High School Anglers from all across the state of Kentucky, gathered at Burnside Island State Park to crown a Champion for the 2022 SAF KY Championship.  As usual, for events in the early spring, the weather could play a big role in the success of the anglers, and this event was no different.  Warmer weather than usual had been the pattern most of the week until we rolled into town on Friday morning.  As the weekend came around, the sun went away and the artic north winds came down with a vengeance.  Temperatures hovered in the low forties and the wind chills were even lower.  Never-the-less a group of one hundred and eighty-six teams hit the lake at daylight in search of the winning limit of fish.

Several good limits crossed the scales that afternoon, and the Wayne County team of Dylan Southwood and Kendall Neal found the biggest limit with a weight of 15 pounds and 14 ounces to claim the title.  Just a few ounces behind them were the Rockcastle team of Sean Cash and Christian Larkey with 15 pounds and an ounce.  The Collins Titan team of Travis Greene and Tyler Hammond took third with 14-08 pounds.  Finishing fourth and fifth were the teams of Chanler and Landon Brake with 13-12 and Bryce McDonald and Ethan Elliott with 13-11.

The Lew’s Big Bass Award was a three-way tie with each team having a 4-01 lunker.  Blake Conrad and Jayden Reed along with Landon Day and Dylan McLaren, then Matt and JB Detzel went into a tiebreaker.  The tiebreaker was the most live fish weighed and that went to Landon Day and Dylan McLaren.  They received two Lew’s Reels for their efforts.  Not wanting any of the other teams to be left out, the Lew’s Rep was on hand with their promotional trailer and he invited the other two teams over to the trailer and made sure they each had a prize pack of Lew’s Goodies for their catch as well.  A nice gesture by the folks at Lew’s.

Spinnerbaits by far was what most of the teams were catching their fish on.  ATHey fished them anywhere from two feet out to about ten feet of water, along bluff walls, brushpiles, fallen timer and chunk rock banks.  Other good baits mentioned were, crankbaits, jerkbaits, small swimbaits, jigs and rattletraps.

For full Results and all photos of this event CLICK HERE.

The Championship event for the GISA and GAPPS anglers was held on West Point Lake at Pyne Road Park on March 19^th.  All of the qualified anglers from the three previous qualifying events came to participate.  Heavy rain and strong storms greeted the anglers on Friday as the system dumped a couple inches of rain during the day.  Anglers were still excited to get out on the water on Saturday and most teams brought fish to the scales that afternoon.

Conner Gisler and Luke Abel, from Lafayette Christian School, took home the title of Champions as they weighed in a limit that weighed 9 pounds and 11 ounces.  In a close second was another Lafayette Christian School team of Garrett Cromer and Paul Batastini with 9pounds and two ounces.  The Rock Springs Christian Academy team of Cal Johnston and Haynes Fleming finished third with 8-05.  Fourth and fifth went to Mitchell Dean and Will Green with 8-00 and Camron Outler and Greer Posey with 6-15.

Three pounds and nine ounces took Big Bass Honors by the team of Cal Johnston and Haynes Fleming.  Most all anglers were fishing fairly shallow.  Teams said they caught most of their fish in less than five feet of water.  Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits were all good bait choices.

As the winners of this event, Conner Gisler and Luke Abel earned a berth into the upcoming SAF High School National Championship at Pickwick later this summer.  This year’s World Finals and National Championship will be held on June 19-25 at Florence, Alabama at McFarland Park.

Final Results and Photos from this event can be found by clicking HERE.

A large group of two hundred and twenty-three teams gathered at West Point at the GHSA third qualifying event on March 19^th.  The goal is trying to qualify for the year-end Championship at Clarks Hill Lake on May 14^th.  Even after storms and a lot of rain, the anglers still managed to catch quite a few fish.

The Trion High School team of Andrew Melton and Joseph Willingham rose to the top and claimed victory with a nice limit that weighed 16 pounds and 10 ounces.  Jacob Hodge and Henry Garrett from Greenbrier High School finished second with 12-15.  The ladies team of Madison Hawkins and Sophia Lee finished in third with 11-14.

Rounding out the top five was Kason Ingram and Kevin Miller with 11-09 and Rondal Garrett and Steven Phillips with 11-08.

The Big Bass award went to Tucker Gill and Kalix Holmes for their 6-01 lunker.  Numerous teams reported catching fish up shallow.  Most were fishing rocky banks or around docks.  Ned Rigs, Shakey Heads, jigs, chatterbaits and rattle traps were all catching fish.

The last qualifier for the GHSA will take place on April 16^th at Lake Lanier out of Laurel Park.  For all the Results from this event click HERE.  To see all the photos from take-off and weigh in, just click HERE.