2018 TBF, FLW HIGH SCHOOL FISHING SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

NEWS RELEASE

 

TBF, FLW ANNOUNCE 2018 HIGH SCHOOL FISHING SCHEDULE

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 9, 2017) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) and The Bass Federation (TBF) announced Thursday the 2018 High School Fishing schedule, including 29 Student Angler Federation (SAF) High School Fishing State Championships, 24 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Opens, seven state high school athletic association sanctioned tournaments and three SAF High School Fishing Challenge tournaments, plus the most anticipated events of the year, the High School Fishing National Championship and World Finals on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama.

“High School Fishing is the perfect recruitment, retention and reactivation program,” said FLW President of Operations Kathy Fennel. “Since its introduction in 2010 with the inaugural High School Fishing World Finals, we’ve seen how effective it is at getting new anglers and lapsed anglers on the water while retaining existing anglers who often serve as mentors for school teams. You need to look no further than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation that shows an 8 percent increase in fishing participation since 2011 to see the program’s effectiveness. While several factors undoubtedly play into this growth, High School Fishing is certainly a leading contributor. We are creating a whole new generation of anglers and providing them with a connection to their schools and the outdoors.”

The more than 20,000 anglers that participated in the TBF/FLW High School Fishing program this year will have 72 tournaments in which to compete in 2018.

“As the sport’s leading youth organization, we are proud to have FLW as our partner in providing more fishing opportunities for more high school students across North America than anyone else,” said TBF President Robert Cartlidge. “Together TBF and FLW are laying the foundation on which our sport will continue to build, and we look forward to another incredible season working with schools from New York to California and into Canada to provide unprecedented opportunities for students and their families.”

2018 High School Fishing World Finals/National Championship:

June 26-30                   Pickwick Lake                                                                                              Florence, Ala.

 

2018 Bass Pro Shops FLW High School Fishing Opens:

Jan. 13                           Lake Mitchell Open                                                                                     Clanton, Ala.

March 3                         Columbus Pool Open                                                                                 Columbus, Miss.

March 10                       Douglas Lake Open                                                                                    Kodak, Tenn.

March 17                       Truman Lake Open                                                                                     Warsaw, Mo.

April 7                            High Rock Lake Open                                                                                Lexington, N.C.

May 5                             Mississippi River Open (Wis.)                                                                   La Crosse, Wis.

May 12                           Lake O’ the Pines Open                                                                             Jefferson, Texas

May 13                           Clear Lake Open/Calif. State Championship                                        Lakeport, Calif.

May 20                           Smith Mountain Lake Open                                                                      Huddleston, Va.

June 3                            Whitefish Chain Open                                                                                Crosslake, Minn.

June 9                            Raisin River Open                                                                                       Monroe, Mich.

Sept. 8                           Rend Lake Open                                                                                         Whittington, Ill.

Sept. 15                         Kentucky Lake Open                                                                                  Gilbertsville, Ky.

Sept. 22                         Raystown Lake Open                                                                                 Hesston, Pa.

Sept. 29                         Wheeler Lake Open                                                                                    Decatur, Ala.

Oct. 6                              Lake Monroe Open                                                                                     Bloomington, Ind.

Oct. 13                           Lake Murray Open                                                                                      Prosperity, S.C.

Oct. 20                           Grand Lake Open                                                                                        Grove, Okla.

Oct. 27                           Mosquito Creek Lake Open                                                                      Cortland, Ohio

Nov. 3                            Dale Hollow Lake Open                                                                             Burkesville, Ky.

Nov. 10                          Ouachita River Open                                                                                  West Monroe, La.

Nov. 17                          Lake Hamilton Open                                                                                  Hot Springs, Ark.

Dec. 8                            Lake Seminole Open                                                                                 Bainbridge, Ga.

Dec. 15                          Lake Okeechobee Open                                                                            Clewiston, Fla.

 

2018 SAF High School Fishing State Championships:

Feb. 10                          Georgia State Championship – West Point Lake                                 LaGrange, Ga.

Feb. 24                          Florida State Championship – St. John’s River                                     Putnam County, Fla.

March 10                       Texas State Championship – Lake Palestine                                       Flint, Texas

March 24                       Louisiana State Championship – Cross Lake                                       Shreveport, La.

March 31                       Kentucky State Championship – Lake Cumberland                            Somerset, Ky.

March 31                       Kansas State Championship – Wilson Lake                                         Russell, Kan.

April 7                            Mississippi State Championship – Tenn. Tom Waterway                   Columbus, Miss.

April 8                            Illinois State Championship – Clinton Lake                                           Weldon, Ill.

April 14                          Virginia and North Carolina State Championships – Kerr Lake        Henderson, N.C.

April 28                          New Hampshire State Championship – Lake Winnipesaukee         Gilford, N.H.

April 29                          South Carolina State Championship – Lake Murray                           Prosperity, S.C.

