Eighty anglers, made of representatives from Arkansas and Oklahoma, converged on Millwood Lake, in southwest Arkansas, the weekend of June 19 & 20 to compete in The Bass Federation District 6 National Semifinal tournament.

The anglers were competing for 4 spots in The Bass Federation National Championship tournament next spring.

Congratulations to Stephen Tyson Jr (Arkansas Boater) and Jeff Stephenson (Arkansas Non-boater) for the wins on Millwood Lake.

Stephen Tyson Jr and Jeff Stephenson will be representing Arkansas next spring in the TBF National Championship.

Congratulations to the top Oklahoma anglers. Dean Matts (Oklahoma Boater) and Shawn Lewis (Oklahoma Non-boater). Dean and Shawn will represent Oklahoma in the TBF National Championship.

Boater Top 3 – 2 Day Total

1. Stephen Tyson Jr (AR) 31.03 lbs
2. Doug Thompson (AR) 27.66 lbs
3. Blake Wilson (AR) 26.74 lbs

Non – Boater Top 3 – 2 Day total

1. Jeff Stephenson  (AR)     18.24 lbs
2. Andy Brown (AR)             16.99 lbs
3. Austin Rose   (AR)            16.82 lbs

12^th Annual High School Fishing World Finals & National Championship heads to Anderson, SC and Lake Hartwell

Record field expected to attend, nearly 3 Million in scholarships & prizes up for grabs.

The premier High School Fishing event in the world is set to begin June 30-July 3 in Anderson, SC on Lake Hartwell, from Green Pond Landing event center. The 12^th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship has over 400 teams registered.  A team consists of 3 people to a boat, 2 High School anglers and their adult boat Captain /Coach, that alone equates to more than 1200 participants from 41 states and 2 foreign countries as far away as Zimbabwe, South Africa, plus all their families and friends. Several thousand people will be added to the Anderson population for a week or so.

The student anglers pay no entry fee to compete in this one-of-a-kind dual event, the World Finals portion is the granddaddy of them all where most of the prizes and scholarships are awarded and the most difficult to win. It is open to any SAF member in the nation, so everyone attending will be competing in the World Finals for prizes totaling nearly 2.5 million dollars. At the same time on the dual-stage the top anglers from all SAF sanctioned events and MLF events nationwide qualify to compete in a national championship event with its own set of prizes and scholarships totaling nearly $500,000.  Which puts nearly 3million dollars in scholarship and prizes up for grabs.

The unique format was developed with feedback from the parents and families over the last 12 years. In the competitive arena there is just no way around travel for the anglers, industry staff and partners. It is expected in fishing and is no different than baseball, softball, cheer or dance team championships or any other high school sport. The two events are conducted together as a dual event to save travel, costs and vacation time for the families while giving any youth from anywhere, any background or economic strata and a chance to come and earn a life-changing educational opportunity if they can and experience the comradery of an event this size where lifetime friendships are made.

“We are very proud to be working with the TBF/SAF and hosting the High School World Finals and National Championship at Green Pond Landing, Lake Hartwell and Anderson County!” Stated Neal Paul Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The future in bass fishing is our high school anglers and we look forward to hosting the anglers and their families in our community. Our team at Anderson County has worked extremely hard to ensure that we continue to be a destination for bass fishing. Green Pond Landing, a nationally recognized facility, and Lake Hartwell, a Top 100 Bass Lake in America, will once again provide our guests with a Championship Experience!”

Few places can accommodate 400 plus teams on the water for a week, but Lake Hartwell and Green Pond Landing is state of the art and can do it easily.   So, June 30-July 3, 2021 will find the Championship anglers on the massive border waters between South Carolina and Georgia of Lake Hartwell at Anderson, SC., and Weighing in at the newly revamped Green Pond Landing Event center each day starting at 1:30 pm ET. The event is free to attend and open to the public.  The event is also being filmed for National television on the Pursuit Channel and other Networks. LIVE coverage and leaderboards will run each day on www.HighSchoolFishing.org  and Facebook www.facebook.com/hsfishing

“We are excited to be heading to Anderson, SC, it is a place that “makes you feel like home” no matter where you are from and there is lots for the families to see and do. The residents of Anderson should be very proud of your Visit Anderson tourism group as they have worked very hard to showcase your community and make the kids feel welcome.” Stated The Bass Federation’s President and CEO Robert Cartlidge.

