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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ponca City,
Okla. (Aug. 17, 2011) – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW
Outdoors, announced it will be hosting the inaugural Student Angler Federation
Indiana High School Fishing State Championship, September 10 at Newton Stuart South launch ramp at Patoka
Lake, Jasper, Ind. 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 online at HighSchoolFishing.org
or by calling 580.765.9031. Check-in begins at 5:30pm Friday, September 9 at
the Jasper Inn and Convention Center with a mandatory rules briefing to follow
at 7pm. We highly encourage all teams to pre-register online or by phone in
advance to avoid late registration fees.
“The
DuBois County Visitors Center is
extremely pleased to be hosting the inaugural Student Angler Federation High
School State Bass Fishing Tournament at Patoka Lake,” Executive Director of
Dubois County Visitors Center and Tourism Commission, Steve Manley, commented. “This gives us a great opportunity to bring in
families from across the state to see what a great area Dubois County really
is. We are looking forward to watching this event grow over the next few
years."
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. 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 2012 High School Fishing World Finals to
compete for thousands in college scholarships and prizes. 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/per angler fee 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 very excited to be working with the Indiana
Bass Federation and the Dubois County Visitors Center and Tourism Commission to
bring this event to the state of Indiana and Patoka Lake,” 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
Indiana Bass Federation has to offer.”
“High School anglers in are
fortunate to have the Indiana Bass Federation well established in this state
and eager to help with this event, which promises to be a great one,” TBF
National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, commented. “Our Student Angler
Federation has a great start in Indiana with several state students
participating in our High School Fishing World Finals this year held in
Russellville, Arkansas. I’m sure they’re ready to show everyone in the state
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:
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State
Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at HighSchoolfishing.org
OR BY PHONE 580.765.9031. Questions? info@highschoolfishing.org or call 580.765.9031. If you have to you can
register at the Friday Mandatory Check-in. The
best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org.
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Mandatory
Check-in: Friday, September 9, 5:30pm at the Jasper Inn and
Convention Center, Jasper, Ind.; 951 Wernsing Rd. Jasper, Ind., 47546; Mandatory
rules briefing to immediately follow at 7pm.
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For
discounted room rates reference the Indiana State Bass Fishing Championship
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Takeoff
& Weigh-in: Saturday,
September 10 at Newton Stuart South launch ramp at Patoka Lake, Jasper, Ind.; 6:30am or safe light take-off, 2:30pm weigh-in.
About FLW Outdoors
FLW Outdoors is the largest
fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the
opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011.
FLW Outdoors has taken fishing mainstream with the world’s
richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing presented by Straight Talk,
where competitors can play for free, as well as, sign up for Player’s Advantage
to gain an edge. For more information about FLW Outdoors and FLW Fantasy
Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com
or FantasyFishing.com.
About
The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is
owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF is the
largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing organization. TBF affiliated
state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing,
youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a
foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years. Visit bassfederation.com.
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