PONCA CITY, OKLA. (2/3/2025) – The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) announced today that the 2025 TBF Junior World Championship (JWC) is set for July 30-31, and Aug 1 on Lake Oahe at Pierre, SD.

The 2025 JWC includes a two-person team format and three days of competition for young anglers in the 8th grade or less when they qualified. The event will launch from West Bay ramp on Lake Oahe just north of Pierre, SD.

The TBF Junior program includes anglers from every state and Canada who were in the 8th grade and under at the time they qualified through their home state’s Junior program. Only the top percentile of Junior teams from each state’s sanctioned programs are qualified and invited to attend and compete for their share of well over $12,000 in scholarships and prizes. Registration for qualified teams only will open May 30, 9am CT at www.Bassfederation.com and will close July 7.

Historically, the TBF Junior World Championship (JWC) is held in conjunction with the Federation’s Annual State Leadership Conference for 2025. The Annual TBF State Leadership Conference invites 49 TBF affiliated state federations in the US and Canada to send state official(s) to attend meetings on fishing, youth and conservation items, strategic planning, educational sessions, as well as annual elections of TBF National Directors.

“Last year’s JWC event was in South Carolina so we are venturing more to the west this year and look forward to hosting TBF Junior anglers, State Leaders and their families from across North America to the 2025 TBF Junior World Championship in Pierre, SD. You are going to want to schedule a couple extra days in the area, not only is the smallmouth fishing very good, many young anglers have a chance to catch a smallmouth bass of a lifetime. But foremost, Pierre is a welcoming, family friendly place and it lays in the shadows of two famous visitor attractions, Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial monuments are both nearby.” Stated TBF Federation National President Robert Cartlidge.

All events will be held in and from Pierre, SD so it is highly recommended everyone make their lodging plans in Pierre. For those that have never been “out west” the western US states are “vast” and beautiful. Along with that an hour or more drive to get anywhere is common place for many locals.

Many of today’s top pro anglers started in the TBF Junior program. Such as Pro Jacob Wheeler fished the 2006 JWC; Pro Shane Lehew (NC) won the 2007 JWC, and 2017 Forrest Wood Cup winner Justin Atkins (MS) fished it in 2008 JWC and many more. YOU could be the next winner!

About The Bass Federation – The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and headquartered out of Ponca City, Oklahoma. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth, and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations, and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for 56 years. The federation founded the Junior program in 1994 and the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.
###

The Bass Federation (TBF) held its National Semi Finals Championship this past weekend, November 16-17 on the St. John’s River, Palatka, Florida, just barely six weeks after Hurricane Helene swept through Florida, Georgia and others parts of the Southeast, leaving destruction of epic proportion in its path. Bass Fisherman from Georgia and Florida didn’t let the destruction from Hurricane Helene dampen their charge to advance to and competed in the Championship.

Three days of practice started on Wednesday, November 13.   Practice for the competitors proved to be challenging with sunny weather and 10-20 mph winds varying from the South to the NNE.

Anglers from both states blasted off from the Palatka City Ramp with weigh-in starting at 3:00 p.m. both days. Weather conditions on the first day of the event showed a huge improvement over the practice days. There was a light breeze on the river and schooling fish were located on several of the shell beds.

Day 1 results had Michael Deen of the Georgia’s Okefenokee Bass Anglers leading on the Boaters side with five (5) bass weighing 21.81 pounds.  Larry Atkins of the Augusta Bass Club lead the Co-Anglers with five (5) bass weighing 13.30 pounds.  Florida’s Boater, Jesse Tacoronte lead with five (5) bass weighing 16.5 pounds and Florida’s Co-Angler, Josh Williams lead with five (5) bass weighing 10.15 pounds.   Patrick Brown of the Georgia’s Bulloch Bass Club caught Big Fish weighing 5.13 pounds.

Day 2 results had Boater Michael Deen of the Georgia’s Okefenokee Bass Anglers coming in with five (5) bass weighing 14.69 pounds and Co-Angler Danny Rawlings from the Georgia’s Lowndes County Bass Masters weighing in four (4) bass totaling 7.78 pounds.  For Florida, Boater Doug White had five (5) bass weighing 17.17 pounds and Co-Angler Josh Williams had five (5) bass weighing 16.68 pounds.   Florida’s Doug White caught Big Fish for Day 2 weighing 5.35 pounds.

Overall winners for the 2024 District 1 TBF FL-GA National Semi Finals were Georgia’s Boater Michael Deen with 36.50 pounds and Florida’s Boater, Doug White with 29.98 pounds.  Larry Atkins was Georgia’s leading Co-Angler with 13.30 pounds and Josh Williams Florida’s leading Co-Angler with 26.83 pounds.  Florida’s Doug White captured Big Fish for the tournament weighing in at 5.35 pounds.

A total of 188 bass were weighed in with a combined weight of 447.93 pounds.

The top Boater and Co-Angler from each state advances to The Bass Federation National Championship in 2025, where they will test their skills by competing against the winners of the other forty-eight states.  Date and location of the 2025 The Bass Federation (TBF) National Championship TBA.

California Bass Federation hosted 2024 NSF at Lake Millerton Oct 5/6.  Twenty-five anglers and 25 Co anglers fished to represent their State at the Federation Nation Championship in 2025.    Congratulations goes out to Tim Wells for winning the overall event.  Tim has been fishing the federation for years and this will be his first FNC.  Congratulations also to Andy Morita, he won the Co Anglers and also his first time to the FNC.  California this year had 2 high school anglers qualified for the NSF through a high school championship sponsored by California.  Collin Constantino and Brayden Baker took a 2^nd and fifth place.  They fished and won the California Qualifier on the Delta in April 2024.  Brandon Morton and Hunter Hilburn will advance as well representing Arizona.  Tim caught his bigger fish in 4 to 6 feet of water on walking top water bait and small swimbaits, all his filler fish were caught on 5 in worm from 25 to 40 feet deep.  Congratulations to everyone who fished.

High winds caused a move of launch sites which disappointed and aggravated the 192 anglers due to a Small Craft advisory. For safety reasons the launch site was moved from The Selfridge ramp on Anchor Bay to the ramp at Algonac on the North Channel. Despite the change, good weights were brought to the scales.

Overall winner, Jeff Claar of Indiana, had 18 pounds on Saturday and won with 35.21 pounds. Jonathon Fabiszak (Indiana) had 19.13 pounds on Sunday which gave him a total of 31.86 to edge out 3^rd place finisher, Kevin New, also of Indiana. The three of them qualified for the TBF National Championship.

Ryan Winstead finished 5^th with 30.78 pounds and will represent Illinois at the National Championship. On the Co-Angler side Brad Waller of Illinois took home top honors with 24.35 pounds. Second went to Tim Stillions with 22.10 pounds, Kevin Days claims 3^rd with 21.10 pounds and 4^th was Chad Reed with 20.48 pounds. Second through 4^th were Indiana anglers. Bryce Kalen (Indiana), who finished 4^th was the Ranger Cup winner.

Of the 460 bass weighed in 284 were smallmouth. A total of 859 bass were brought to the scales with a total weight of 2,051.91 pounds. Average weight was 2.39 pounds but a 6-pound largemouth was weighed in on Sunday.