“The question I get asked often is why High School Fishing?”  Cartlidge continued. “The answer is may not be what many would think. It is not about being the next “pro angler” or getting sponsor patches on your shirt.” Those all may or may not be by-products.  We started the national High School movement for 3 reasons. One, we felt that youth across all sectors needed clean family fun and to live and learn in the outdoors as many of us did when we were young. So, the purpose was to use fishing to get kids outdoors with an adult mentor and with the intent of not just educating about common sense, manners, and ethics, but about math, science, and language arts and why those are important to fishing yes, but also to life in general.  Two, we wanted to provide education opportunities. Not just college, but trade school too, as our country was built by and still needs trades and skilled craft people. College is not for everyone, especially in today’s world. Education opportunities are what we are after.”  Three, we did not want the program to be about money, so from the start neither SAF/TBF nor our partners in fishing at MLF, who was among the first to join our SAF movement and grow it side by side with us, requires any entry fees for our regular High School events nor do we pay cash to kids at High School events. It is always prizes & scholarships. The result has been the explosion we currently see in high school fishing participation nationwide and thanks to the support of our industry partners, our host communities like Visit Anderson and the Parents and Boat Captains/Coaches/Mentors that make it all happen.  We thank each and every one of them and are excited to be a part of that and to showcase these young people in Anderson, SC.”

The popular four-day High School Fishing World Finals and National championship combined event format is a very unique structure where all anglers compete for three days in a format with a second chance round, much like any other double elimination High School sport. It is designed to keep everyone competitive and in the game until the final day cut. For full details, check out HighSchoolFishing.org. You can get your club affiliated with SAF and compete!  All TBF, SAF and MLF High School Fishing events are no entry fee events. To register, anglers only need to be a member of the Student Angler Federation (SAF) which is a mere $25 per year and includes competitor SAF and MLF memberships. It is as easy as completing the online registration at HighSchoolFishing.org.

About The Bass Federation

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. 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 50 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing movement in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.

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Starvation Reservoir located in Northeastern Utah really produced a ton of fish.  This exclusively smallmouth fishery kicked out a ton of fish.  However, the event was won by anglers who were able to locate the better-quality fish.  Sight fishing was the key to finding the bigger fish and Tucker Capella started off the event with the biggest bag of the event with 13.45lbs, doing just that.  Right behind Tucker was Jesse Ortega from Nevada and he had a 11.44lb bag to start in 2^nd place.  The big fish on the boater side went to Rick Taylor as he boated a 3.12lb smallmouth.

The Co’s had great success also and Paul Swan from Utah led on day 1 with a 9.28lb bag.  Right behind Paul was Casey Clendenen and he brought a 9.04 lb bag to the scales. The big fish on the Co side was the overall big fish weighed during the tournament.  It was caught by Jeff Wright and as he brought the 3.68lb smallie to the scale.

On day 2, Starvation was a little stingier for most anglers, but Tucker Capella solidified the win by 10:00am and he brought a 10.52 bag to the scale.  His 2 day total ended up 23.96lbs.  Congrats to Tucker!  2^nd and 3^rd place overall were secured by 2 more Utah anglers as young gun Jade Larson took home 2^nd and 3^rd was taken by big fish man Sid Reeves.  Each brought in bags weighing over 10lbs.  4^th was won by Nevada stick Jesse Ortega.  His day 2 bag of 7.3lbs was enough to secure his win vs. the Nevada anglers and he’s heading to the National Championship.  Congrats to Tucker and Jesse!  Sid Reeves brought the big fish of day 2 to the scale and he weighed a 3.59lb spawner!

On the Co side James McGaughey brought in the biggest Coangler bag of the tournament as he weighed just 4 fish for 9.4lbs.  This bag was able to help him overcome the next 2 competitors by 1 pound.  Taking 2^nd was Tyler Ivie who’s consistent bags allowed him to secure his spot at the National Championship representing Utah.  Congrats to James and Tyler!  Kenny K had a good bag also, and he weighed the biggest fish for the Cos on day 2 with a 2.81 smallie.

