Braving what was to be a cold and wet day, 26 High School Anglers hit the water as they competed in the second of four qualifying events sponsored by the Central Texas High School Tournament Trail. At the conclusion of the National Anthem, on Sunday the 8^th of March, 13 teams were launched into a cold, rainy morning in the hopes of putting together a pattern that would put a limit of fish in their livewells.  With low lake levels, and a colder then normal spring, the bite on Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir was sure to be tough. As weigh-in time approached and teams heading to the scales with their days catch, 7 of the 13 managed to put fish in their boat. After all the fish had been weighed the team of Cole Laxon and Zack Wilson of Belton High School topped the field with a 3 fish sack totaling 5.16lbs. Coming in 2^nd was the team of Hunter Garrett and Justin Tatum from Salado High School, with a 2 fish sack totaling 5.08lbs. The teams big bass was a nice 3.10lbs Smallmouth. Holding on to take the 3^rd spot was the team of  Cody Barchenger and Ethan Ochoa from Thrall High School with a 2 fish sack weighting 4.24lbs. This is Cody’s and Ethan’s second top 3 finishes. Big Bass honors went the Nathan Price from Ellison High School with a nice 3.38lbs Largemouth. All of the days catches were released alive to fight again another day. The Central Texas High School Tournament Trail’s next event will be on the 4^th of April and will have these young anglers once again putting their skills to the test on Lake Belton. The Central Texas High School Tournament Trail staff would like to thank all it’s sponsors, the boat captains and the anglers that make this all possible.

Eight College teams and two area High Schools participated in the IFA College/High School Red Fish tournament in Punta Gorda Florida. The weather conditions and wily Red Fish proved to be quite a challenge for the 10 teams as no one was able to bring a slot limit Red to the scales in the second event offered by the IFA and SAF.

With a stiff 25 mph NE wind and unfavorable tides blowing most of the water out of Charlotte Harbor teams found themselves scrambling to get into the shallow pockets and then trying to get out before the tide left them stranded with low water conditions. Saturday’s IFA Pro Tournament had the same issues with only 25% of the 100 boat field weighing in fish for the day.

All ten interscholastic teams reported catching fish that included good reports of Snook which are a terrific game fish in their own right, but finding Red’s in the 18” to 27” slot proved to be a mystery for the teams.

The IFA treated all of the participating teams with a great selection of merchandise as they continue with their mission of working with the Student Angler Federation to build the saltwater side of High School and College Fishing.

Special thanks goes out to IFA Tournament Director Eric Shelby and his staff for once again putting on a great show for these up and coming teams.