2016 Kentucky High School State Championship April 10 on Lake Cumberland

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PONCA CITY, Okla. (February 29, 2016) – The Bass Federation (TBF), with our “Partner in Fishing” at FLW, announces the 2016 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Kentucky High School State Championship on Sunday, April 10 at the Conley Bottom Marina near Monticello, KY.

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 4pm-5:30pm EST on April 9 at the Conley Bottom Marina. A rules briefing will immediately follow. Take off is at 7am and the weigh-in will begin at 3pm.

“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.

Kentucky 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: Saturday, April 9 at 4pm-5:30pm at the Conley Bottom Marina near Monticello, KY.

Takeoff & Weigh-in: Sunday, April 10 at Conley Bottom Marina. Take-off at 7am with weigh-in at 3pm. Questions? 580-765-9031

Tournament Waters: Lake Cumberland

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!

Shimano Invites YOU to a Bowling Party! Are going to be in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday, March 4?

Are going to be in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday, March 4?

Are You a High School, College, or Junior Age Angler?

Then, put on your best SAF fishing jersey and come to the Bowling Party!

YOU are invited to a PARTY by some of the great sponsors of the Student Anglers Federation (SAF)! You MUST RSVP space is LIMITED so do not delay! This private party will be located at Andy B’s in Tulsa.  There will be a private VIP area just for guests. There will be a few raffles as well as a large giveaway at the end!

Shimano will be giving each angler a Welcome bag, thanking them for coming to our gathering! This will be a fun night for all so……

bowlingYou MUST RSVP soon to amy.lee@Shimano.com to attend SPACE IS LIMITED!

Chesnee Eagles win 2016 South Carolina Early Bird Open

CHECKOUT THE WINNERS ON THE WATER FISH CATCHING VIDEO FOOTAGE!  LINK BELOW !

Zack Roberts and Chase Botts from the Chesnee Eagle Fishing club were the first anglers to weigh-in at Green Pond Landing in Anderson, S.C. on Sunday. The smiling pair posted a five fish limit weighing 17lbs, which was enough to lead wire to wire for the win on Lake Hartwell. Their winning bag was anchored by a 4lb 5oz beauty; not quite enough to win the Lew’s Big Bass award, but certainly enough to propel the team to victory.

SC Early Bird Champions“I threw a Berkley #7 Bad Shad almost all day,” Botts, who is a junior at Chesnee, said. “I slow-rolled it over the rocks to catch most of my fish.”

Roberts, who is a senior this year, used an Alabama Rig, which he also slow-rolled most of the day to catch his fish. “I think we caught seven largemouths and nine or ten stripers, which just kept us hoping.”

When asked what the key to their success was against 78 boats hailing from four states they simultaneously said, “staying focused on the fish we found.”

The duo will lead the second and third place teams from this event that also advance to the South Eastern Conference Regional Championship September 17 on Lake Cumberland in Somerset, Ky.

Hunter Harrison and Oakley Connor from the Travelers Rest Devil Dog Anglers had a five fish limit weighing 13lbs 13oz to punch their ticket to the fall event that will host the State Champions and National Open qualifiers from the SAF’s largest conference. The Travelers Rest teams have been on a roll in the first two events of the season. Jacob Smith and Daniel Clark from Traveler’s Rest won the Florida Open in January and now Harrison and Connor claimed the runner-up spot to advance.

SC RunnerupDaelyn Whaley and Drake Boyd from the Abbeville Panthers Fishing team grabbed the third and final qualifying spot with four fish weighing 12lbs 3oz. Whaley will be making her second trip to the Fall Conference event but with a new partner in Boyd who replaced a graduated, Carter McNeil.

Rounding out the top five were Cy Casey and Tanner Hadden from Greenbrier High School with a limit that tipped in at 11lb 8oz and Hunter McKee and Ryan Zayonce from the Backwoods Bass team in North Carolina with 11lb 2oz.

SC Lews Big Bass WinnersFinishing just out of the top five were Grant Leford and Issac Colwell from the Gilmer Fishing team who claimed the Lew’s Big Bass award with a 5lb 9oz beauty to win two Speed Spool reels provided by Lew’s.

The Visit Anderson CVB, under the direction of Neil Paul, once again set up a terrific event while Cabela’s hosted an exciting evening registration for the anglers, coaches and families at their facility in Greenville.

The SAF State Championship series continues with the Florida and Georgia State Championships while the third of five National Opens heads to Murray State University for the Kentucky Lake Open on March 12.

Cabela's ShotFor full results CLICK HERE

Winning teams on the water footage CLICK HERE