LaGrange, GA.
A severe winter storm containing records lows for many parts to the SE below through Georgia just days before the 2025 Georgia High School State Championship on West Point Lake, LaGrange, GA. It did “Warm-up” some “warm” being a relative term before Saturday’s championship day. Take off was 26 degrees and weigh-in was pushing 60 after a week of below freezing weather.
None the less 71 teams showed up and took to west point lake to try their hand at becoming state champions. As one would think right after a cold front period, overall it was tough to get fish to bite, but as always some teams will figure them out. Shaky heads seemed to the be key to success for most the top finishers.
Flint River Academy’s Caden and Canon Murphy brought in the day’s best 5 fish limit totaling, 17-06 a very respectable catch on any lake, on any day. Second place finishers were also a Flint River Academy team. Thomas Knight and Jack Ballard weighed a limit of 11-11. The 3rd place was only 1 ounce back with 11-10 and represented Cartersville Hurricanes and Rockmart Yellow Jackets was Dallen Fuqua and Avery Slye. Rounding out the top five places were Calhoun Yellow Jackets team of Hogan Stephens and Couper Tate with 11-01 and Marc Taylor and Landon Walker from Ware County Gators HS with 10-10.
The top 7 teams in the final standings (Full results are on the website results page) earned a spot in the 2025 national championship and all anglers who attended are eligible to fish the 2025 HS Fishing World Finals both events are on Grand Lake Oklahoma the week of June 25-28, 2025. Registration for that event is open now.
Additionally, any state champions across the nation that is 16 years of age or older when they qualify earns an automatic berth into the TBF adult programs National Semifinals as a non-boater with a paid adult membership and paid entry fees if they choose to use it. From this event only one of the top two champions from the winning team was age eligible that was Caden Murphy and his spot on the state of Georgia’s National Semifinal adult team is secure for him should he choose to take it.
A special thanks to the parents and boat captains who brought the young anglers out and spent the day with them as that is where memories are made and the best prize of all is gathered. Also a huge thank you to VISIT LaGrange, who hosted the event, the anglers and their families in their community and on their home lake and to the SAF sponsors listed on this website who make all this possible for these young people.
Congratulations to each and every one of you! well done.
