Meridian HS Team Brown & Gates Crowned Illinois State Champs

Illinois State Champs Brown & Gates of Meridian High School

Illinois State Champs Brown & Gates of Meridian High School

Mt. Vernon, IL, 6/4/11 – The inaugural Student Angler Federation Illinois High School Fishing State Championship was held June 4 at Rend Lake, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, at the Marcum South Boat Ramp. The state championship was a two person team event for students in grades 9 -12. It was open for all high school anglers and their “coach,” who provided provide the boat they competed in. Together, the teams can bring in a 5 bass limit between the two anglers.

Meridian High School Hawks Anglers Jacob Brown and Kyle Gates were victorious and were named the 2011 SAF Illinois High School Fishing State Champions. Together, they brought in a limit of 5 bass that weighed 12.47 lbs. “Early in the morning, we started off trying to flip the brush and it was going a little slow for us, so we went out deeper and started Carolina Riggin’ the flooded points and that’s where we caught most of our fish at the end of the day,” Gates stated. The anglers culled about 15 fish and kept their heaviest five. For bringing in 5 fish that were alive, the team won a bag of baits with TBF Sponsor Berkley’s program called ‘Five Alive’. Continue reading

Future Fisherman Foundation & The Bass Federation Join Forces

McLean, V.A. (May 31, 2011)—In light of difficulties raising much-needed funding to support its programs, the Future Fisherman Foundation (F3) has sought and found a new home with The Bass Federation (TBF), Inc. of Ponca City, Okla.  Since 1968, the Federation has been recognized as the oldest and largest organized broad-based, independent, grassroots organization in bass fishing. After weeks of discussion, F3’s board of directors and the leadership of TBF approved the merger, which will ensure important F3 programs such as Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) continue to be available for educators and youth throughout the U.S. The transfer of all F3’s assets to TBF will take place immediately. Continue reading

Rockwall-Heath High School Anglers Win Texas State Championship

Registration at Cabela's of Allen, TX

May 21, 2011, ALLEN, TX – Registration on Friday night was a drencher, but thankfully it was indoors! Storms rolled through the area as all the Texas High School State Championship anglers gathered in the conference room at the brand new Cabela’s in Allen, Texas. Several anglers from all over the state of Texas registered to fish the inaugural event held on Lake Lavon. Approximately sixteen different schools were represented. Marble Falls High School Fishing Club brought the most teams with six. Willis High School Fishing club brought three teams. Many teams came from as far south as Houston to compete in this first ever state championship. Continue reading