The first year of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) fishing program is in the books.  It was a great start to the Georgia bass fishing program for Georgia High School anglers.  There were four qualifying events during the early spring and the top qualifiers from each event descended on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia on May the 8^th to test their skills and crown a first-ever GHSA Champion.  A total of sixty-six teams made the trip to Lanier in hopes of catching enough fish to take home the title.  The lake nor the teams disappointed anyone.  A total of sixty-two teams weighed in at least one fish per team and there was a total of thirty-eight limits of fish weighed-in for an impressive 627-09 total weight.

The Evans High School team of Jayden Faulkner and Davis Madden rose to the top of the leader-board about mid-way through the weigh-in with a big sack of 20-03 pounds of spotted bass.  This was the biggest bag of fish ever caught by these two anglers.  The previous best bag was around 14 pounds they said.  They reported catching their fish on topwater baits throughout the day.

The runner-up position belonged to Tanner Hadden and Tyler Starkey from Greenbrier High School with a really good bag of fish that weighed 18-02 pounds.  The West Forsythe team of Chase Mason and Jonathon Garbacz finished in third with a big limit that weighed 17-03 pounds.  Fourth place was claimed by Jeremy Zyck and Jack Thurmond with 16-14 pounds.  Rounding out the top five was the Appling County team of Mara Anderson and Presley Tillman with 15-12 pounds.

When asked, most of the teams caught their fish in one of two ways.  Many were caught on some kind of topwater bait, either a stick bait, buzz bait, or frog fished around grass or shallow bars or points in less than five feet of water.  The other group of anglers caught their fish out deeper in the fifteen to twenty-five foot range on jigs, Ned Rigs, Drop shots, Shakey heads or Carolina Rigs on humps or long points with brush-piles around them.  Most of the fish weighed in were spotted bass with only a few largemouth being weighed in.

Congratulations to all the teams who fished in the qualifying events this year and to all of the teams who came and represented their schools in this first GHSA season.  It was a very successful season.  Good luck to everyone in 2022.

The Missouri SAF State Championship Started off with a bang! The morning take-off was delayed due to a small and short lived thunderstorm. This did not slow down the anglers once they were able to safely launch.

Tucker Stute and Daiton Love took first place on Truman advancing to the 12^th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship this year in Anderson, SC on the prestige Lake Hartwell. Stute and Love were able to capitalize on the day representing the Kearney Bulldogs. The team took first place with a Bass Pro shop & Cabela’s Big Bag of the day weighing in at 15.05lbs. The pair also had the Lew’s Strike King Big Fish of the day weighing in at 4.05lbs.

Both anglers are eligible by winning the State Championship and for being at least 16 to advance to the TBF National Semi Finals as Co-Anglers. This contingency, offered by The Bass Federation, is a paid membership and Entry fees paid to the MO TBF National Semi Finals. If these High School Anglers can finish high enough this will land them a spot to the Federation National Championship competing for thousands in prizes and scholarships.

Taking 2^nd place on Truman and also landing a National Championship qualifier to Hartwell was Ronin Picker and Alec Davidson. They also had a Berkley 5 Alive Limit weighing 13.05lbs. Congratulations to the Top 2 teams that will be representing the State of Missouri in this year’s 12^th Annual High School Fishing World Finals & National Championship.

3^rd Place was taken by Eureka Wildcats Grant Priesmeyer and Steven Lafata. This team also weighed in a Berkley 5 Alive limit at 12.14lbs.

For full results CLICK HERE. To see more photos CLICK HERE

Rising and stained waters didn’t stop the Hochatown anglers, Kollin Crawford and Jace Anderson. The pair had a Berkley 5 alive limit that weighed 14.10lbs. Not only did this win give them a shot at the 12^th annual High School Fishing World Finals & National Championship, but Kollin for his State Championship victory and being 16 years old is also eligible to compete in the OK TBF National Semi Finals as a co-angler for his efforts. Congratulations to Kollin and Jace.

The Kiowa Cowboys didn’t take first place but they definitely proved their worth on the largest body of water in Oklahoma. The Cowboys took both 2^nd and 3^rd  place.  Second Place went to Micah Belt and Jaedon Dan. The team had 5 fish, all alive weighing in at 13.01lbs.

Also from Kiowa with third place going to Cade Smith and Chandler Kelley, this pair had 12.15lbs.

Both teams from Kiowa will also be making the trip to Anderson, SC in a hunt for both a National title along with the hopes of becoming a World Champion Angler. Good Luck to all 3 teams representing OK this year.

The Big Fish Award from Lew’s and Strike King goes to Ben Green and Garrett Thornhill with a 4.06lb Largemouth. Congratulations anglers on your big fish of the day.

For full results of this event CLICK HERE. For more photos CLICK HERE