Day 2 of High School World Finals, Walker Brothers Continue to Pace the Field

As in anything in life, to be a world champion is not an easy task, you have to preform every time and every day. One mistake, one missed step, missed shot or missed hook set, could cost you the title. World Champions give it there all every day, every time, with no excuses.

Hardin County High School anglers Cort and Cole Walker are on a World Championship pace as they brought in another solid limit of Pickwick Bass today and continue to lead the field in the 2016 High School World Finals at McFarland Park in Florence Alabama. Their 5 fish limit of 15lb 5oz gave them a two day total of 41 lbs. 12 oz. which sets them solidly atop the 184 boat field. That weight advances them into tomorrow’s semi-final round which takes off at 5:30am tomorrow (Friday) morning.

In the High School Fishing World Finals format the top two teams from each state after the initial two days move into the semi-final round while all the other competitors continue to compete as well in a second chance consolation round. At the end of the day tomorrow the top ten semi-final weights will automatically advance to Saturday’s Final round. There they will be joined by the next ten heaviest weights which could come from the semi-final or the consolation round. The weights are zeroed before tomorrow’s action starts so it is still anybody’s game.

Moving up the leader board on day two was another Tennessee duo as Dylan Dunnagan and Caleb Baggett brought in a very nice 22lb 5oz limit of fish to spring into the runner-up spot overall and claim the second semi-final berth for Tennessee. Their two day total of 35lb 12oz has them second overall as well.

Nick Wynne and Kile Baker from Alabama also made a big move day as they brought limit that proved to be the day’s heaviest bag at 23lb 12oz. They claimed a semi-final round qualifying spot and a good confidence builder with a total weight of 33lb 13oz.

Zane Loveday and Quinton Dorough from the Chelsea High School Hornet Fishing team stayed very consistent with their effort. After catching 15lb 8oz on day one they came right back with a 16lb 12 oz effort today to wrap up the second qualifying spot in the semi-final round and fourth overall with their two day total of 32lb 4oz.

Rounding out the top five after the two day slug fest was the team of Hunter Muncrief and Landen McCary from West Sabine Texas. They also remained consistent with their 15lb 12oz bag and a two day total of 31lb 13oz. They also advanced in to the semi-final round as the top team from Texas.

Friday is what National Youth Director Mark Gintert calls “Judgement Day” Gintert went on to explain it this way . “This format gives all the competitors from every state a great opportunity to spend two equal days on the water. But regardless of whether you have advanced to the semi-final or are fishing in the consolation round, Friday is the day that you absolutely must catch fish to advance to Saturday’s Final round”!

Day three action begins at 5:30am at McFarland Park with the consolation round weigh-in starting at 1:00pm and the Semi-Final Round action starting at 2:30pm.

Deja vu,

Limits abound with over half the field bringing in a five fish limit.Deja vu

At Tuesday nights registration another record crowd, we handed out all 1500 wrist bands we had printed( and had to borrow more locally!) for Friday nights pizza party scheduled for the nearly 600 participants (2 anglers, boat captains per team) and their family attending the week long world finals event from 22 states. Deja vu.

And for the second year in a row, the day 1 weigh in concluded with brothers Cole and Court Walker pacing the opening day field at beautiful Pickwick Lake in Florence Alabama. The pair from Tennessee’s Hardin County High school brought in a five fish limit that rocked the McFarland Park weigh-in stage with a 26lb 7oz effort to secure the top day 1 spot amidst the field.

Right behind them was Nathan Stamper and John Lusk from Columbus Christian Academy in Indiana. Their limit tipped in at 21lb 2oz to hold down the runner-up position. Their bag was anchored by a 9lb 1oz Pickwick whopper that was also the day’s biggest bass and currently leads the Lew’s Big bass award.

Claiming the number three spot was Blayke Haggard and Kolby Frazier from Oklahoma.

Their limit weighed 16lb 15oz to edge out Lawrence County Tennessee’s Drey Long and Austin Clanton who brought in a 16lb 14oz bag that has them sitting in the fourth position.

Rounding out the top five was the duo of Logan Parks and Lucas Lindsay from Auburn Alabama. Their limit tipped in at 16lb 4oz for the day.

In the most unique format if all of tournament fishing and patterned after most other high school sports tournaments, the top two teams from each state advance on to Friday’s semi-final competition while the rest of the field drops into a consolation round in an attempt to fish their way to Saturday’s 21 team final round.

Day two of the four day event will kick off at 5:30am tomorrow at McFarland Park. Weigh in begins promptly at 1:30 pm and is free to the public.

For full standings check out the results page HERE