April 29                          Tennessee State Championship – Kentucky Lake                              Birdsong, Tenn.

May 5                             Idaho State Championship – C.J. Strike Reservoir                              Mountain Home, Idaho

May 6                             Arkansas State Championship – Lake Dardanelle                              Russellville, Ark.

May 12                           Ohio State Championship – Alum Creek Reservoir                             Columbus, Ohio

May 13                           California State Championship/Clear Lake Open                                Lakeport, Calif.

May 19                           Alabama State Championship – Lake Neely Henry                            Gadsden, Ala.

May 20                           Iowa State Championship – Mississippi River                                      Davenport, Iowa

May 27                           Oklahoma State Championship – Fort Gibson Lake                           Wagoner, Okla.

June 2                            Tri-State Championship (Conn., Mass., R.I.) – East Brimfield Lake  Sturbridge, Mass.

June 2                            Indiana State Championship – Brookville Lake                                    Brookville, Ind.

June 17                         Minnesota State Championship – Mille Lacs Lake                              Isle, Minn.

July 7                             South Dakota State Championship – Lake Henry                                TBD

July 8                             Quad State Championship (Pa., Del., Md., N.J.) – TBD                       TBD

July 21                           Nebraska State Championship – Missouri River                                  Niobrara, Neb.

July 28                           Michigan State Championship – Gull Lake                                           Kalamazoo, Mich.

Aug. 5                            Wisconsin State Championship – Bay of Green Bay                           Oconto, Wis.

Sept. 16                         New York State Championship – Great Sacandaga Lake                  TBD

 

2018 SAF High School Fishing Challenges:

Feb. 18                          Lake Hartwell Early Bird Challenge                                                        Anderson, S.C.

June 24                         New England Challenge – Lake Winnipesaukee                                 Gilford, N.H.

Sept. 16                         Minnesota Open Challenge (Walleye) – Lake Bemidji                       Bemidji, Minn.

 

2018 State Athletic Association Events:

March 17                       GICAA Georgia State Championship – TBD                                         TBD

May 20                           IHSA Illinois State Championship – Carlyle Lake                                Carlyle, Ill.

April 21                          KHSAA Kentucky Regional Championship – Lake Barkley                               Kuttawa, Ky.

April 21                          KHSAA Kentucky Regional Championship – Lake Cumberland      Somerset, Ky.

April 21                          KHSAA Kentucky Regional Championship – Green River Lake       Campbellsville, Ky.

April 21                          KHSAA Kentucky Regional Championship – Cave Run Lake           Morehead, Ky.

May 11-12                     KHSAA Kentucky State Championship – Kentucky Lake                   Calvert City, Ky.

 

Additional SAF High School Fishing State Championships are being added. For the latest SAF High School Fishing State Championship and Challenge tournament schedule, visit HighSchoolFishing.org.

Complete rules are available at FLWFishing.com and HighSchoolFishing.org.

Registration for the 2018 season opens December 4, 2017, for the Lake Mitchell Open. Registration for all other events will begin Jan. 3, 2018. For SAF High School Fishing State Championships, each team must compete in the state in which their school is located. Teams from all states can compete in FLW High School Fishing Open tournaments and SAF High School Fishing Challenge events. Entries for State Championships and Challenge events should be made at HighSchoolFishing.org or by calling TBF at (580) 765-9031 and entries for Opens should be made at FLWFishing.com or by calling FLW at (270) 252-1000. There is no limit to the number of teams accepted into a tournament from each school or club.

All FLW and TBF High School Fishing tournaments are free to enter. The tournaments are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and open to any SAF-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams competing in each event held prior to June 10 will advance directly to the 2018 High School Fishing National Championship, held in conjunction with the pinnacle event in all of High School Fishing, the 2018 High School Fishing World Finals, June 26-30 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama. Qualifiers in tournaments held June 10 or later will advance to the 2019 High School Fishing National Championship. The High School Fishing National Championship awards the winning team a $10,000 scholarship ($5,000 per student).

All SAF High School Fishing members automatically qualify to compete in the industry’s most prestigious high school bass tournament, the 2018 High School Fishing World Finals. At the 2017 High School Fishing World Finals more than $170,000 in scholarships and prizes were offered to 332 teams from 33 states and Canada.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow High School Fishing on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and Facebook.com/HSfishing. Visit FLWFishing.com and HighSchoolFishing.org for more information on how to sign up or to start a club at your school.

About FLW

FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 258 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.

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 more than 45 years. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.

