Hunter Curry and Josh Russell

Hunter Curry and Josh Russell put together two very consistent days of fishing with 16lb 3oz sack on day one and backed that up with a limit of fish that tipped in at 17lb 7oz for a two day total of 33lb 10oz to win the final TBF/FLW Open event of the season. The win secured the pair a spot in the Southern Conference Regional Championship at Pine Bluff Arkansas in October.

“We used a combination of Senco’s and Rage Craws up in the tree tops and brush to catch most of our fish” stated Curry who will be a junior this coming year at Broaddus High School. “We moved around quite a bit today but we had one spot that held most of our bigger fish” cited Russell who has just recently graduated from Broaddus and will head out to serve our country in the Military in a few weeks. This is my last High School Tournament and it feels good to go out with a win added elder member of the winning team.

Eli Dinger and Stephan Thomas

Finishing in second and also advancing on to Regional Competition was the team of Eli Dinger and Stephan Thomas from Colmesnail High School who had 30lb 11oz to finish second.

Finishing third and claiming the final Regional qualifying spot was the team of Logan Chaney and Mathew Myers from David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy who had 28lb 2oz of Sam Rayburn Bass.

Rounding out the top five were Breeann Sparks and Derek Clark from Buna High School who had a two day total of 26lb 12oz to claim the number 4 spot. Thomas Vardeman and Zaryon Price who also hail from Broaddus High School claimed the Number 5 spot with a very respectable 25lb 5oz bag.

Sam Rayburn Top Five Teams

The Lew’s Big Bass winners of the event were caught by the team of Chaney and Mathews and Curry and Russell who both had a pair of 7lb plus beauties to win a pair of Lew’s Bait Caster Reels.

The American Legion proved to be a terrific sponsor for the event as they proudly displayed the Honor and Remember Traveling tribute to fallen Soldiers from the state of Texas.

A special thanks goes out to Terry Sympson, the owner of Jackson Hill Marina, who hosted the Friday night registration meeting as well as teaming up with Chuck Phillips and a  great group of local volunteers to auctioned off merchandise for scholarship prizes as well as providing tackle packages for the top teams.

COMPLETE RESULTS

High School teams participating at the recent Potomac Open/Virginia State Championship on the Potomac River near LaPlatta Maryland enjoyed viewing the new products and techniques offered by Erin Divelbiss and Blaine Anderson of the Shimano Tackle Company. The pair spent the entire evening with the anglers while demonstrating a host of new products.

Jordon Mazza and his partner Richard Wellhouse used a little local lake knowledge to win the 2015 TBF/FLW Open Championship at Smallwood State Park in La Platta Maryland.

1st Jordon Mazza and Richard Wellhouse

Jordon who is going to be a senior next fall at Potomac High said they mainly used a swim jig in the grassy areas to catch most of their fish. He added that they used a wide variety of colors but the darker baits seemed to be a little more effective.  “Although we only got to pre-fish a couple of days, this river is basically our home water so we are glad we did well here “stated Mazza.“We would catch a few and then they would shut off” added Wellhouse who just recently graduated. “I think our two biggest keys to success were sticking with the swim jig and paying attention to the tide” offered Wellhouse as the two tried to get a little relief from the high heat and ultra-high humidity that blanketed the area.

The pair will lead a three team contingency from Virginia to the Northern Conference Regional Championship in September on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.

2nd Bradley Gauldin and Austin Carter

Finishing just a tick off of the lead and also advancing on to the Conference Championship was the duo of Bradley Gauldin and Austin Carter from Chatham High School.  They also had a 5 fish limit that weighed 12lbs 1oz to narrowly miss the title and finish second.
Claiming the third qualifying berth was the team of Christopher Butler and Brian Thomas from Brentsville District High School who also had a limit that tipped in at 11lb 14oz to finish third.

Rounding out the top five were Jacob Siggers and Logan Reynolds from Partick County High School who had 10lb 5oz bag to finish fourth and Jacob Lambert and Kile Quick from Broadway High and Stuarts Draft High School who had 10lb 3oz on a five fish limit.

3rd Christopher Butler and Brian Thomas

Special thanks go out to Erin Divelbiss and Blaine Anderson from the Shimano Experience Team and the FLW Outdoor staff of AC and Lisa Campbell and Brad Callahan as well as several other local volunteers.

COMPLETE RESULTS