Melton and Willingham Win GHSA Qualifier on West Point

A large group of two hundred and twenty-three teams gathered at West Point at the GHSA third qualifying event on March 19th.  The goal is trying to qualify for the year-end Championship at Clarks Hill Lake on May 14th.  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 16th 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.

Gideon and Pearson win State Championship on Columbus Lake

2nd Co-ed team of the 2022 season takes the win in Mississippi. Ayden Gideon and Anna Pearson seals the deal with a 13 pound 9 ounce bag on Columbus Lake. The pair wins a berth to compete in the 2022 High School Fishing World Finals & National Championship. Ayden Gideon also secures a birth to the MS TBF National Semi Finals as a co-angler for his High School State Championship win. He also gets his TBF membership and entry fees paid with this contingency. Both Anna and Ayden win a complete angler profile with the National Scouting Report.2nd place also advancing to the Nationals this year was Noah Brooks and Chad Bullen. The Stone County Anglers weighed in at 13 pounds and 6 ounces plus they had a 5 pound 2 ounce kicker fish that would get them a set of Lew’s reels sponsored by Lew’s and Strike King big fish award.Also locking down a spot to the 13th Annual High School Fishing World Finals in third place was Calup Williams and Phillip Herring representing Greene County Wildcats. The two anglers weighed in 11 pounds and 7 ounces.The Student Angler Federation would like to thank all the volunteers and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau for making this a great event for the students. For full results and photos of this event CLICK HERE

VIRGILLITO AND BACOT WIN CHAMPIONSHIP AT CADDO LAKE

This is how Legends are made!! Lady anglers dominate the LA High School State Championship. Alexis Virgillito and Taylor Bacot wowed the crowd with a huge bag weighing in at 30 pounds and 3 ounces. The lady anglers bested the field by nearly 2 pounds. Not only did the lady anglers win the state championship advancing them to the 13th annual High School Fishing World Finals & National Championship but they also won a full scouting profile from National Scouting Report.

Second place, also receiving a berth to the National Championship was Noah Trant and Mark Andrew Trant. The Trant brothers held the lead right until the end with a great bag of fish weighing in at 28 pounds 15 ounces. The nearly 29 pound bag was the teams biggest 5 fish limit and secured the team with a very respectable finish.

Brody Page and Stone Smith also weighing over the 20 pound threshold with 21 pounds and 8 ounces gave them the third place spot and sealing a trip to Florence, AL to compete for top college scholarships and prizes.

Big Fish of the day was a 7 pound 7 ounce lunker sponsored by Lew’s Strike King the set of Lew’s reels went to team Timberwolves representing Darbonne Woods was Gavin Albritton and Zeb Ates.The Student Angler Federation would like to thank all the volunteers for their help before, during and after the tournament.  Also, thank you to the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission for hosting the event. Thanks LA SAF Anglers for another great state championship.

For full results and photos of this event CLICK HERE