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District 10 Hosts National Semi-Final Event With Another Chart-Topping Payout

Illinois and Indiana Advance Anglers to Nationals; 14 Boater and Co-angler Places Paid

Brad Schneck

 The Illinois Bass Federation hosted the 2017 TBF National Semifinal District 10 event October 28-29 on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes.  At take-off anglers were met with nearly freezing temperatures of 34 degrees and cloudy skies with 7 mph winds throughout the day.  One hundred and forty-two anglers launched from Kentucky Dam Village Marina fighting for top honors and record breaking NSF payouts.  Coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship were awarded to the top Illinois boater and co-angler and the top two boaters and co-anglers from Indiana.  Indiana’s state participation numbers allowed for a total of four NSF angler slots in the national event.

Brad Schneck

A total of $24,840 with 115% payback was awarded in cash and prizes.  The top 14 boaters and co-anglers in the 72 boat field divvied up $16,200 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater (if he/she runs a 2012 or newer Etec Evinrude).

The new format pays back 100% of the entry fees, 75% to the top 20% of the field, 10% to the state federations and 15% to the TBF Federation National Championship.

On day one Indiana angler, Paul Jones, would lead it in the boater division with four fish weighing 10.13 pounds.  Tied for second were Elliot Myers and Brad Schneck also from Indiana.  Both anglers had three fish for 10.06 pounds.

Jerry Arnett

On the co-angler side, Bruce Schuyler from Indiana led after day one with four fish weighing 9.07 pounds.  In second and third, were Justin Robison with 8.12 pounds and Mickey Ross with 7.04 pounds.

After two days of competition, Schneck made his move from third to win it all with a five bass limit weighing 12.03 pounds making his tournament total 22.09 pounds.  He will advance to nationals representing Indiana as the National Semi-Final Champion Boater.  He also received a whopping $3,300 paycheck for his win and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec Award for being the winning boater who owns a 2012 or newer Evinrude Etec.

Bruce Schuyler

Less than a pound away in second overall was Indiana boater, Jerry Arnett.  Arnett had a limit of bass weighing 12.12 pounds making his tournament total 21.14 pounds.  He earned a $2,000 check and will also advance to the 2018 Federation National Championship representing Indiana.

Day one co-angler leader, Bruce Schuyler, came to the scales empty-handed.  But, his 9.07 pound day one weight was enough to earn him the National Semi-Final Champion co-angler title and punch his ticket to the national event.  Schuyler also received a $1,650 cash award for his finish.

Rodney Johnson

Advancing alongside Schuyler to represent the Indiana in the co-angler division was second place finisher Rodney Johnson.  Johnson blanked on day one but came in with two solid fish for 9 pounds.  Johnson received a $1,000 paycheck.

Illinois anglers advancing to nationals were boater, Brian Elgin and co-angler, Jeff Morrison.  Elgin came in third overall with a tournament total of 17.06 pounds.  He also received the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified and registered angler.

Brian Elgin

The Indiana Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the District 10 State Pride Award with 34 pounds to Illinois’s 28.14 pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state selected prior to the event.

The National Semi-Final format rolled out last year replacing the divisional events and state team line-ups.  TBF anglers can now advance to a close-to-home NSF event in one of two ways.  Active state clubs can advance their top two anglers, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater.  The new format has been highly successful with state participation and membership up across the nation.

The event also went well thanks to the Illinois Bass Federation that ran the event and all the support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.

FULL RESULTS

PAYOUT

National Semi-Final District 3 Anglers See Record Payouts on Kentucky Lake

 Kentucky and Tennessee Advance Anglers to Nationals

The Bass Federation hosted the 2017 TBF National Semifinal District 3 event as 162 anglers converged on Kentucky Lake, October 21-22, fighting for top honors and record-breaking NSF payouts. Coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship were awarded to the top boater and co-angler from each state.  Eighty-four boats launched from Paris Landing and were met with clear skies and calm waters but several struggled to find the bite.

A total of $28,680 with 114% payback was awarded in cash and prizes.  The top two boaters and co-anglers in the 84 boat field divvied up a whopping $18,900 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater (if he/she runs a 2012 or newer Etec Evinrude).

The new format pays back 100% of the entry fees, 75% to the top 20% of the field, 10% to the state federations and 15% to the TBF Federation National Championship.

As day one wrapped up the race was still tight as Tennessee angler, Larry Dunlap, led the field with a solid 20.04 pounds.  Dunlap didn’t find many bites but the ones he did he made count.  Sitting in second and also from Tennessee was Jason Sosebee with 15.05 pounds.  In third and fourth place was Tennessee father and son competitors, Eric and Dylan Fuller.  Dylan claimed third by just 3 ounces with 13.08 pounds to Eric’s 13.05 pounds.

On the co-angler side, Eugene Puckett of Kentucky led with 12.09 pounds.  Puckett and second place angler, Chris Franco from Tennessee were the only two co-anglers to find double digits on day one.  James Burns & Hunter Young both of Kentucky were sitting in third and fourth with 9.12 and 8.12 pounds.

