Lake Lavon, TX – Most anglers may not be able to recall the first tournament they ever competed in, but for Clay Nash and Wyatt Frankens that will never be the case. These two anglers from the Corrigan-Camden High School Fishing Team swept the 2012 Student Angler Federation Texas High School State Championship by a margin of almost 4 pounds. 35 high school teams traveled from around the state to compete in the championship held on Lake Lavon near Allen, Texas. With college anglers swarming the lake for the ACA’s Cabela’s Big Bass Bash two days prior to the event, conditions on Lavon were tough. But, that didn’t stop Nash and Frankens who brought in four keepers weighing 14lbs to claim the titles of 2012 Texas High School State Champions.
“This is awesome,” Nash said. “This is the first tournament we have both competed in and now we are state champions!” The duo used a variety of techniques to catch fish that were in all spawning stages. Nash was throwing a Christmas Tree-colored Senko and Frankens was using a white spinnerbait. “I threw it as far back in the buck brush as I could; I just kept those blades spinning,” Frankens said. The pair caught a couple keepers right after launch, but then struggled during the day to complete their limit. Perseverance paid off, as they hooked up with two keepers in the last thirty minutes to secure the victory. “The key to our win was just keeping our lines wet and making multiple casts to the same area,” Nash said. The team also took home big bass honors with a 4lb 2ounce Lavon lunker, winning them an Abu Garcia Vendetta Rod donated by the TBF of Texas.
In second, were Dillon Harrell & Josh Perrin representing the North Houston Rodbenders club. They brought in four fish tipping the scales at 10lbs 3ounces. Right behind them in third, were Brandon Bales & Kyle Dragulski from the Texas SAF. Bales and Dragulski brought in three beauties weighing 9lbs 1ounce, a little over three pounds average per fish.
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The state champions will advance to compete in the High School Southern Conference competition, which will take place next fall in conjunction with the FLW College Conference Championship series. The winners there will advance to the High School National Championship sponsored by The Bass Federation and FLW Outdoors.
The championship was sponsored by the city of Allen, Texas and the TBF of Texas provided the volunteer manpower for the event. The Cabela’s Store in Allen hosted the pretournament meeting and provided all tournament participants with a goodie bag and discounts for all store purchases on the night of registration.
The SAF State Championship series continues its trek across America this weekend with the Georgia and Virginia High School State Championships on Lake Sinclair and Lake Gaston. The 2012 High School Fishing World Finals will return to Russellville, Ark., July 15-21. Registration is open to ALL SAF members. It’s a no entry-fee event, SAF members can go online at www.highschoolfishing.org to register.
For information on how to join the new and exciting sport of high school bass fishing, visit www.HighSchoolFishing.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hsfishing or follow us on Twitter @hs_fishing.
