Hot Springs’ Clarion Resort was ground zero for JWC tournament action.
More About the JWC
The no-entry-fee event featured 36 top youth bass teams
from TBF state federations around the country battling for the
junior crown and thousands in scholarships and prizes. All 36
teams fished two days, after which the field was cut to the top
team from each TBF division for the final day.
The 2018 JWC was held in conjunction with the world’s
richest professional bass fishing tournament, the Forrest
Wood Cup, which was held on Lake Ouachita just up the road
from Lake Hamilton. JWC competitors were recognized on
the FLW stage in Bank OZK Arena before the Cup’s day-two
weigh-in.
Hosted by Visit Hot Springs, the 2018 JWC included a vari-
ety of other events and activities for the young competitors
and their families to enjoy outside of tournament hours.
Afternoon rains didn’t dampen the competitors’ spirits in the bump line.
McKinney says the fresh start on day three made them more
than a little nervous as they boated away from the dock the last
morning.
“There were teams in the finals we didn’t think we could
beat,” he says. “It’s probably the most nervous I’ve ever been.
And coming in to weigh-in, we didn’t think 6 pounds was
enough to win. We thought it would take 10 or 11 pounds. But
we got lucky enough to get it done.”
Besides serious bragging rights and the championship tro-
phies, McKinney and Baker each walked away with a $2,500
scholarship to the college of his choice. In all, $10,500 in
scholarship money was awarded to members of the top five
teams.
Final official TBF standings for the division winners (listed
with day-three catch) are:
1. Trey McKinney/James Baker, Northern Division, 6 pounds,
11 ounces (5)
2. Aidan Kerlin/Reo Hatfield, Eastern Division, 4 pounds, 2
ounces (2)
3. Patrick Steitz/Christopher Quintanilla, Western Division,
3 pounds, 11 ounces (4)
4. Elijah Kelley/Hunter Slone, Southern Division, 1 pound,
5 ounces (1)
5. Sawyer Reib/Gunner West, Central Division, 0-0
fall 2018 I flWfIshIng.com
James Baker (left) and Trey McKinney savor the moment, hoisting their
JWC trophies on the Forrest Wood Cup weigh-in stage.
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