Day 2 of the High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship
High school anglers launched from Lake Cumberland Marina state dock this morning. Some were eager to turn the tables, and others were hoping to hold tight to their leads. Two titles are on the line this week. Friday, the National Championship titles will be decided by the top 10 nationally-qualified teams that advance today. The World Finals titles will be awarded on Saturday, with the top 30 teams competing and one Lucky Dog drawing winner. Going into tomorrow, 10 teams only have one thing on their mind: who will be crowned 2026 National Champions.
Holding on to the top spot for two days in a row is the Lakeland Christian Vikings team of Bobby Lane III and Bryden Tyler. “Just because we have a 4.5-pound lead, I don’t feel comfortable. I don’t think I could ever feel comfortable,” Tyler said. “Bass fishing is anybody’s game; anything can happen. That’s been on my mind a while.”
The Florida anglers weighed a three-bass limit of 11 pounds 9 ounces, making their two-day total 23 pounds 11 ounces.
“I have my faith in the Lord on my mind because it’s in his hands,” Tyler continued. “I’ve got my parents on my mind, Bobby, our families, team, coaches, and mentors. Bobby’s dad, I wouldn’t have gotten into bass fishing without him, and my parents are the reason I’m here. My Mom has taught me a lot in life, and my Dad taught me to keep going in a sport I wasn’t very familiar with.
Our coaches, Scott Neal and David Driggers, taught me a lot about fishing. I grew up saltwater fishing. I’ve only been bass fishing since the 7th grade, and now we’re here carrying the whole state of Florida.”
Lane echoed the well of emotion in his partner after soaking in their two-day leads on a tough Lake Cumberland. “How crazy it is has been after wanting something like this for so long, and things are starting ot come together,” Lane said. “ I know it’s not over, but to be in the position we are in against 410 other teams from all across the US and Canada; that’s what’s hitting right now.”
Lane and Tyler had a lot running through their minds, but they were clear about one thing for sure. “Going into tomorrow, we’re just going to fish like it’s the first day of the tournament,” Lane commented. “No matter how far we are ahead or back, fish like we have been all week. Can’t let anything get in our heads.”
“And we’re going to trust our boat captain, RJ Sangre, to get us through safely,” Tyler said. “RJ was on our high school fishing team; we used to fish against him. He went off to the Campbellsville College Fishing team, but he came to captain us.”
The top 10 teams are aching to win the national championship titles tomorrow, on day three of the World Finals, and the conclusion of the National Championship event. Close behind Lane and Tyler in second are the Georgia team of Chad Dupree and Maddox Ferrell with 19 pounds. In the third spot is the Minnesota team of Keaton Coe and Macoy Johnson with 18 pounds 9 ounces. Only ounces separate the remaining top 10. As Tyler said, bass fishing is anybody’s game, and anything can happen tomorrow as we crown the champions.
Each day, anglers will cross the stage at the Russell County Jaycees County Fairgrounds to weigh their biggest bass. Every tournament angler will also receive sponsor merch during the weigh-ins. Take-offs and weigh-ins will be live-streamed daily on www.highschoolfishing.org and SAF’s Facebook page.
