Wyatt Gabehart and Eli Ward won the 2023 West Virginia High School State Championship on Sutton Lake in April Wyatt and Eli had a five fish limit that weighed 10.01 pounds. Mason Grose and Sailor Mckinney came in second with 8.69 pounds. And in 3rd place was Simon and Grace Inboden with 6.09 pounds.

The 2023 Missouri State Championship was held on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Representing De Smet Jesuit High School was Mitch Geiser and Danny Swallow. Mitch and Danny had the only five fish limit of the day. Their five fish weighed 12 pounds 13 ounces and put them in first place. They will be advancing to the 14th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship on the Mississippi River in LaCrosse, WI. Kolton Dauber and Skyler Hutzler from School of the Osage came in second place with 12 pounds 3 ounces. And in third place was Camdenton High School team of Caden Kowal and Caston Embry. They had 8 pounds 10 ounces.

The 13 Teams of Highschool Anglers arrived to find a much different weather pattern than what they practiced in. During practice the weather was sunny with highs in the mid 80’s. On Championship day it was overcast, windy with occasional rain and 45 degrees. This however did not affect the Smallmouth bite as the fish were moving up to spawn.

Eleven teams brought fish to the scales  with six Teams bringing in a limit of Bass. When the rain had cleared only two pounds separated 1st and 5th. The Team of Joshua Smith and Landon Ray came out on top with a limit of Bass weighing 15.60lbs. They also had big fish of the tournament at 3.67lbs. In 2nd place was the Team of Konnor Sweet and Blaine Miller with 14.45lbs followed closely by the 3rd place Team of Brock Sawyer and Landon Nixon with 14.08lbs.

The Teams brought 40 Bass to the scales collectively and because of the great care they provided the fish throughout the day all fish were released alive.