Weather once again plays a major role in the catch ratio for anglers on Patoka Lake, during the SAF High School Fishing State Championship.  Clouds and rain came thru the area on Friday and the fish bit pretty well as some teams reported having a really good practice.  Then the front passed and high, clear, blue-bird skies and no wind was all that was left for Saturday.  Is was a really pretty day, but the fish di not cooperate very well.

Ryan Seitz and Brady Osborn brought in just one of the nine limits to be weighed on Saturday.  Their weight was 15-06 pounds and good enough for the win.  Just ounces behind them, was the team of Joe Childs and Mason Willis with a solid bog of 14-11 pounds.  Finishing third was the team of Wesley Warnock and Richard Vanness with 14-06 pounds.  Connor Moon and Peyton Attinger finished fourth with 13-06 pounds and Wesson Vint and Hunter Duracz weighed 13-01 for fifth place.  A tie for sixth between the teams of Judd Linette and Logan Taylor, along with Rylan Holly and Gatlen Olson at 12-10 rounded out the top seven teams that qualified for the National Championship in June at Lake Hartwell.  There was also a tie for overall Big Bass at 4-06 pounds.  Joe Childs and Mason Willis brought in a 4-06 lunker, as did Casen Owens and Jayden Reardon.  Each team received a new Lew’s Reel and a bag of sponsor products for their efforts.

Anglers reported catching several of their fish while bed fishing, using soft plastics.  Other anglers said they caught their fish on Ned Rigs, Tokyo Rigs, Drop Shots and Carolina Rigs, along with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits in less than 10 feet of water.  Congratulations to all the winners.

To see the full results and more pictures from this event CLICK HERE.

The 2024 Nebraska High School State Championship was held at Merritt Reservoir in Valentine, NE. It was a windy cooler day but most of the kids caught fish. Jack Hughes and Reece Perry from North Platte high school won the tournament with 9-95. They will advance to the National Championship in June on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC.

Rye Tiller and Maxwell Wyatt, Gothenburg Bassmasters, came in 2nd place with 6-64 and taking 3rd place was Ashton and Keaton Kuchar with 5-60.  The teams fished from 7:00AM-2:00PM and then enjoyed a little BBQ meal after.

The weather was very iffy leading up to the 2024 Kansas TBF High School and Junior State championships on April 27^th. Melvern Lake was forecasting Thunderstorms and winds 20-30 MPH and higher gusts most of the week prior. Mother Nature smiled and got rid of the storms and reduced the winds to a safer level.

Fishing was very tough with several empty livewells at Weigh-In.

The High School team of Nicholas Herman and Laiken Emanual, captained by Tate Herman had the only multi catch, 3 largemouth for 5 lbs, 10 oz. The Junior team of Hudson Komarek and Reed Rochel, captained by Scott Komarek had a beautiful smallmouth that weighed 2 lbs 10 oz.

All in all, a great day for the youth. The winning teams were presented with their trophies and Lew’s American Hero Spinning Combos donated by TBFKS. Also, Doman’s Outdoors in Lyndon, KS donated 2 very nice tackle bags and 5 spinning combos for door prizes.

Bill Horvath, KS TBF Youth Director