The 2012 Colorado TBF Youth State Championship was held on June 17, 2012 at Pueblo Reservoir.
There were 22 contestants in the 15 to 18 age division and 5 in the 11 to 14 age division from Fort Collins, Denver, Co. Springs and the Fountain Valley competing for a spot in the National Guard Junior World Championships.
This year the contestants were facing 104 degrees temperatures mixed with heavy boat traffic high winds and dropping water levels. These conditions didn’t keep these kids from catching fish. We used this tournament as a creel survey recording all fish caught on a card as well as weighing in 31 keeper fish over the 15’’ minimum length limit. Everyone caught fish and had a great time. Most of the anglers were dragging 4’senkos and shaky head worms and some were caught on tubes. The bass were definitely on a crawdad bite as most of the boaters commented on the remains of crawdads in their live wells.
The crowd started to gather at the docks of South Shore Marina store as the contestants started to bring their fish up to the scales and weigh in. With anticipation and hope of having a little luck on their side the contestants all started to watch the scales closely and wonder who would be the 2012 state champion for their age division.
The 2012 Colorado TBF Youth State Champion in the 11-14 age division weighing in 3 keepers with a total weight of 5.50 is Shain Pierce from the Fountain Valley Junior Bass Club. Shain also had big bass for his age division a 2.03 smallmouth. Shain was also last year’s state champion.
Runner up for the 11-14 age division weighing in 3 keepers with a total weight of 4.59 was Ryan Wood from the 5280 Junior Bass Hunters.
The 2012 Colorado TBF Youth State Champion in the 15-18 age division weighing in 3 keepers with a total weight of 6.13 is Taran Thompson from the Fountain Valley Junior Bass Club. Taran also had big bass for his age division a 2.98 largemouth.
Runner up for the 15-18 age division weighing in 4 keepers with a total weight of 6.02 was Sam Pierce from the Fountain Valley Junior Bass Club.
There were 244 total bass caught in this tournament from 27 anglers and a few walleye were recorded also with one 24’’.
Congratulations to this year’s State Champions I wish you both the best of luck at the Nationals,
Sam Heckman, Colorado TBF Youth Director
