PONCA CITY, Okla. (May 17, 2012) – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and the TBF of Louisiana announced it will host the 2012 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Louisiana High School Fishing State Championship. The event will be Saturday, June 16, on the Red River just outside of Shreveport/Bossier City, La. A unique element of the event is it will follow the TBF Central Divisional held on the Red River, 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, June 15, following the TBF Central Divisional weigh-in approximately 3:30pm CST at the TBF trailer located at the Red River South Marina 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.
“Shreveport-Bossier is proud and excited to host the SAF Louisiana High School Fishing State Championship series for the second year in a row,” Vice President of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, Kelly Wells, stated. “The Red River is a lively place to fish and the Red River South Marina is a top notch facility. Our area embraces competitive anglers fishing at all levels!”
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 TBF of Louisiana 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, June 15, 3:30-5pm CST at the conclusion of the TBF Central Division weigh-in at the Red River South Marina, 250 Red River S. Rd, Bossier City, LA, 71112; Mandatory rules briefing to follow at 5pm.
Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, June 16, at the Red River South Marina, 250 Red River S. Rd, Bossier City, LA, 71112. Takeoff is at 6am CST or safe light; the weigh-in begins at 2pm. The tournament waters for this event shall be Red River Pools 3, 4 and 5. Tournament waters shall include the Red River only and pools 3, 4, and 5 only, as well as, all rivers, creeks and canals connecting to the above-mentioned waterway. Any waters within these boundaries posted “Off-limits” or “No Fishing” by State or Federal Agencies will be off-limits. The area at the Red River South Marina (100 yards up-stream and 100 yards down-stream) extending 200 yards off shore and to include the areas known as Cowley’s Lake on pool #5 and Steven’s Lake in Pool #4 will be off-limits. There will be no fishing allowed above the Highway 2 Bridge on Pool #5. All Arkansas waters are off-limits. Any live-bass-release areas established by the Tournament Director will be off-limits as well. Questions? alex@highschoolfishing.org or 580-765-9031
Host Hotel: Days Inn Bossier City, 200 John Wesley Blvd., Bossier City, LA, 71112. Rooms with double beds are offered for anglers and their families at a discounted rate of $50 plus tax. The Days Inn is located seven miles from the Red River South Marina. Call 318.742.9200 and ask for the SAF Louisiana High School State Championship discounted rate. Book your rooms early to ensure availability!
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.
