PONCA CITY, Okla. (March 16, 2016) – The Bass Federation (TBF), with our “Partner in Fishing” at FLW, announces the 2016 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Arizona High School State Championship on Saturday, April 23 at the Fishers Landing near Yuma, AZ.

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 6:30pm-7:30pm MST on April 22nd at the Microtel Inn. A rules briefing will immediately follow. Take off is at 6:30am 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.

Arizona State Championship 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, April 22 at 6:30pm-7:30pm at the Microtel Inn near Yuma, AZ.

Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, April 23 at Fishers Landing. Take-off at 6:30am with weigh-in at 2pm. Questions? 580-765-9031

Tournament Waters: Martinez 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!

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PONCA CITY, Okla. (March 14, 2016) – The Bass Federation (TBF), with our “Partner in Fishing” at FLW, announces the 2016 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Mississippi High School State Championship on Saturday, April 23 at the Blue Bluff Ramp near Aberdeen, MS.

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-6:30pm CST on April 22 at the Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Center. A rules briefing will immediately follow. Take off is at 6:30am and the weigh-in will begin at 2:30pm.

“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.

Mississippi 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, April 22 at 5:30pm – 6:30pm at the Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Center near Aberdeen, MS.

Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, April 23 at Blue Bluff Ramp. Take-off at 6:30am with weigh-in at 2:30pm. Questions? 580-765-9031

Tournament Waters: Tenn-Tom Waterway

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!

Jacob Blumling and Coleman Johnson put together an impressive limit weighing 23lbs 6oz to conquer the field Sunday at Clarks Hill Reservoir in Augusta to win the Georgia SAF State Championship.

The pair of smiling anglers used a peanut butter and jelly colored jig, which they threw around rock points all day to catch their winning sack of fish. The strategy certainly payed off; they also netted a 7lb 7oz hog to claim the Lew’s Big Bass Award.

The winners will lead a seven team contingent of anglers at the Southeast Conference Regional Championship in Somerset, Ky., in September.  The top 10% of each State Championship advance to their respective Regional Conference Championships with hopes of advancing to the High School National Championship.

Coming in second, was the team of Dillion Champion and Dalton Roper from Pickens High School with a very respectable limit of bass weighing 17lbs 14oz to claim the runner-up spot.

 Coming in third, was the duo of Sean Walker Lee and Elijah Castleberry from Forsyth Central High School who also had a limit of Clarks Hill beauties that weighed in at 17lbs 10oz. They narrowly beat out Jacob Gordon and Andrew Hasbrouck also from Pickens High who had 17lbs 8oz for the fourth spot.

Rounding out the top seven and also advancing were Ellis Douglas and Parker Guy from Irwin County who nailed down the number five spot with 26lb even. In sixth, were Mathew Jones and Eli Huggins from West Forsyth High School with a limit weighing 15lbs 2oz.  Claiming the last qualifying spot was the team of Grant Ledford and Isaac Colwell from Gilmer High School who had 15lbs even.

Special thanks go out to the Augusta Sports Council and Cabela’s who proved to be terrific hosts for the anglers and their families. The Clarks Hill Bass fishing team also provided a terrific staff of volunteers who helped orchestrate the event.

The SAF State Championship series continues its trek across the country with the Texas State Championship on Sam Rayburn next weekend.

Full Results Click HERE.