PONCA CITY, Okla. (Apr. 25, 2012) – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce and the Idaho Bass Federation announced it will host the 2012 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Idaho High School Fishing State Championship. The event will be Saturday, May 12, on CJ Strike Reservoir, just outside of Mountain Home, Id. A unique element of the event is it will follow the TBF Northwest Divisional held on C.J. Strike Reservoir, Wednesday through Friday.
The championship is a two person team event for students in grades 9-12. Registration for anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at HighSchoolFishing.org. All teams must check-in Friday, May 11, following the TBF Northwest Divisional weigh-in at approximately 4pm MST at the TBF trailer located at the Air Force Ramp on CJ Strike Reservoir with a mandatory rules briefing at 5pm. We highly encourage all teams to preregister online or by phone in advance to avoid late registration fees.
“On behalf of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce and the Travel and Tourism Committee we’re very proud the SAF Idaho High School Fishing State Championship will be held at CJ Strike Reservoir once again,” Executive Director of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce, Lori Posey, stated. “Mountain Home has long been known for its “Big Backyard”, which references the many recreational opportunities located nearby. We welcome the best of Idaho’s young fishermen to our community and wish them luck at this event!”
Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is only $25/ year and includes full TBF and FLW Outdoors benefits, including access to the all-new FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The winning two-person team from each state championship will advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Conference Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Conference Championship. Those winners will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2013. All SAF members and state championship participants qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2012 High School Fishing World Finals to compete for thousands of dollars in college scholarships and prizes. Each team that qualifies for a conference and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The National Champions will also each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.
If you’re not an SAF member, there’s a $25/per angler fee, which includes full TBF/FLW Outdoors membership benefits for the year, as well as, free entry to ALL SAF sanctioned events!
Another unique feature of an SAF sanctioned event is the “angler testing” component. Anglers can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org about boater safety, conservation and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for contingency awards at their state championship. “It’s an industry first by TBF and a tremendous way to emphasize the importance of education to these student anglers,” SAF Program Manager, Alex Craw, commented. “The Federation is driven by our desire to promote education through fishing and the testing component is designed to do exactly that. We also offer all TBF/SAF members 11 free online training courses in our member’s only online store with Faculty of Fishing’s angler advantage program. Put this package together with all the programs our affiliated state federations like the Idaho Bass Federation have to offer, and our partnership with FLW Outdoors, and the sky is the limit,” Craw continued. “These young anglers and their families have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”
Event Details:
State Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at HighSchoolFishing.org. Boat numbers are determined by date registered. A $25 late registration fee applies to those registering at check-in. The best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org.
Mandatory Check-in: Friday, May 11, 4-5pm MST after the conclusion of the TBF Northwest Divisional at the Air Force Ramp on CJ Strike Reservoir; Mandatory rules briefing to follow at 5pm.
Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, May 12, at the Air Force Ramp on CJ Strike Reservoir. Takeoff is 6am MST or safe light; the weigh-in begins at 2pm. Questions? alex@highschoolfishing.org or 580-765-9031
Host Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites, 3175 NE Foothills Ave., Mountain Home, ID. Call 208.587.7300 and ask for the TBF/SAF Idaho High School State Championship discounted rate.
About FLW Outdoors
FLW Outdoors is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011. FLW Outdoors has taken fishing mainstream with the world’s richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing presented by Straight Talk, where competitors can play for free, as well as, sign up for Player’s Advantage to gain an edge. For more information about FLW Outdoors and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing organization. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years. Visit bassfederation.com.
