Ponca City,
Okla. (July 15, 2011) – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW
Outdoors, announced it will be hosting the inaugural Student Angler Federation
Wisconsin and Iowa High School Fishing State Championship Saturday, August 27
at St. Feriole Island Marina Boat Launch, in Prarie du Chien, Wisc. 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 open online at HighSchoolFishing.org
or by calling 580.765.9031. Check-in begins at 5pm on Friday, August 26 at the
Cabelas in Prarie du Chien, Wisc. A
mandatory rules briefing will follow at 7pm. We highly encourage all teams to
pre-register online or by phone well in advance.
"The City of Prairie du Chien is thrilled to be hosting
the inaugural Wisconsin and Iowa State High School Bass Fishing Championship,”
Tourism Coordinator, Patti Wacker, commented.
“We are looking forward to showing student anglers and their families
from across the state what a great vacation destination our city truly is.”
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/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
Wisconsin Bass Federation to bring this event to the Prarie du Chien 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 Bass Federation has to offer.”
“High
school anglers in the Wisconsin and Iowa areas are fortunate to have the Wisconsin
Bass Federation well established in the surrounding states and eager to help
with this event, which promises to be a great one,” TBF National Youth
Director, Mark Gintert, stated. “Our Student Angler Federation has a great
start with several students participating in our High School Fishing World
Finals last year in Russellville, Arkansas. I’m sure these high school anglers
are ready to show everyone in their states how skilled they are 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 info@highschoolfishing.org
or call 580.765.9031. If you have to you can register at the Friday, Mandatory
Check-in, HOWEVER, the best way is to
pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org.
·
Mandatory
Check-in: Friday, August 26, 5-7pm at the Cabela’s in Prarie du
Chien. Mandatory rules briefing to
follow at 7pm.
·
Takeoff
& Weigh-in: Saturday, August 27 at St. Feriole
Island Marina Boat Launch (Just Off Washington St.), in Prarie du Chien, WI,
6am and 2pm.
·
Host
Hotel: Country Inn &
Suites By Carlson, Buckhorn Grill & Pub, Bear Foot Bay Indoor Waterpark:
1801 Cabela's Lane, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821; Phone: 608-326-5700; Fax:
608-326-5724;
Email: pdcsales@centralgroupcompanies.com;
Rooms are available at a 15% discount for August 25th,
26th, and 27th.
You must reference the “Student Angler Fishing
Championship” to receive this discounted rate and space is limited. Rooms not reserved by August 5 will automatically release.
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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