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

18lb 10ounces Set the Bar High-Top 7 Advance to the Final Contest

Changes on Lake Dardanelle slowed the bite, but not for some who rose above the pack to solidify their spots on the final day of competition.  These top seven teams advance to battle it out to see who will become the first High School Fishing World Finals Champions.  Tomorrow will decide who goes home with the titles and a prize package never seen in the industry. Champions will receive $32,000 in scholarships-$4,000/yr per winning angler up to four years-from Bethel University, spots on the Bethel University Collegiate Bass Fishing team, which is treated like any other college varsity sport team, thousands in prizes, including $500 Cabelas gift cards, and so much more.  History is about to be made, and two high school anglers future’s changed forever.  

With ounces to decide their fate in the top seven final cut, tension mounted.  In the end, Austin Moody and Aimee Cresswell, from Dover High School proved they’re packing the heat, seizing the lead with the tournament big bag of 18lb 10ounces making their tournament total 29lb 15ounces.  “I held my own; my fish was biggest, well until he got the bigger one,” Cresswell said.  “Not even 30 minutes after we pulled out we got our first fish, then not far along we hooked a 5 pounder,” Cresswell’s partner, Moody said.  The Dover High School teammates might have entered the final day in first place, but tomorrow weights will be zeroed and the playing field leveled.  “Our game plan for tomorrow is just to hit ‘em hard, catch a lot of fish, and have fun.” The High School Fishing World Finals and the Student Angler Federation (SAF) is all about sportsmanship.  Moody and Cresswell give much credit and thanks to Hunter Daniel and Corey McKowan of the Pottsville High School fishing team.  Both teams came on the same water, but when Pottsville found out Dover was fighting for contention they pulled off.  “They let us have the entire area to ourselves and we want to thank them so very much; it’s just awesome of them.” 

Day one leaders, Jordan Burdette and Brandon Merical from Farragut High School, slipped into the second spot today, but with weights zeroed it’s anybody’s game.  They brought two fish to the scales that weighed a total of 5lb 7ounces making their total going into the final day 21lb 7ounces.  “We want to thank our parents and thank God first for giving us the fish to catch,” Burdette and Merical said.  At a last minute hiccup, the Farragut High School team was short a boat captain and wasn’t going to attend the event.  However, a College Fishing angler from Kentucky, Kyle Raymer, who has a brother fishing the event volunteered to step in.  “Kyle is great; we want to thank him so much.”  They know without the support of their families and the fishing industry none of this could be possible as shouted while leaving the stage, “we would also like to thank pure poison fishing jigs.” Perseverance is the key for the North Canyon High School team, of Thomas Chambers and Brandon Koon.  They caught five fish today weighing a whopping 15lb 9ounces compared to their 4lb 12ounce catch on day one, making their total 20lb 5ounces.  Chambers and Koon prove it’s never too late to give up.Jared Raymer and Ethan Snyder from Meade County High School are in fourth with four fish today weighing 12lb 10ounces making their total 20lb 3ounces.  “I’m really proud of how me and Ethan fished today; we fished hard all day,” Raymer said.  Both anglers had a lot of praise for their parents and sponsors for helping them get this far.  They were also very proud for the support from the organizations and volunteers that made it all possible.  “We want to thank TBF and Russellville, Arkansas for all they did this week.  They took all their hard work and made this a really great event for us to fish.”Tomorrow, everybody’s weights are zeroed; every team and every ounce starts again, as the top seven teams face each other and Dardanelle to see who can come from zero to everything and win it all. For full results, click here.