Greg Zellers and Shane Edgar-2010 National Guard Junior World Champions

12 TBF Division Champions began the final day of the 2010 National Guard Junior World Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga. today; two champions emerged victorious. Greg Zellers, from Winamac, In., representing the 15-18 age group and the TBF Northern Division and Shane Edgar from Glendale, AZ. representing the 11-14 age group and the TBF Western Division. Not only can these champions boast the titles but also the $5,000 in scholarships and thousands in sponsor merchandise they’ve received for their wins. Both anglers held tense expressions as they anxiously watched the other ten anglers weigh their bags. Every weigh bag was black and each angler was instructed not to share any news, so it was exciting down to the very last ounce. They gave their all; only two walked away with the championship titles, but all walked away champions.

Greg Zellers earned the right to be called a national champion bringing solid fish to the scales both days. He caught only one fish, the biggest of the day, to secure his first place spot that weighed 3lb 7ounces. “I can’t even

Greg Zellers

Greg Zellers

 begin to explain how excited I am right now,” Zellers said. “It’s exciting, a dream come true.” Zellers fished mostly deep water yesterday and had planned to head shallow today. “The fish on the graph were suspended in about 15ft of water so I just gave it a nice little pull and let it sit there for a minute. Then, I let it sink back down; I got a nice reaction out of it.” Several anglers took the opportunity to pre-fish the water in the months leading up to the event, including Zellers. “A while back I fished Lake Lanier for a week and found some comfortable spots.” Zellers admits, “It made me feel good about the tournament.” Yesterday, Zellers volunteer boat captain was Ed Hall. Today, he was paired with National Guard Pro, Clifford Perch, who volunteered as a boat captain. “ Ed and Cliff are just excellent people to be around, real cool guys.” Zellers not only thanked his boat captain but also his family, sponsors and supporters. “It means the world to me to have people that want to help kids; they’re making it possible for kids, not just adults, to go fish big tournaments like these.” Commenting on what this week meant to him he added, “Every kid that walks in able to fish this tournament gets a new experience in life and it helps them find their ways.” Fishermen have many techniques on the water, for this national champion one technique is at the heart of them all. “Fish hard and never give up.”

The 2010 National Guard Junior World Champion in the younger division, 11-14year olds, is Shane Edgar, from

Shane Edgar

Shane Edgar

Glendale, Az., representing the Western Division. He caught one fish weighing 2lbs. “It just hasn’t sunk in yet,” Edgar said. Long-time Georgia TBF State President, Larry Lewis, was his boat captain today and Doug Youngblood and local pro, Mike McFarland, were also high on Edgar’s list to thank. Lewis as well as Edgar’s sponsors were very influential to his success. “I just want to thank Tammy Cox at Berkley; I ordered some rods late and she made sure she got them to me. Also, I used some new reels all week.” Edgar’s technique all tournament was a drop shot. “I used a drop shot with a pink worm; kinda cool.” He was also extremely thankful to his parents for all their support. “I’m really excited that my parents travel and support me,” he said. His mother then replied, “He has wanted this so bad for so long and especially since he came in third at last years National Guard Junior World Championship; we are just so happy for him.”

Full results of the tournament can be seen on our results page.

Tough day on the water; TBF Youth prove tougher, keeping their heads held high – 12 Division Champions advance

Lauren Cartlidge

Drake Young

Drake Young

A tough bite paired with extreme pressure and heat, followed by a blizzard of rain lakeside didn’t stop 82 TBF youth state champions today, on day one of the 2010 National Guard Junior World Championship on Lake Lanier. Anglers traveled from 41 different states to face off in this national contest knowing today it was all or nothing to decide who would advance. 12 young anglers pushed ahead despite all odds, solidifying their spots on the final day of competition to crown this year’s National Guard Junior World Champions and pronouncing them Division Champions. The top two anglers from each of the six TBF divisions advance, one from each age group, 11-14/15-18, to comprise the final twelve. The crowd waited in the midst of a storm, soaked and still cheering on these young anglers as each state champion walked across the stage. It was definitely a day for the record books. Tomorrow will echo that as 12 Division Champions take-off from Laurel Park on Lake Lanier right alongside the FLW Pro’s. Of the final 12, the top finishers from each age group will walk away proving to the nation they have the right to be called champions.

