Wade and Ostendorf Claim High School Victory at Lake Dardanelle

High School anglers from all across Arkansas came to Lake Dardanelle to try and earn a birth into the upcoming Student Angler Federation High School Fishing National Championship at La Crosse, WI this June. Even with all the recent rains, the lake was in pretty good shape and the weather was even better than normal.
Catching the BOOYAH Biggest Bag of fish was the Central Arkansas team of Masen Wade and Cody Ostendorf who brought 19-09 pounds to the scales. That was good enough for the win and a spot in upcoming National Championship.

The Lamar Warriors team of Matthew Higby and John Foster Case weighed-in 14-15 pounds to claim second place.

Gavin Harrod and Lane Edwards from Hamburg High School brought 12-01 pounds in and finished third.

The Lew’s Big Bass award went to the team of Austin Rose and Jarrett Burger for their 4-05 pound klunker.

Most all the anglers reported catching their fish up shallow on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and small plastics. Rocky banks, gravel bars and shallow docks all seemed to hold fish.

The 11th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship will be held on June 24-27, 2020 at La Crosse, Wisconsin. For more information about these events visit www.highschoolfishing.org. All photos from this Arkansas event can be seen on our Student Angler Federation (SAF) High School Fishing page.

Team Holley Takes Georgia High School Title at Lake Lanier

Team Holley Takes Georgia High School Title at Lake Lanier

A total of eighty-two teams, from across the state of Georgia, showed up at Lake Lanier trying to be crowned High School Fishing State Champions. The weather actually turned out nice and the fish cooperated as well, making for a great weigh in. Taking the BOOYAH Big Bag Award and the winner’s trophies was the Jackson County High School team of Sam and Jake Holley with a hefty 17-13 pound limit.

They surged to the win, late in the weigh in, by the slimmest of margins, which was one ounce. The brothers claimed that they had a limit early in the day and caught a total of eight keepers throughout the day, giving them the chance to cull three times. They estimated that they added an extra three and a half to four pounds to their original limit weight. Finishing in second place was Jake Wohlers and Jackson Brown from the Oconee Fishing club, with a weight of 17-12 pounds.

 

Third place also had a nice bag of fish with 17-02 pounds landing the team of Josh Rogers and Christopher Newman in the top three.

The Lew’s Big Bass award of two Lew’s Reels went to Team Cameron, Cameron Klaric and Cameron Williams for their giant spotted bass which topped all of the other fish at 5-02 pounds. Great catch Team Cameron!

As always there were a variety of techniques and lures used that were successful during the event. Most popular was the Shakey Head. Most teams were using light weights and light line to catch their fish. Anglers reported catching fish in 20-30 feet of water early in the day, and then as shallow as 4-8 feet in the afternoon as the sun came out and warmed up the water, the fish moved up under the docks in the shallower bays. Also catching fish were square bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Ned Rigs, and Texas Rigged plastics. Dock, gravel points and brush piles were all keys to success for the anglers.

Full results for this event can be found at www.highschoolfishing.org and all of the pictures are posted on our Student Angler Federation Facebook page.

Update On Missing High School Team in Tennessee

As many of you know there is a High School Team missing from a Saturday trip to Pickwick Landing State Park. Obviously, this is close to our hearts and we have spoken to TWRA several times since they were reported as missing Sunday evening.

At this time, they (TWRA) have the resources they need on the water right now and do not need more boats.
We all want to be there and help as our hearts ache for the anglers and their families, but this is the time to follow the plan laid out by the professionals, they know what they are doing.

Officials have assured us they will ask if more help is needed and we will get the word out ASAP if that happens.

What each one of us can do is to say a prayer for the missing anglers that they are found safe, for their families that god will comfort them, for all the members of their local fishing club and for the Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement, first responders who are out there doing what they always do, which is going above and beyond.