Friends Accident Motivates Porter and Jennings to High School Fishing World Finals Championship.

In one of the most exciting finishes in High School Fishing World Finals history, Peyton Porter and Coleton Jennings representing Calloway and Marshal County High Schools in Western Kentucky came from behind to win the most coveted crown in all of High School Fishing. The pair dedicated winning their world Champions titles to a former teammate Dalton Cooksey, who now fishes the FLW Tour and who was injured in a car accident just one week ago. “We made it our goal to try and go out and win this for Dalton” stated Jennings. He is one of my best friends and we are just thrilled we were able to get it done!

Qualifying for the final day by finishing second in the consolation round the team went out as  boat #12 and the Kentucky pair made a long run to the far end of Pickwick Lake. Once at their spot they threw a variety of baits to catch an impressive 26lb 3oz limit of bass. That put them squarely in the McFarland Park Stage “Hot Seat” where they had to watch the remainder of the contestant weigh-in one by one to see if they could hold onto the top spot.

Then it came down to the last team of the event to weigh in, it was their biggest obstacle of the entire event in the form of the Walker Brothers from Hardin County High School who had been on fire all week. Cole and Cort had led each of the first three days with impressive sacks of fish and they would not disappoint the crowd on this day either.

The overflow crowd grew silent as the Walker brothers weight of 23lb 6oz locked in on the scales and was officially called. That weigh took less than a second to settle in with the crowd and ignited a cheering frenzy from the Kentucky contingency who had made the drive down from Western KY to watch Porter and Jennings compete. The Walker Brother gracious both congratulated Porter and Jennings and stated that they two teams had become friends over the last couple of years and added “If they couldn’t win they were happy to see them take the honors.”

Coming in third with an equally impressive sack was the team of Luke Glasscow and Gavin Hays from Alabama’s Marion County High School. They had a limit that tipped in at 20lb 14oz.

Finishing just behind them was the team of Wesley Holt and Colby Miller from Oak Hill High School in Louisiana. Their limit weighed 18lbs 10oz to claim the number 4 spot in the event.

Just three ounces behind was the team of Isaac Duncan and Jack Kelly from Mississippi’s North Pike Fishing team. Their sack weighed 18lb 7oz to round out the top five.

Special thanks go out to the City of Florence Alabama and the Lauderdale County Extension Office for once again being a terrific host for the event which saw teams from 22 different states travel to the scenic river town which has a terrific music history as well as a wide array of family attractions.

The Florence Fire and Rescue boat also provided an invaluable service in getting anglers with engine trouble off the water during the event.

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