PONCA CITY, Okla. (April 25, 2016) – The Bass Federation (TBF), with our “Partner in Fishing” at FLW, announces the 2016 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Tennessee High School State Championship on Saturday, June 4 at the Lonas Young Park near LaFollette, TN.

The state championship is a two person event for students in grades 9-12. Each team can have one member in 7th or 8th grade, if needed. All teams should pre-register online for high school events at HighSchoolFishing.org to avoid onsite late fees. Each team and their “coach,” who provides the boat they compete in, will need to check in at 5:30pm 7pm EST on June 3 at the Campbell County High School. A rules briefing will immediately follow. Take off is at 6am and the weigh-in will begin at 2pm.

“TBF and our partners in fishing at FLW are the only organizations to offer a state championship in every state and Canada,” TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, stated. “There’s no question our State Championship Series provides the foundation to make SAF the largest high school fishing organization in North America.”

The top 10% of each 2016 State Championship event advances to a FLW/TBF Conference Regional Championship. The top 10% from the Conference Regional events advance to the FLW/TBF High School National Championship to compete for the top team prize of a $10,000 scholarship. As an added bonus, national championship teams will compete out of new Ranger Boats provided for them, along with paid hotel accommodations and other perks. The final day weigh-in will take place on the FLW main stage in front of a live FLW Tour stop!

Go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation and to sign up for events. If you’re not a 2016 SAF member, annual cost is $25 year. Pay in advance or register for an event online and pay then. There are no entry fees as long as you enter your active/paid SAF membership number at the time of registration!
SAF membership includes full TBF and FLW competitor membership benefits, FLW Magazine e- Edition, online training programs and full insurance coverage for clubs, officers and student members.

In addition to State Championships, SAF National OPENs and other events held across the nation will advance the top 3 teams to their Conference Regional Championships. All SAF members automatically qualify to compete in the pinnacle of all high school events, the 2016 High School Fishing World Finals for thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes each year. The World Finals format allows anglers to test their skills against high school anglers from across the nation at a week-long family vacation event, which will be held in Florence, Alabama on Pickwick Reservoir, June 28-July 2. This no entry fee, come one, come all mega event gives every high school team a shot at the sports top prizes and honors.

State Championship Event Details:

Sign-up: Pre-register online at HighSchoolFishing.org or a $25 late registration fee can apply to those registering onsite. The best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org. Just enter your active SAF membership number during online SAF event registration.

Mandatory Check-in: Friday, June 3 at 5:30pm 7pm at the Campbell County High School near LaFollette, TN.

Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, June 4 at Lonas Young Park. Take-off at 6am with weigh-in at 2pm. Questions? 580-765-9031

Please ask for the TN State High School Championship Fishing Tournament Rate.

Please call the numbers and not online booking.

Hotel Information: Holiday Inns & Suites – $79.99 Address: 154 John McGhee Blvd, Caryville, TN 37714          Phone: (865) 221-8002

Hampton Inn Address: 4459 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Caryville, TN 37714 Phone: (423) 562-9888

Tournament Waters: Norris Lake

About FLW: FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2015 over the course of 240 tournaments across five tournament circuits, four of which provide an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world. For more information about FLW visit FLWFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About The Bass Federation: The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook!

Twenty-eight teams traveled from all over the state to launch from Aberdeen Marina for the 2016 Mississippi High School State Championship.  The teams with smiles on their faces and anticipations high went to work to catch five bass limits in what would prove to be a tough day on the water.

The weigh-in showed just how difficult the day would be as most of the anglers came to the scales with only 1-2 fish to be weighed.  The tournament waters only gave up one 5 fish limit and three, 4 fish bags.

Even though the final outcome was in their favors, champions, Parker Humble and Kody White, had a tougher day than most out there.  They lost the lower unit of their boat around 7am before they made it to their first stop.   They were able to find a replacement boat with lots of help from the boat captain and were able to set out to finish the day.  Despite the odds, Humble and White managed to bring the only five fish limit to the scales, which weighed 13lbs 1oz weighted by a 4lb 6oz lunker.

The second place team and regional qualifiers, were Brock Kennedy and Tyler Murray, with four fish weighing 8lbs 14oz.  Paul Swan and Gaibe Bean took third place with a bag of four fish that weighed 8lbs 9oz.

The City of Aberdeen pulled out all the stops for the anglers from the championship banquet to the great facilities provided for the launch and weigh in; the anglers definitely felt special at a well-ran event.

For full results click HERE!