Tennessee High School Fishing State Championship Set For May 12

  • Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, the Town of Kimball and the Tennessee Bass Federation announced it will host the 2012 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Tennessee High School Fishing State Championship. The event will be Saturday, May 12 on Nickajack Lake launching out of the Shellmound Ramp near Kimball. The championship is a two-person team event for students in grades 9-12. 

Registration for anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at HighSchoolFishing.org. Check-in begins at 5 p.m. CST on Friday, May 11 at the Kimball Town Park with a mandatory rules briefing to follow at 6:30 p.m. Officials highly encourage all teams to preregister online or by phone in advance to avoid late registration fees.

“The Town of Kimball is honored to host the SAF Tennessee High School Fishing State Championship for 2012,” Kimball Mayor David Jackson said.  “We’re looking forward to all the families and other visitors coming to Kimball that weekend. These youth will one day be the leaders of our state, and with the patience and knowledge it takes to fish this is a great foundation. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has always supported different youth programs, and this tournament provides us an opportunity to show our support for the young anglers of the state.  We hope everyone has a great time in Kimball and we wish all the anglers the best of luck!”

Kimball is rolling out the red carpet for the event. They will be providing a catered dinner Friday after the rules briefing, a T-shirt for the participants, as well as, other fishing goodies.  Professional angler and fishing guide, David DuVall, will give a brief introduction on the Alabama/Tennessee rig and Nickajack Lake.  Each angler will also receive tackle donated by Yank-Um Custom Tackle, Sworming Hornet Fish Head Spins, Wackem Crazy Baits, Trixster Custom Baits, JP’s Jigs and Rigs, and Timber Ghost Hunt-N-Fish. Staff from Sworming Hornet/Yank-Um Rods will be at the meeting and weigh-in with all products available at discounted rates.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s fishing team will be on hand to answer questions about college fishing.  Coverage of the event will be on Channel3Outdoors.com, an affiliate of WRCB in Chattanooga.

Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is only $25/ year and includes full TBF and FLW Outdoors benefits, including access to the all-new FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The winning two-person team from each state championship will advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Conference Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Conference Championship. Those winners will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2013. All SAF members and state championship participants qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2012 High School Fishing World Finals to compete for thousands of dollars in college scholarships and prizes. Each team that qualifies for a conference and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The National Champions will also each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.

If you are not an SAF member, there’s a $25/per angler fee, which includes full TBF/FLW Outdoors membership benefits for the year, as well as, free entry to ALL SAF sanctioned events.

Another unique feature of an SAF sanctioned event is the “angler testing” component. Anglers can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org  about boater safety, conservation and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for contingency awards at their state championship. “It’s an industry first by TBF and a tremendous way to emphasize the importance of education to these student anglers,” SAF Program Manager, Alex Craw, commented. “The Federation is driven by our desire to promote education through fishing and the testing component is designed to do exactly that. We also offer all TBF/SAF members 11 free online training courses in our member’s only online store with Faculty of Fishing’s angler advantage program. Put this package together with all the programs our affiliated state federations like the Tennessee Bass Federation have to offer, and our partnership with FLW Outdoors, and the sky is the limit,” Craw continued.  “These young anglers and their families have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”

Event Details:

State Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at HighSchoolFishing.org .  Boat numbers are determined by paid registration date.  A $25 late registration fee applies to those registering or paying at check-in. The best way is to pre-register and pre pay online at www.highschoolfishing.org .

Mandatory Check-in: Friday, May 11, 5-6:30 p.m. CST, at the Kimball Town Park, 3591 Industrial Blvd., Kimball, Tn. 37347. Mandatory rules briefing at 6:30 p.m. with dinner compliments of the Town of Kimball.

Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, May 12, at the Shellmound Park Ramp on Nickajack Lake, 2745 TVA Rd, Jasper, TN 37347. Takeoff, 5:30 a.m. and weigh-in, 2 p.m. CST. Competition waters include Nickajack Lake only; anglers are NOT allowed to lock. For information, email alex@highschoolfishing.org or call 580 765-9031.

Host Hotels: The Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8 and America’s Best in Kimball have committed discounted rates to participants and their families that mention the Tn. High School Fishing State Championship.

Outdoors
Green Thumb Garden Club Meeting Topic Is "Tennessee Smart Yards" April 8
  • 3/26/2024

The Green Thumb Garden Club of Collegedale/Ooltewah will meet Monday, April 8 at 6:45 p.m. at Chestnut Hall (in the Commons), 4950 Swinyar Dr. in Collegedale. The presenter is Master Gardener ... more

Ford Little Appointed To Tennessee Fish And Wildlife Commission
Ford Little Appointed To Tennessee Fish And Wildlife Commission
  • 3/23/2024

Ford Little has been named to the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission. A Knoxville native, he will represent Commission District 2 which consists of 11 counties. His appointment runs through ... more

2024-25 Hunting And Trapping Proposals Presented To Commission At March Meeting
  • 3/23/2024

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission heard proposals for the state’s 2024-25 hunting and trapping seasons at its two-day meeting which concluded Friday at Buffalo Ridge Refuge. The Tennessee ... more