On day two, cooler temps, increased cloud cover, stronger winds and scattered rain throughout the day made for a chilly morning run but heavier weights at the scales.  Dunlap put together another solid limit of bass weighing 14.05 pounds to make his tournament total 34.09 pounds and be named the 2017 National Semi-Final Champion boater.  Dunlap received a record-setting $4,370 paycheck and will advance to nationals representing Tennessee.

Tennessee anglers swept the field holding first through seventh places on the boater’s side.  Finishing in second and cashing in a $2,230 paycheck was Eric Fuller with 29.05 pounds.  Dylan Fuller took third with 26.13 pounds.  Terry Harris came in fourth with 24.07 pounds and received the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler.

The top Kentucky boater who will advance to the national event was Steven Taylor finishing in eighth overall with 18.07 pounds.

On the co-angler side, Kentucky angler, BJ Nelson, vaulted to the top of the leader board with a 14.13 pound sack.  Nelson only caught two fish for 4.07 pounds on day one but went out on Sunday refusing to give up, good thing he didn’t.  His 19.04 pound bag would earn him the 2017 National Semi-Final Champion co-angler title, a $2,185 prize check and a slot at the national contest.

The top Tennessee co-angler was Chris Franco who came in fourth overall with 13.05 pounds; he’ll also advance to nationals representing his state.

The Tennessee Bass Federation made the final sweep for state bragging rights and the District 3 State Pride Award to settle the score with Kentucky’s win last year, 87.13 to 44.12 pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state selected prior to the event.

The National Semi-Finals format rolled out last year replacing the divisional events and state team line-ups.  TBF anglers can now advance to a close-to-home NSF event in one of two ways.  Active state clubs can advance their top two anglers, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater.  The new format has been highly successful with state participation and membership up across the nation.

This was the largest NSF event to date since introducing the new format last year.  The event went well thanks to the hosting state of Tennessee, volunteers, as well as, TBF’s Sponsors: FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, MinnKota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.

FULL RESULTS

District 14 Hosts National Semi-Final Event on the St. Lawrence River

New York, Ontario and Pennsylvania Advance Anglers to National Event

The 2017 TBF National Semifinal District 14 event rolled out on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario October 7-8.  The host town of Cape Vincent was a gracious host as anglers arrived setting their sights on the monster smallmouth that inhabit the area.  Unfortunately, Big ‘O bared her teeth and rough waters would ultimately lead tournament officials to cancel day two.  Those that braved the waters on day one were rewarded with bags over 24 pounds while several others had to cut the day short.  Sixty-two boats sought the champion titles and coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship plus bragging rights, deeper payouts, trophies and Ranger Cup and Evinrude contingencies.

A total of $21,640 with 116% payback was awarded in cash and prizes.  The top two boaters and co-anglers in the 62 boat field divvied up $13,950 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater (if he/she runs a 2012 or newer Etec Evinrude).

The new format pays back 100% of the entry fees, 75% to the top 20% of the field, 10% to the state federations and 15% to the TBF Federation National Championship.

Two Ontario anglers, Andrew Shufelt and Charles Simm, would end up taking first and second on the boater’s side with a mere 0.34 separating them.  Shufelt had a limit of bass weighing 24.56 pounds to be named 2017 National Semi-Final Champion boater.  He received a whopping $3,100 for his win & will advance to the national event.

Simm had a limit of bass weighing 24.22 pounds.  He earned a $1,840 paycheck plus the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler.

Other NSF boaters advancing to the 2018 Federation National Championship were top Pennsylvania angler, John Schoener, who finished third overall with 23.25 pounds.  Schoener was just a few pounds shy of the top spot and he will advance to the national event representing his state.

There was plenty of drama on the New York qualifying side, as well.  Chris Gore and Brian Sanson would end up only .77 pounds apart.  But, Gore’s limit of bass weighing 18.24 pounds would land him in fourth place overall and get him a ticket to nationals.

The co-angler race was just as tight.  Pennsylvania anglers, Colton Sowers and Brett Dalrymple, finished in first and second with 19.41 and 18.66 pounds.  Sowers received a $1,550 paycheck for his win and will advance to the national contest representing his state.

Top Ontario and New York co-anglers were Will McFarlane and David Dumas.  McFarlane finished in fourth overall with 15.88 pounds and Dumas finished in a close fifth with 13.89 pounds.  Both anglers grabbed the co-angler nod to the national championship.

The Ontario Bass Federation ran away with the District 14 State Pride Award with 109.77 total pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state selected prior to the event.

The National Semi-Finals format rolled out last year replacing the divisional events and state team line-ups.  TBF anglers can now advance to a close-to-home NSF event in one of two ways.  Active state clubs can advance their top two anglers, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater.  The new format has been highly successful with state participation and membership up across the nation.

The event went well thanks to the hosting state of Pennsylvania, as well as, TBF’s Sponsors: FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, MinnKota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.

FULL RESULTS