Davis & Snow Top the Field at SAF Early Bird Challenge on Hartwell

1st Place

The Union County Panther duo of Cole Davis and Dillan Snow put together an impressive limit to win the 2018 SAF Early Bird Challenge on Lake Hartwell.  Despite muddy water conditions and changing weather patterns, they managed to bring 18.14 pounds to the scale late Sunday afternoon.  Both anglers were excited for the opportunity to advance and compete at Nationals on Pickwick this June. 

2nd Place

 

In second place, Patrick Murry and Mason Rametta from TI Hanna High School brought 14.13 pounds to the scales.  Ounces behind them in third place was the Georgia High School Fishing team of Michael Landemaeu and Brett Morlane with 14.10 pounds. 

Union County also took fourth place with the team of Hunter Enlow and Ce Fowler weighing in 13.12 pounds.  The final National Championship qualifying spot went to Hunter McKee and Wyatt Long of the Backwoods Bass Boys with 13.3 pounds.

3rd Place

 

Tournament big bass went to the Illinois team of Tyler Lubbat and Tyler Christy with a hefty 5.7 pound lunker.

As anglers crossed the stage they talked about what was working out on the water and what wasn’t.  Several anglers mentioned using a shakey head,  others used crankbaits, jigs, swim baits and also spinnerbaits.  No matter the bait the bite was pretty solid with 23 of the 59 teams bringing limits to the scales. 

Full Results

Photo Gallery

Student Angler Federation Announces Support of GICAA Open Bass Fishing Series

Ponca City, Okla., February 16, 2018 – The Student Angler Federation (SAF) is pleased to announce its continued support of the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association (GICAA) for the 2018 season.  The GICAA Open Bass Fishing Regional event will be held March 3 at Highland Marina on West Point Lake. The regional event is not only open for GICAA members but also for all active SAF members in Georgia.  The event will be  a qualifying tournament with the top 50 boats advancing to the GICAA Qualified Championship.

The Championship will be held on March 17 at Little River Marina on Lake Sinclair. The top 10% from the GICAA Qualified  Championship will also advance to the SAF High School Fishing National Championship to compete against the best of the best for scholarships, prizes and the 2018 National Champion titles.

Nationals is held in conjunction with the largest, stand-a-lone open championship event, the 2018 High School Fishing World Finals.  All SAF anglers are invited to compete in the World Finals where tens of thousands of scholarships and prizes will be awarded.  Both events will run simultaneously June 26-30 in Florence, Ala., on Pickwick Lake.  Registration is open for all events on www.highschoolfishing.org.

For more information on the GICAA visit www.gicaasports.com. 

CHASTAIN & OTT WIN SAF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER ON WEST POINT LAKE

Thomas Chastain & Carter Ott, of the Gilmer Fishing Club, made the best of the early spring conditions at West Point Lake this weekend in LaGrange, Georgia.  As outside temps climbed into the upper 60’s, water temps were still in the mid-winter numbers.  With recent rains in the area, water conditions were quite muddy and finding clear water to fish was a challenge.  However, Chastain & Ott managed to catch a limit of fish that weighed 15.05 pounds to win the SAF Georgia High School State Championship.

Second place and Big Bass honors went to Drake Reeves & Trayton Gay, from Troup High School.  Their limit weighed in at 14.15 pounds and their limit was anchored by the biggest bass of the tournament, a nice 6.03 lunker largemouth.

 

 

Rounding out the top three was the Holley Team of Sam & Jake from JCCHS Fishing Club.  Their bag of fish weighed 14.09 pounds.

 

Fourth thru sixth place honors went to the following.  Cal Culpepper and Mason Waddell, of Harris County High School with 14 pounds. Fifth place was Tanner Hadden & Cy Casey, from Greenbrier High School, with 12.11 pounds and sixth was the team of Lee Rose Koza & Carter Koza of Mount Paran Christian High School with 11.15 pounds.

Several anglers reported catching their fish on crawfish colored crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits and Rattletraps.  Most teams were fishing shallow along chunky rock banks, just chunking and winding. With a total of 62 teams in the field, the top 6 teams advanced and qualified for the upcoming SAF National Championship to be held June 27-30 at Pickwick Lake at McFarland Park in Florence, AL.  Congratulations to the Top 6 teams and Good Luck at Nationals.

 

FINAL STANDINGS