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Excitement is brewing as everyone gears up for the Bassmaster High School Series Tournament on May 19, 2024, at Sam Rayburn in Texas. This competition is not just for the high school pros but extends a warm welcome to our junior anglers as well!
🎣 Tournament Details:
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- Date: May 19, 2024
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- Location: Sam Rayburn, Texas
Open Spots:
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- 15 spots available for our talented junior anglers.
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- 70 spots awaiting high school competitors.
🔥 Act Fast – Register Now! Seize the opportunity to showcase your skills on the water. With only a limited number of spots available, time is of the essence. Don’t let this chance swim away – register now and secure your spot in this thrilling tournament.
📢 See the Flyer Below for Additional Details
How to Register: Visit Bassmaster and sign up for the Bassmaster High School Series Tournament. Ensure you’re part of the action-packed day where anglers come together to celebrate their passion for fishing.
Why Join?
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- Unforgettable Experience: Sam Rayburn, with its breathtaking scenery, promises an unforgettable backdrop for this tournament.
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- Friendly Competition: Compete with fellow anglers, make new friends, and share your love for the sport.
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- Prizes and Recognition: Aside from the thrill of the competition, fantastic prizes and recognition await the top performers.
Spread the Word! Tag your angling buddies and spread the news. Let’s make this Bassmaster High School Series Tournament a roaring success! 🌊🏆
Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to cast your way to victory. We’ll see you on May 19th at Sam Rayburn!
Lone Star Junior Bassmasters Win 2022 National Championship
Written by David A. Brown, STAFF
Photography by Laura Agee, STAFF
HUNTINGDON, Tenn. —- Victories are not always dramatic and glamorous, but Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters were proud of their gritty, gutsy effort.
Grinding through a stingy final round, they tallied a two-day total of 18 pounds, 5 ounces and won the Bassmaster Junior National Championship at the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreation Lake.
A Day 1 limit of 10-7 put Cerja and Richardson in second place. Catching another limite of 7-14 in the final round, they claimed the top award —- a $2,000 scholarship they’ll split.
“I’ve been fishing since I was 2, and I was taught to fish hard and grind and never give up,” Cerja said. “Today was touch, tough bite; we didn’t get our limit until about noon, whereas yesterday, we were culling at 10 a.m.”
“It’s just an exciting feeling to go home National Champions. I’ll sleep well tonight.”
After capitalizing on the barometric fluctuation of Friday’s passing storm system, which triggered aggressive feeding, Cerja and Richardson found the bass level active on the final day.
“I think it was pretty hard on the fish because they had just been fished,” Richardson said. “This is a pretty small lake and 65 teams were hitting the same spots (multiple times).”
As Cerja explained, their winning strategy was pure persistence, with a good dose of mobility.
“We started fishing War Eagle Creek but only had two in the box, so we went over to Jaguar Creek and caught one that was about 12 1/2 (inches),” Cerja said. “We said ‘We need a couple of big ones if we really to win this.’
“So, we went to Rocket Creek — that’s where I caught a 4 and (Richardson) caught a 2 1/2.”
Cerja said he and his partner caught their fish in 8 to 10 feet of water. Docks with grass and brushpilees were best, but they also fished the backs of shallow creek channels.
On Day 1, Richardson caught a 4-7 on a white fluke. The winners caught their other fish on 4-inch plum finesse worms, 7-inch Berkley Power Worms in blue fleck and Zoom U-Tale Worms in tequila green flake. The latter produced their largest Day 2 catch —- the 4-pounder.
“We thought it was better just twitching it pretty slowly and making sure we paid attention to the action —- just making it look like something a bass would want to eat,” Richardson said.
New Regions for 2023-24 Season
Northeast Region Director
Northwest Region Director
Steven Caldwell
We are thrilled announce an exciting addition to the Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth leadership team! Starting in the upcoming 2023-2024 season, Steven Caldwell will be stepping into the role of Northeast Region Director. We are excited that Steven will be bringing with him a passion for fishing and dedication to nurturing the next generation of anglers.
