NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HEADED TO SAM RAYBURN
THE BASS FEDERATION
The Massachusetts federation puts on three events each year for both youth ( eighth grade and younger ) and high school anglers , including the tri-state championship . Not only has participation increased under McNary ’ s direction , so has retention . McKinnon has been heartened by the number of youth and high school anglers who have gone on to join one of the state ’ s 14 bass clubs and participate in other TBF events . Each of the past three winners of the co-angler division at the state championship got their start in the federation ’ s youth events .
“ What we ’ re finding is a lot of these kids are staying in their program ,” he said . “ They go from the junior program and then they join a club . And then from the clubs a lot of them come in as co-anglers , next thing you know , they ’ re boaters .” While the likes of Brown and Swanson have graduated from the youth and high school fishing ranks , they remain involved with those levels . They can often be spotted at tournaments , chatting with high school anglers and taking youth participants out in their boats . McKinnon believes their example will help foster even more passionate young anglers in the state .
“ Last year when we had our youth tournament , ... there he is , Kaleb Brown taking kids out in his boat ,” McKinnon said . “ Cameron Chase , taking kids out . Jacob Swanson . Those guys are fishing college tournaments and then they ’ re coming here and helping us .”
As happy as he is to see the young anglers remain involved with the federation , McKinnon has been more proud when they ’ ve left for college .
Brown and Swanson are both members of powerhouse fishing programs . Montevallo won the Abu Garcia College Fishing School of the Year title in 2022-23 and produced the winning duo at the College Fishing National Championship , while Lander sat No . 11 in the Association of College Anglers national rankings as of Oct . 25 . Frumkin recently began his freshman year at Harvard . The university doesn ’ t have a bass fishing team , but he ’ s hoping to start one .
When it comes to tour-level bass fishing , Massachusetts might not have the most decorated history . But thanks to the health of the state ’ s youth program under McNary and the trail being blazed by the likes of Brown and Swanson , McKinnon believes the future is bright .
PHOTO COURTESY LANDER UNIVERSITY BEARCAT ANGLERS
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HEADED TO SAM RAYBURN
The Bass Federation National Championship represents the pinnacle of the calendar for all TBF members . Its date and location for 2024 have now been set .
The National Championship will be contested at Sam Rayburn Reservoir March 27-29 . It will mark the event ’ s first ever trip to the iconic Texas impoundment .
The big-bass-filled waters of Sam Rayburn Reservoir will play host to the 2024 TBF National Championship .
PHOTO BY JOSH GASSMANN
“ It ’ ll be a great fishery for the guys ,” said TBF President Robert Cartlidge . “ A lot of them have never been there . It ’ s a big fish factory , and at that time of the year , the fishing will be outstanding .”
The highest-finishing boater and coangler from each state during this fall ’ s National Semi-Finals earned a spot in the National Championship . The winning boater will earn the Living Your Dream prize package , valued at $ 125,000 . It includes a fully-rigged Ranger Z520L and paid entry fees into the circuit of the winner ’ s choice . The top co-angler will earn a rewards package worth $ 30,000 .
TBF also announced that the High School Fishing National Championship and World Finals will be held at South Carolina ’ s Lake Hartwell in June of 2024 . The three-day national championship will take place June 19-21 , with the championship day of the World Finals following on June 22 .
84 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | DECEMBER – JANUARY 2024