The tournament big bag goes to Drake Young, from Lincoln, Mo., representing the 15-18 year olds as the TBF Youth Central Division Champion. Young caught a total of four fish weighing 6lb 7ounces.

“I’m really excited,” Young said. “I just went out there and caught fish today and had fun!” Young also caught the most keepers. “I don’t know what I did differently; I guess I just found more fish.” Young plans to stick with the same approach tomorrow, but other than that he’s not looking too far ahead. “Winning tomorrow, really I haven’t thought about it; I’m just not thinking that far ahead, yet.” His strategy placed him on top, but only 1lb 2ounces separate his closest competition.

Greg Zellers

Greg Zellers

Greg Zellers, from Winamac, Ind., is the TBF Northern Division Champion in the 15-18 age group, and in second place overall. Zellers brought in two keepers today weighing 5lb 5ounces. “It’s just a world of change, an unbelievable event,” Zellers said. Zellers fished mostly deeper water today, but plans to switch his stroke up tomorrow and fish shallower. “I just want to thank everyone that made this possible and TBF/FLW, Berkley and Ranger Boats; to be able to go into the second day is just a dream come true.”

Weighing in 3lbs today is Regan Green, from Macon, Ga., with two bass claiming the Southern Division title and the top spot overall in the 11-14 age group. “Really, I’m excited, eager” Green said. “I have a good plan going into tomorrow.” Green lost two keepers mid day and plans to go hunting tomorrow. “I lost a five and a four pounder that would have brought me way over the top.” He caught one fish on top water around 9:30 with a little spook and the second on a drop shot. “I’ll definitely plan on the same thing tomorrow; I’m anxious but ready to go.”

Adrian Forbes, from Fairfield Vt., is the Eastern Division Champion in the younger age bracket. “I really didn’t think I was going to make it,” Forbes said. “I didn’t have much confidence to begin with but now I’ve got a lot; I got a lot from this place.”

82 TBF Youth State Champions travel to compete alongside the FLW Pro’s on Lake Lanier

Excitement builds as 82 state champions make their way to Gainesville, Ga., to face off in the 2010 National Guard Junior World Championship, Aug. 5th-8th. The 2010 Forrest Wood Cup is being held this week on Lake Lanier as well and these young anglers get the opportunity to take off right alongside the Pro’s each morning. More significantly, the Pro anglers have stepped aside and given the TBF youth angler’s part of the water, which will be off-limits to them. How tremendously excited these young champions must be to start what is sure to be a life changing week.

This national contest will see two champions, one in each age group, 11-14 and 15-18. For most, this is a year’s worth of drive and dedication to fishing, advancing through tournaments in their respective states and age groups to make it this far. All anglers will compete on day one, and then the field will be cut to 12 anglers for the final day of fishing. These 12 will represent the top finishers (one in each age group) from the 6 different TBF divisions. Tournament registration and the Welcome Banquet presented by Gainesville Tourism & Trade will kick off the event at the Georgia Mountain Center this evening. The sky is clear, the sun is shining and beautiful Lake Lanier awaits, as the 2010 National Guard Junior World Championship is underway.

Jared Raymer and Ethan Snyder-2010 High School Fishing World Finals Champions

Raymer and Snyder, from Meade County High School sealed the deal today with a sweet victory on the finale of the inaugural 2010 High School Fishing World Finals on Lake Dardanelle. Both walked away with $4,000/yr, renewable for four years, scholarships totaling $16,000 a piece/$32,000 from Bethel University, spots on the Bethel University Varsity Fishing team, $500 Cabelas gift cards, new Compaq laptops, a Berkley Prize Package including a Revo Reel and 30% Pure Fishing on the TBF website, plus some heavy jewelry. The weights were zeroed for the final day of competition, making the playing field level and the weigh-in intense. Raymer and Synder were the last to the stage. With only the team from North Canyon High School in their way, the Meade County team excited the crowd and themselves as the scale read 16lbs 2 ounces, pulling them ahead by 2lbs to win it. Continue reading