May 7, 2017

Winthrop, ME – Nearly a week of rain ceased for anglers at the SAF Maine High School Fishing State Championship on Cobbossee Lake. The event qualified a team to the High School Fishing National Championship on Pickwick Lake in Alabama. With water temperatures in the low 50s and strong winds, a tough day was to be expected for all anglers. Cobbossee yielded only one five bass limit to the team of Ben Quist and Josh Erickson-Harris representing Kennebunk High School. Their limit of bass weighed 8.08lbs and earned them a first place finish and an opportunity to advance.

Quist and Erickson-Harris caught all of their fish on a 1.5 square bill crankbait. In second place, the team of Thomas Behen and Reid Lavigne representing Biddeford High School weighed three bass for a total of 7.88lbs. Behen and Lavigne also took big bass honors with a lunker largemouth weighing 5.44lbs.  Considering the tough conditions participants faced, the student-anglers did an exceptional job.  A special thanks to the boat captains who volunteered their time to make this event possible.

FULL RESULTS

Cold temperatures, wind and rain greeted 62 high school teams as they gathered at Cabela’s in Columbus to register for the Ohio High School Fishing State Championship held on May 6.  The weather didn’t seem to dampen their spirits as they bought lures and tackle then woke up early to take on Alum Creek in Galena, Ohio.

Graham Falcon anglers, Rocky & Tanner Jordan, claimed top honors with a limit of bass weighing 11.5 pounds.  Just ounces behind them, was the Oak Hill team of Jalea Caldwell and Collin Hammond with 11.1 pounds.  Taking third, was the Cincinnati SAF team of Alex Redwine and Daniel Hechler with 9.12 pounds.  Fourth and fifth places belonged to Cameron Smith and Jacob Blackburn with 9.3 pounds and Kody Whitaker and Abigail Shade with 7.10 pounds.  The sixth and final qualifying spot was claimed by Shane Smith and Isaac Jeffers with 7.3 pounds.

The top six teams all qualified for the National Championship coming up June 27-July 1 on Lake Pickwick in Florence, Ala.  The National Championship will be held in conjunction with the High School Fishing World Finals.  All teams will register for both events for a chance at double the prizes, payout and awards.

The Lew’s Big Bass Award of two Lew’s Reels went to the Jackson Center Tigers team of Garrett Prenger and Trevor Sosby with a nice 4.5 pound lunker.

Some of the best baits used during this event were jigs, squarebill crankbaits, drop shots and Ned Rigs.

For full tournament results CLICK HERE and to see all the photos CLICK HERE.