 All in all great tournament, GREAT sportsmanship and good times!  The State Pride award went to NV as their State Pride anglers edged Utah by 5lbs 110 to 105.  Congrats Nevada!

Delaware’s Mike Morris Wins TBF National Champion’s title on the boater’s side with the $125,000 Live YOUR Dream Prize package and Louisiana Joshua Moore takes the Co-angler National Championship title and a $35,000 prize package. How they did it is the real story.

Mike Morris, DE on right Joshua Moore, LA left

Every TBF state sent their top boaters and top co-anglers to Shreveport-Bossier City, LA to fish the 2021 TBF Federation National Championship on the Red River March 10-13.  There were a lot of obstacles, literally and figuratively. For one, the Red River was badly flooded back in 2016 and the fishing had suffered, but the Red River Waterway Commission has worked hard to restock and rebuild that fishery and it showed out this week for the TBF Championship anglers.

Fishing a new river can be tough enough as it is because there are lots of variables, backwaters, wing dams, oxbows and hidden lakes to find, locks and dams to deal with, barge traffic, and plenty to avoid as well like a plethora of submerged object and shallow water to get un-stuck from if you’re not careful. Oh yes and Alligators, there are plenty of Alligators on the Red River.

Two weeks prior to the event record cold hit the southern US and sent area temps down to near zero degrees for most of a week. Then the rains came and the river rose about 5-6 feet and along comes the TBF Federation National Championship as the river was on its way back down and dropping each practice day. There were floating logs in the river and debris to deal with. More than one boat hit submerged objects running outside the buoy line during practice days. Early in the week, the dock talk was not many bites and it won’t take much to win.

Championship anglers were not deterred, the sun was out, with temps up to 80 degrees the water was warming fast most of the week and at the day 1 weigh-in it was obvious that the fish had put the feed bag on for the championship anglers as they moved into the warm water.

The leaderboard was all over the map every day. For the last few years as the Red River is rebuilding a 14 bag was a very good day on the river, but not this week.

Robert Stock, NY and part of his 19-10 limit on day 1

Partway through day 1 weigh-in representing the TBF Southern Division and the state of South Carolina as a Co-angler Scott Peavy brought in 5 fish from the back of the boat that weighed in 15 pounds 13 ounces, not long after that Mississippi boater from the Central Division Scott Whitehead brought in five for an unheard of 17-10 on the Red River. But the Red River was not done showing us just how good it is because before the weigh-in was over New York’s Boater Robert Stock set his bag on the scales and they weighed in at a Red River Record of 19-10.

Limit after limit by both boaters and co-anglers were weighed making it clear that the Red River is back!

On Day 2 again many limits and multiple big fish were weighed in, the largest of which was caught by Mark Corrente representing the TBF Southwest Division and his home state of California as a boater, his 7-pound 1-ounce big fish and Robert Stock’s day1 biggest fish of his 19-10 bag are the largest seen weighed on the Red River in years.

Day 2 of the Federation Championship is of course cut day, at the end of day 2 the boater and co-angler who leads their TBF divisions are crowned Division Champions and advance to fish on the 3^rd and final day for the National Champions titles.  Those anglers advancing to the final day were:

CENTRAL Division                                                                                                  EASTERN Division

Boater – Scott Whitehead, Mississippi                                                        Boater – Robert Stock, New York

Co-Angler – Joshua Moore, Louisiana                                                         Co-Angler – Guiseppe Andreoli, Rhode Island

 MID-ATLANTIC Division                                                                                  NORTHERN Division

Boater – Mike Morris, Delaware                                                                     Boater – Brad Knight, Wisconsin

Co-Angler – Matt Felty, Maryland                                                                 Co-Angler – Don Ary, Ohio

NORTHWEST Division                                                                                       SOUTHERN Division

Boater – Jason Crone, Montana                                                                      Boater – Michael Deen, Georgia

Co-Angler – Douglass Stiffarm, Montana                                                 Co-Angler – Scott Neiheisel, Kentucky

SOUTHWEST Division – Boater Sam Heckman, Colorado & Co-Angler Adam Cacal, Nevada

TBF Division Champions fishing the final day. Back row is the Co-anglers L to R Matt Felty, MD., Don Ary, OH., Scott Neiheisel, KY., Guiseppe Andreoli, RI., Adam Cacal, NV, Joshua Moore, LA., Douglas Stiffarm, MT. Front row L to R Boaters, Robert Stock, NY., Michael Deen, GA., Brad Knight, WI., Jason Crone, MT., Sam Heckman, CO., Scott Whitehead, MS., Mike Morris, DE.