Steven Caldwell
817-319-9239
scaldwell@texasbass.org
TJ Riley
We are also thrilled to introduce an exceptional addition to the Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth leadership team. As we gear up for the upcoming 2023-2024 season, we’re excited to welcome TJ Riley as the newly appointed Northwest Director. With a strong background in fishing, a passion for youth development, and a commitment to fostering the next generation of anglers.
TJ Riley
817-337-0085
tjriley@texasbass.org
TPWD Scale Loaner Program Lends Hand to Lone Star Jr. Bassmasters
Media Contact: TPD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
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AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) teamed up with Lone Star Jr Bassmasters (LSJrBM) to promote conservation and healthy fisheries for the club’s Aug. 6 tournament at Lake Tawakoni out of Sky Point RV Park Marina. The event utilized digital scales provided by TPWD’s scale loaner program to incorporate the catch, weigh and immediate release format.
Located in the Dallas Forth-Worth area, LSJrBM club is affiliated with the Texas B.A.S.S Nation (TBN). The club, led by Director Robert Brown, is the first youth/high school fishing club in the state to employ the catch, weigh and immediate release format in an organized competitive youth angling event. Through the scale loaner program, TPWD is partnering with the club to help
protect Texas’ fisheries resources.
“I am so thankful for the TPWD scale loaner program and the support and coaching from TBN Conservation Director Dave Terre,” said Robert Brown, Lone Star Jr Bassmasters Director. “A month prior, during our July tournament in the sweltering heat, Dave was walking me through how to prepare our tanks for the weigh-in process, and suggested to me that a catch, weigh and immediate release format could greatly enhance the survivability of tournament fish, especially during these hot Texas days. I said let’s do it for our next event. So, Dave acquired the scales and made the trip to train our captains and support the weigh-in for our August derby.”
During the summer months, the use of these scales is especially important due to the hot weather conditions that are particularly stressful for bass. The added stress on the fish results in rates of high mortality, with a majority of deaths occurring after the fish are released (up through seven days post-release).
“We are in process now of obtaining member feedback on their perspective on the format used at Lake Tawakoni for consideration for future club tournaments,” added Brown.“I believe every LSJrBM member realizes the importance of fish care and how the catch, weigh, and release format can help limit the negative impacts on fish. Being able to instill this perspective into the minds of our youth anglers is pretty awesome.”
Traditional bass tournaments require anglers to hold up to five bass in livewells, removing them from their catch locations, followed by a weigh-in process on stage. According to studies, this format can lead to a fish mortality rate of 15-60 percent, or higher, depending on the water temperature.
“I applaud the LSJrBM club and TBN for their conservation minded efforts in their last tournament, and hope this is a stepping stone for more clubs and tournament directors moving forward,” said Jake Norman, Inland Fisheries Tyler District Supervisor. “While the traditional weigh-in format is heavily engrained in bass anglers, there is no denying the data available on summer-time delayed mortality, especially on larger fish that are targeted
during competition.”
The scale loaner program was launched in 2017 and currently has 100 digital scales available for public use. The first 60 loaner scales were originally donated to TPWD for use during the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), the tournament that pioneered the catch, weigh and immediate release format. The scales give tournament organizers the opportunity to host larger tournaments while keeping conservation at the forefront.
“As a management biologist, angler satisfaction is one of my top end goals, but there are only so many management actions we can take to maintain quality fishing opportunities for all,” added Norman. “Anglers such as those in the LSJrBM club taking some action of their own to ensure the greatest survival of tournament caught fish is a major step in ensuring our great fisheries persist for the future generations of anglers.”
TPWD uses Brecknell – Samson digital scales, which are the same ones used by Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour. These scales have been proven to give consistent readings during tournament competition and have the trust of anglers. In addition, they work properly to register a Toyota Sharelunker that might be caught in a tournament.
For organizations interested in borrowing the scales, the dates should be reserved in advance and need to be picked up and returned by the borrower. TPWD loans the scales free of charge. For more information about the scale loaner program and to make reservations, contact Todd Driscoll at todd.driscoll@tpwd.texas.gov or at 409-698-9114 ext. 229.
