TBF
WHAT’S MAKINg NEWS IN THE BASS FEDERATION
By Dan Johnson
M C KINNEY, BAKER WIN 2018 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
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get here. We covered a lot of water in practice and put
rey McKinney and James Baker of the Illinois Junior
together a plan that worked out in the end.”
Bass Federation fished hard and smart to win top hon-
That plan included tag-teaming shorelines, with one part-
ors at the 2018 The Bass Federation Junior World
ner throwing topwaters to the bank while the other combed
Championship Aug. 9-11 on Arkansas’ Lake Hamilton out of
deeper water with a drop-shot rig.
Hot Springs.
“On day two, we felt we could lock in our division with a
On day one, McKinney and Baker led the Northern
decent bag, so we saved our best banks,” adds Baker. “We
Division and were in third place overall with a five-fish limit
went searching and caught four fish in random spots that
weighing 9 pounds. They held onto the divisional lead and
were enough to make the finals.”
moved into first place overall on day two with four fish for 6
pounds, 10 ounces and a 15-pound, 10-
ounce two-day total.
Only the teams that won their divi-
sion moved on to day three. And with all
weights zeroed for the finals, the pres-
sure was on. McKinney and Baker
responded with a 6-pound, 11-ounce
limit for the victory.
“The competition was very tough,”
says McKinney, 13, of Goreville, Ill.
“Bringing home the trophies was an
accomplishment. I’d like to thank the
Lord and my parents for their support in
this event. I couldn’t have done it with-
out them.”
“This feels great,” adds Baker, 14, of
Marion, Ill. “It was only our second tour-
nament together. The first was when we
Trey McKinney (left) and James Baker react to being named the 2018 JWC champions.
won the Illinois State Championship to
flWfIshIng.com I fall 2018