In another move to increase participation , the existing lower age limit of 11 was removed to allow all youngsters ages 15 and under ( as of Aug . 31 of the JWC competition year ) to participate . Rules mandating that TBF junior clubs be tied to an adult club were also eliminated .
Rule changes aside , the 2018 JWC is expected to produce exciting bass fishing . When the JWC last visited Lake Hamilton in August 2015 , a variety of fishing areas and presentations were in play . West Virginia ’ s Tyler White won the event after locating the mother lode of schooling bass in a cove and coaxing them with a mix of topwaters and drop-shot rigs .
White ’ s two daily limits weighed 8 pounds , 11 ounces and 11 pounds , 4 ounces , respectively , which suggests that a 10-pound daily average and 30-plus-pound three-day total at the 2018 JWC is not out of the question – especially considering that anglers will now compete in two-person teams .
The 2018 JWC will be held in conjunction with the Forrest Wood Cup , which will be contested on Lake Ouachita just up the road from Lake Hamilton . JWC anglers will parade across the FLW main stage Saturday afternoon .
Hosted by Visit Hot Springs , the 2018 JWC also includes a variety of other events and activities for the young competitors and their families to enjoy outside of tournament hours . The event coincides with TBF ’ s annual leadership conference , in which state presidents , youth directors and conservation directors from across the nation will gather to chart the course of TBF ’ s future .
JWC weigh-ins begin at 1:30 p . m . daily at the Clarion Resort on the Lake in Hot Springs . The action will also stream live online at bassfederation . com . For details , visit bassfederation . com , or call TBF National Headquarters at 580.765.9031 .
FLW / TBF STUDENT ANGLER FEDERATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Feb . 10 – Georgia HS State Championship , West Point Lake , Thomas Chastain and Carter Ott Feb . 24 – Florida HS State Championship , St . Johns River , Chaz Raulerson and Reed Lynch ( shown below )
April 14 – Virginia HS State Championship , Kerr Lake , Ashton Frost and Justin Carico April 28 – Arizona HS State Championship , Lake Pleasant , Trinity Apodaca and Camden Lachance
March 10 – Texas HS State Championship , Lake Palestine , Will Carlile and Zachary Hastings March 24 – Louisiana HS State Championship , Cross Lake , Ethan Tasche and Hunter Cheney March 31 – Kentucky HS State Championship , Lake Cumberland , Blake Harold and Cameron Cochran March 31 – Kansas HS State Championship , Wilson Lake , Thomas Heinen and Brock Bila April 7 – Illinois HS State Championship , Clinton Lake , Ty Coon and Clayton Hill April 7 – Mississippi HS State Championship , Columbus Lake , James Willoughby and Ashton Saucier April 14 – Missouri HS State Championship , Truman Lake , Zach Hobbs and Tristan Konenik April 14 – North Carolina HS State Championship , Kerr Lake , Trevor Lewis and Austin Braswell
august-september 2018 I flWfIshIng . com
April 29 – South Carolina HS State Championship , Lake Murray , Kyler McKie and Chad Champy ( shown above ) April 29 – Tennessee HS State Championship , Kentucky Lake , Tyler Finley and Hunter Jones May 5 – Idaho HS State Championship , CJ Strike Reservoir , Kyle Nicholson and Eyston Kunz May 6 – Arkansas HS State Championship , Lake Dardanelle , Bryer Pennington and Jack Arnette May 12 – Ohio HS State Championship , Alum Creek , Keaton Potter and Mitchell Hale May 12 – Utah HS State Championship , Pelican Reservoir , Patrick Palepoi and Isaac Staley May 19 – Alabama HS State Championship , Lake Neely Henry , Jace McNutt and Jon Hayden Raper For complete results and more information on the High School Fishing program , visit highschoolfishing . org .
105