Ponca City, Okla. (Feb. 16, 2011) – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, announced it will be hosting the inaugural Student Angler Federation Alabama High School Fishing State Championship, April 17 at Ingalls Harbor on Wheeler Lake just outside of Decatur, Alabama. The state championship is a two person team event for students in grades 9 -12. Registration for high school anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is now open online at HighSchoolFishing.org or by calling 580.765.9031. Check-in begins at 4:00pm on Saturday, April 16 in the commons meeting room at Country Inn & Suites, with a mandatory rules briefing to follow at 6pm. We highly encourage all teams to pre-register online or by phone in well in advance of the event to avoid any late registration fees.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the Student Angler Federation High School State Champion Series”, said Tami Reist, president of the Decatur Morgan County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “Alabama is the second state in the nation, behind Illinois, that has a statewide formal bass club organization for high school student anglers. We are working hard to grow the sport to our high schools and this tournament serves as another opportunity.
Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on joining the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and signing up for an event. Cost is only $25 a year and includes full TBF and FLW Outdoors member benefits, including unlimited access to the all-new FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The winning two-person team from each state championship will advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Regional Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship hosted on a college campus this fall. Ranger boats will be provided for the high school anglers to fish from at each regional championship, and the winners from each regional will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held on a college campus in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2012. All SAF members and state championship participants automatically qualify to fish the largest event in high school fishing, the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals, July 20-23 in Russellville, Ark., to compete for thousands in college scholarships and prizes. Start planning your vacation now! Each team that qualifies for a regional championship and the national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The High School Fishing National Championship winner’s will also each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.
If you’re not an SAF member, there’s a $25 per angler entry fee for the state championship, which includes full TBF and FLW Outdoors membership benefits. Also, it’s a onetime fee, so you won’t have to pay to fish another SAF sanctioned event all year!
“We’re very excited to be working with the Alabama Bass Federation and Decatur Morgan County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to help bring this event to the state of Alabama,” TBF National President, Robert Cartlidge, said. “Our affiliated state federations are the backbone of the industry; they’re on the ground doing the work to put on these types of events and give high school anglers in Alabama a chance to grow their skills, have some fun, compete to advance, and get involved with other programs the Alabama Bass Federation has to offer and it is absolutely the Decatur Morgan County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, making this event happen for these students.”
High School anglers are fortunate to have the Alabama Bass Federation well established in this state and eager to help with this event, which promises to be a great one,” TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, commented. “Our Student Angler Federation has a great start in Alabama with several state students participating in our High School Fishing World Finals last year held in Russellville, Arkansas. I’m sure they’re ready to show everyone in the state how far they’ve come as anglers.”
Another unique feature of an SAF sanctioned event is the “angler testing” component. All participants can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org about boater safety, conservation and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for contingency awards at their state championship. “It’s an industry first by TBF and a tremendous way to emphasize the importance of education to these student anglers,” TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, said. “The Federation is driven by our desire to promote education through fishing. The testing component is designed to do exactly that. When you put this package together with our partnership with FLW Outdoors, the sky is the limit for these young anglers. They’ll have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”
Event Details:
- State Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at Highchoolfishing.org OR BY PHONE 580.765.9031. Questions? info@highschoolfishing.org or call 580.765.9031. If you have to you may register for the tournament at the Saturday Mandatory Check-in HOWEVER, there will be a $25.00 per angler late fee. The best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org
- Mandatory Check-in: Saturday, April 16, 4-6 p.m. CST, Walmart Supercenter , 2800 Spring Avenue SW. Decatur, Al.; Rules briefing 6:00 p.m.
- Takeoff & Weigh-in: Sunday, April 17, Wheeler Lake, Ingalls Harbor,701 Market ST. NW, Decatur, Al., 6:30am to 2:30pm
- Host Hotel: Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, 807 Bank ST NE Decatur, AL. 35601. 256-355-6800
The High School rate is $70.00 for single/$75.00 double. Rate includes continental “plus” breakfast and wireless high speed internet. http://www.countryinns.com/decatural
About FLW Outdoors
FLW Outdoors is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011. FLW Outdoors has taken fishing mainstream with the world’s richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing presented by Straight Talk, where competitors can play for free, as well as, sign up for Player’s Advantage to gain an edge. For more information about FLW Outdoors and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing organization. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years. Visit bassfederation.com.
