TBF
WHAT’S MAKING NEWS IN THE BASS FEDERATION
By Dan Johnson
SHOWDOWN ON HAMILTON
2018 TBF JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
T
he Bass Federation’s upcoming 2018 Junior World
Championship (JWC) promises to deliver all the fast-paced
action of past JWC youth events – plus exciting new twists
that ensure this year’s showdown is destined for the history books.
Set for Aug. 9-11 on the storied waters of Lake Hamilton out of
Hot Springs, Ark., the 2018 JWC will pit top youth bass anglers
from TBF state federations around the country against one another
in an all-out clash for the junior world crown and thousands in
scholarships and prizes.
Tyler White took
In fact, the payout is more than double that of the 2017 JWC, in
home top honors
which contestants from 36 states battled for more than $10,000 in
the last time
Arkansas’ Lake
prizes and scholarships.
Hamilton hosted the
Thanks to sweeping changes to the TBF Youth Program enacted
TBF Junior World
in 2017 by a unanimous vote of the TBF State Presidents’ Council
Championship.
(with input from TBF youth directors and conservation directors),
TBF junior anglers will fish out of their own boats in two-person
teams, accompanied by boat captains. The new rule extends to qualifying events as well.
“This change increased the opportunities for young bass anglers to participate by effectively doubling the field
size at JWC events in 2018 and beyond,” says TBF President and CEO Robert Cartlidge, who notes that rules on
pairings and captains are similar to those of the Student Angler Federation High School Fishing program. Cartlidge
adds that the JWC was expanded to three days to give the young anglers an extra day of competition. “Starting
with the 2018 JWC, all teams will fish two full days, after which the field will be cut by TBF division for the final day.”
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flWfIshIng.com I august-september 2018