PONCA CITY, Okla. (Dec. 3, 2014) – The Bass Federation (TBF) and affiliated Student Angler Federation (SAF) announce that the prestigious High School Fishing World Finals will make a venue change in 2015 to Florence, Ala., on the legendary Pickwick Reservoir, following a successful five-year inaugural run for the event at Arkansas’ Lake Dardanelle.
The 2015 championship, July 6 – 11, is expected to again draw more than 100 teams from as many as 25 states, bringing together the best of the best in high school fishing.
HIgh school anglers from as many as 25 states are expected to be among the more than 100 teams competing in the 2015 High School Fishing World Finals, with the July 6-11 event to be hosted for the first time by Florence, Ala., and PIckwick Lake. (Click to view/download image)
“Florence/Lauderdale Tourism is very excited to bring the Student Angler Federation and its World Finals event to our area,” said Suzie Shoemaker, sports marketing coordinator for the tourism group. “The education and experience these young people receive through bass fishing is helping to shape them into incredible young adults. We are thrilled to have them and their families coming to our great city, and the summer event can’t get here fast enough for us!”
TBF National Youth Director Mark Gintert agrees that Florence offers a great new venue for the SAF event.
“First, I’d like to recognize Russellville, Ark., for the their wonderful role in helping us build our High
School Fishing program into what it has become; they were terrific hosts,” said Gintert. “We see Florence continuing the momentum, serving up the ideal middle-of-the-country location and the iconic fishing setting of Pickwick Lake. The tourism team has been a great group to work with and they are genuinely interested in bringing family-oriented events to their city. Our family-focused event is a perfect fit.”
High School Fishing’s World Finals present one of the most unique and fair formats found in competitive fishing today. It is designed to give every team an equal chance to advance to Saturday’s final round of 21 teams.
Competition begins with anglers competing over the first two days against others from their own states. The top
two teams from each state then advance on to the semi-final round on day three.
Those who did not qualify for the semi-finals are placed
in a consolation round with yet another chance to still make it to the final day, much like how double elimination baseball tournaments work.
“Our kids are coming here to fish and we’re giving them a couple of different ways to make it all the way. Regardless of where a team finishes, everybody enjoys their time during championship week,” Gintert added.
Online registration for the 2015 championship opens January 15 at www.highschoolfishing.org. Additional details about the event and future updates can also be found on the same web site.
Twelve schools fished in the second tournament in a series for the inaugural year of the conference. Forty-two boat teams battled through windy forty degree temperatures to claim be number one. Fighting through a dramatic change of weather twenty teams weighed in fish. Despite boat problems which limited their time to fish, Michael Mahony and Braxton Benoit (boat captain Ken Mahony) of College Park won with four bass weighing 10.5 pounds. HHFC continues to grow with additional high schools from Willis, Magnolia, Cy-Woods, Hargrave, Shepherd, and Huffman. In their first tournament at Lake Conroe 33 boats from six different schools represent the field. Chris Talley and Stephen Davis of Splendora brought the first place trophy home with an astonishing 19.5 pounds. Chris Tally also landed the big bass of the day with 6.98 lbs. Following up in second place from The Woodlands High School Grant Davis and Connor Whisenant brought in five fish weighing 13.85 pounds. Find official results or to join check out their website @hhfconference.org.