All 7 Division Champion Boaters and all 7 Division Champion Co-angler listed above advance to the 2021 BFL All-American.

Saturday’s final day of the TBF Federation Championship went right down to the wire exactly like a final day should.

In the end Delaware’s Mike Morris, the angler who talked to his wife before the event and considered not even coming to a foreign place he had never been to, halfway across the US. Did he have a real shot at winning? Should he forfeit his spot and let someone else go?

He made the correct decision and no one was more excited or grateful to hoist the National Champion Trophy and the $125,000 prize package check than Mike Morris was.  He truly is living his dream after his win.  You could say the key to his National Championship Title was consistency, he weighed in 13 pounds and 12 ounces on day 1, 14-09 day 2, and 13-14 on the final day for a total of 42-03 to top the boater field. The TBF Federation National Championship trophy along with the $125,000 Living YOUR Dream prize package consisting of $20,000 in cash, a new Ranger Z520, with 250 HP outboard fully rigged out with Lowrance electronics, MinnKota trolling motor, power poles, and more is his to keep. PLUS, up to $5,000 in paid entry fees to whatever he wants to fish to live his dream, travel stipend cash to help offset the cost to fish those events, a LYD clothing package, a berth into the 2021 BFL All-American, a berth into the 2021 Toyota Series Championship and a guaranteed spot in the 2022 MLF Big 5 Pro tour if he wants it and more.

On the Co-angler side, the performance was equally impressive, Louisiana Joshua Moore took home the Co-Angler National Champions title.

Winning a national event in your home state is very hard to do from the front of the boat much less from the back. As a co-angler, Joshua had to fish from the back of the boat and go wherever his daily boater took him.

Colorado’s Sam Heckman top Ranger FEDERATION bonus winner

On day 1 he weighed in 11-06, on day 2 he had 10-11, and on the final day he brought in his biggest bag at 14-05 giving him a three-day total of 36-07 and enough to win the Co-angler title and the $35,000 prize package that went with it.  His prize package included his Co-Angler National Championship Trophy, $20,000 cash, a $2,500 entry fee stipend to fish whatever he wants to live his dream, with a travel stipend to help offset the cost to fish those events, along with a good start on equipping a boat including a MinnKota trolling motor, not one but two Lowrance units, a Power pole Certificate, a $500 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Cash Card, along with a LYD clothing Package. PLUS, a berth into the 2021 BFL All-American Co-angler and a berth into the 2021 Toyota Series Championship as a co-angler, and more.

RANGER FEDERATION BONUS dollars were also awarded to the top Ranger boat owners on the boater and co-anglers’ side.  For the boaters, Colorado’s Sam Heckman finished in 6^th place and earned a $1,500 bonus through the RANGER FEDERATION BONUS program.

Ohio’s Don Ary top Ranger FEDERATION bonus winner

On the co-anglers side Ohio’s Don Ary finished in 4^th place and as a Ranger Owner that earned him a $750 bonus.

The event was filmed for television to highlight TBF Federation anglers and our program and will air on Federation Angler TV on the Pursuit Channel, on Outdoor Action TV, and various other networks. In total the tournament awards for this event set another Federation record and was over $380,000 in cash, prizes, stipends, and bonuses, with every angler receiving a payout of some amount, and it included paid lodging for the official days for all anglers, Federation angler rods to all, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s gift cards to all anglers, cash boat gas stipends to all boaters and other championship memorabilia.

To find out how you can get started fishing TBF and earn a spot in the 2022 TBF Federation National Championship go to bassfederation.com  to contact us or click a link on the state federation’s page to contact your State Federation President.