Student Angler Federation – Page 190 – High School Fishing

Ben Marczynski and Jason Duvall from Hyde Park High School take the win at the first qualifying event of the FAN HS 2015/16 season with a 5 fish limit weighing 12.04 pounds

The first of three qualifying events for the 2015/16 FAN High School Fishing Series is in the books and with points for the AOY chase, qualifying for the Championship with over $6000 in Scholarship Funds, and the Skeeter Super Six Invitational on the line, winning is a great way to kick off the season. And winning is exactly what the team of Ben Marczynski and Jason Duvall from Hyde Park High School did! Jason fished Lake Belton at the FAN 2013/14 Championship and some ideas about how to fish the lake; however Ben had scouted the lake twice over the past month. They had some fishing spots they wanted to try and, luckily, they worked. They caught a total of 8 fish during the tournament, mostly during mid- morning before it got too hot. “Knowing that Lake Belton can be a pretty tough fishing lake, we thought we could place in the top three but were really excited to actually win the tournament.” Stated Ben Marczynski

“This is our 3rd year fishing with the Hyde Park High School Bass team and competing with the FAN organization. We would like to thank Billy Wright (Hyde Park Leader), and Faith Angler Network for all they do and always putting together well run high school fishing tournaments”

Ben and Jason each received a beautiful trophy and Abu Garcia Vendetta casting rod with an Abu Garcia Black Max reel – Captain Steve Duvall won the Academy Captain Incentive award of a $100 Academy Gift Card – GREAT JOB GUYS….

Earning the second place spot was the team of Cole Jones and Colton Tuck from Academy HS with an
11.68 pound limit including the Kistler Big Bass of 3.95. Captained by Sammy Cole
”We started off pretty close to where weigh in was. Throwing top waters we managed to catch 15 keepers at our starting hole including that 4lb kicker. As the day went on it slowed down but we managed to cull 3 more times after 11 o’clock. The FAN high school series is great and is well worth the time. It’s a good opportunity to be on the water and the competition is definitely there.”Cole stated.
They each took home a Abu Garcia Orra SX Low Profile Casting Rod and Reel Combo and a trophy to add to their collection, in addition to a Kistler Pro Series Rod for Big Bass

Wrapping up the third place position with an 8.76 pound limit was the team of Preston Franke and Sam Curl representing the Texas Bass Academy with Captain Mat Black. ”We started out in the morning fishing spooks in about 16 feet of water along rocky walls over flooded timber. That’s how we got our biggest bass. Then during the day we started throwing Texas rig rage craws in about 16 -20 feet water in flooded timber then we got 2 of our keepers doing that. Then the last part of the day we fished a hump that was only 4ft and we got 2 small mouth throwing Texas rig rage craws again. the FAN trail is my favorite trail to fish they put on an awesome show the stage and all the prizes are amazing I like being around all the people, it’s such a great organization they are always well planned out and organized! “Stated Preston
They each won a large Berkley PowerBait Tackle Bag and a pair of third place trophies.

Wrapping up the top 10 teams:
4 Hunter Vetter – Andrew Kadzis – STBC 8.24
5 Cole Laxson – Zachary Wilson – CenTex 8.22

6 Tanner Vasquez – Cole Moore – TxBA 6.95
7 Tyler Easley – Keller Munroe – CenTex 6.16
8 Gavin Standard – Clayton Harbison – TxBA 6.13
9 Cody Barchenger – Ethan Ochoa – Thrall 5.84
10 Kristopher Green – – James Mills – Rouse 4.52
You can see all the results and photos in the tournament section here
Catch statistics:
Total Teams: 50
Total Fish: 63
Ave. Fish per Team: 1
Ave. Weight per Team: 2.53

This event would not be possible without the volunteers and staff that put everything together, from helping check in, set up, cook hotdogs, launch boats, park trucks, merchandizing and getting it all back into the trailer. Thank you sincerely: Justin Rieger, Skeet Freeman, John Hyndman, Mary Anderson, Brooke Harbison, Ruth Hale, Linda Langlois, Stephanie Cook, and the many others that jumped in that day to assist.

Captain Incentives and Awards
Captains are essential to the success of our High School Fishing program and we are honored to be able to recognize them with some great sponsor products and incentives. Winning the Academy Sports and Outdoors Captain Drawing $100 gift card was Landon Vetter. Winning the Berkley Captain Drawing for a Berkley Power Battery Pack – $49.00 Values. Winning the SuperNova Captain Drawing for a SuperNova Nav Kit – $89.00 Value was Tandi Rutledge

We would like to thank all of our 2015/15 Sponsors and Supporters and ask that you give them a chance to earn your business when the opportunity arises.

Faith Angler Network is a 501©3 non-profit organization serving the Central Texas Area with Youth Fishing Events/ Charity Events/ Military Supported and Awareness Events/ Professional Run Bass Tournaments. For more information please visit our Website or Facebook

Easthall High School Edges out Hazel Green For SE Conference Championship

The team of Tristan Thomas and Dakota Crumly from East Hall High School in Georgia put together a solid five fish limit that weighed 12lb 3oz to eke out the South East Conference Championship.

The duo narrowly slipped past Alabama’s Hazel/Green High School team of Zeke Gosset and Ryan Shields who also brought in a full limit of fish that weighed in at 12lb 2oz to claim the runner-up spot. These two teams will lead a five team contingent of anglers from the SE Conference on to the High School National Championship next spring.

Rounding out the National Championship Contenders was the third place team of Blake Stephenson and Tyler Mathews from Evans High School in Georgia who brought in a limit that was just off the pace at 11lb 15oz to punch their ticket to the spring championship as well. The final two positions were claimed by a pair of South Carolina Schools as Daelyn Whaley and Carter McNeil from Abbeville High School tied for 4th place with the Berkley High School team of Eric Glenn and Nathan Mcpherson. Both teams had a limit of fish that weighed 11lb 7oz to wrap up the final two qualifying positions.

Just missing the cut and finishing in sixth place was Kentucky’s Madisonville North Hopkins High School team of Alex Tomblinson and Hunter Purdy who had a limit that weighed 11lb 2oz.
“We concentrated on fishing blowdowns almost all day” stated both Thomas and Crumly. “We used a shaky head with a Reaction Innovation green pumpkin worm to catch almost all of our fish. When asked what the key to their success was in winning the championship both anglers agreed that their belief in god and the support of their family and friends carried them throughout the day.
Fifty one teams from eight states qualified from their respective state championships or through five TBF/FLW National Opens to the Lake Lanier event which was hosted once again by the terrific staff at Gainesville Tourism. Ten percent of the qualifying field earned the opportunity to advance to the National Championship where a $10,000 scholarship awaits the winners. The location of that event will be announced shortly as the final two TBF/FLW regional events will take place in October.
Special thanks go out to the Georgia Bass Federation and their president Larry Lewis as well as youth directors Bruce Pilgrim and Ronnie White and a host of volunteers who assisted the teams throughout the day.