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Bugg’s Island to host dual state event May 21
06.May.2011
PONCA CITY, Okla. — The Bass Federation, (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, announced it will host the inaugural Student Angler Federation dual Virginia and North Carolina High School Fishing State Championship May 21 on John H Kerr Reservoir, aka Bugg’s Island, at South Hill, Va. The state championship is a two-person team event for students in grades 9-12.
Registration for high school anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is available online at HighSchoolFishing.org or by calling (580) 765-9031. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m. May 20 in the meeting room of the host motel, Days Inn South Hill, with a mandatory rules briefing following at 6:30 p.m. We highly encourage all teams to pre-register online or by phone in advance to avoid late-registration fees.
“The North Carolina Bass Federation is very excited to be working with our neighbors to the north in the Virginia Bass Federation to offer a Dual State Championship Bass Fishing event to every High School student in both states,” North Carolina Federation President Phillip Sain said. “Both the North Carolina and Virginia State championships will be crowned at the weigh-in. This is a great opportunity for students in our region to get involved with a clean family activity like the sport of fishing.”
“The Virginia Bass Federation is absolutely thrilled to be co-hosting a Dual State High School Championship for the student anglers of both Virginia and North Carolina,” Virginia TBF President Scotty Stephenson stated. “This is a great way for TBF members from both states to get involved with this great program and get these young anglers out on the water in a championship setting.”
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 Regional Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship hosted on a college campus this fall.
Ranger boats will be provided for the high school anglers to fish from at each regional championship, and the winners from each regional will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held on a college campus in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2012. All SAF members and state championship participants qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals, July 20-23 in Russellville, Ark., to compete for thousands in college scholarships and prizes. Start planning your vacation now! Each team that qualifies for a regional and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The High School Fishing National Championship winner’s will also each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.
If you’re not an SAF member, there’s a $25 fee per angler for the state championship, which includes full TBF/FLW Outdoors membership benefits, and the onetime fee covers ALL SAF sanctioned events all year!
“We’re proud to have federations like North Carolina and Virginia leading the way to bring this event to the area,” TBF National President Robert Cartlidge said. “Our affiliated state federations are the backbone of the industry; they’re on the ground doing the work to put on these types of events and give high school anglers a chance to grow their skills, have some fun, compete to advance and get involved with other programs the federations have to offer. Bugg’s Island is the perfect ‘border’ location for high school anglers from Virginia and North Carolina to come and compete. We will be crowning both the Virginia and North Carolina High School state champions in this dual state event.”
“Our Student Angler Federation has a great start in both states,” TBF National Youth Director Mark Gintert commented. “Several students participated in our High School Fishing World Finals last year held in Russellville, Ark. I’m sure they’re ready to show everyone in their home states how far they’ve come as anglers.”
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,” Gintert commented. “The Federation is driven by our desire to promote education through fishing and the testing component is designed to do exactly that. Put this package together with our partnership with FLW Outdoors and the sky is the limit. These young anglers will have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”
Event details:
• State Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at HighSchoolFishing.org OR BY PHONE (580) 765-9031. Questions? E-mail info@highschoolfishing.com or call (580) 765-9031. If you have to you can register at the Saturday mandatory check-in; however, there will be a $25/ per angler late fee. The best way is to pre-register online at HighSchoolFishing.org and avoid the late fee.
• Mandatory check-in: May 20, Days Inn South Hill Meeting Room, 4:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m. EDT, 911 E. Atlantic St., South Hill, VA 23970, (434) 447-3123. Rules briefing 6:30 p.m.
• Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, May 21, North Bend State Park, 1930 Mays Chapel Road Boydton, VA 23917, 7 a.m. to 3p.m.
