BFM_OctNov_2024 | Page 79

BAILEY , MOODY CLAIM JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN
NATIONAL SEMI-FINALS UNDERWAY
BAILEY , MOODY CLAIM JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN
When the top youth teams from across the country arrived at Lake Hartwell for the annual Junior World Championship in late July , anglers found the bite tough . Katie Bailey and Jacob Moody of the West Tennessee Junior Bass Trail made the right adjustments , increasing their weight each day and taking home trophies as a result .
With the anglers – all of whom had to be in eighth grade or younger – competing in a three-fish-limit format , Bailey and Moody weighed in 5 pounds , 6 ounces on Day 1 . Day 2 saw them rally with 7-5 , which was enough to boost them to 10th place in the 72-boat field . That earned them a spot in the 15-boat Championship Friday field , where weights were zeroed .
Bailey and Moody once again bested their bag from the day prior , bringing 8-2 to the scales . Anchoring their sack was a 4-15 brute , the biggest bass of the day . That proved to be just enough to top Indiana ’ s Sam Elliott and Myles Motsinger by 1 ounce . For the win , Bailey and Moody earned $ 3,000 apiece in scholarship money , with TBF awarding a total of $ 15,000 in scholarships at the event .

STATE WINNERS

District 4 : Lake Wheeler Alabama Boater : Chad Sykes ( 24.14 lbs .) Co-angler : Matthew King ( 20.13 lbs .)
Mississippi Boater : Blake Duncan ( 24.07 lbs .) Co-angler : Chris Marshall ( 14.08 lbs .)
District 9 : Le Homme Dieu Chain Minnesota Boater : Martin Terveer ( 31.56 lbs .) Co-angler : Robert Beaman ( 23.63 lbs .)
Wisconsin Boater : Mike Puterbaugh ( 29.14 lbs .) Co-angler : Brant Stahulak ( 25.62 lbs )
District 16 : Lake Champlain Massachusetts Boater : Jacob Swanson ( 39.33 lbs .) Co-angler : Mark Consolini ( 21.82 lbs .)
Vermont Boater : Scott Green ( 32.02 lbs .) Co-angler : Charlie Ferrell ( 21.23 lbs .)
District 21 : Elephant Butte Lake Colorado Boater : Jerod Rosten ( 23.08 lbs .) Co-angler : Richard Riddler ( 18.61 lbs .)
New Mexico Boater : Joshua Baker ( 25.7 lbs .) Co-angler : Rolando Barrueta ( 22.87 lbs .)
District 22 : Lake Mead Nevada Boater : Antonio Herring ( 25.38 lbs .) Co-angler : Andrew Hays ( 21.01 lbs .)
Utah Boater : Jade Larson ( 25.41 lbs .) Co-angler : Cassandra Jenkins ( 20.83 lbs .)
NATIONAL SEMI-FINALS UNDERWAY
As mentioned above , the National Championship represents the goal destination for all TBF anglers . The field for the 2025 iteration is starting to take shape .
Qualification for the National Championship is determined by the annual National Semi-Finals . As of this writing , six of the 23 districts have held their two-day Semi-Final events .
The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each state are guaranteed spots in the championship field . Additionally , states that enter at least 40 boats in their NSF events can send a second boater and co-angler , while those with at least 80 boats can send a third , and so on .
The winner of the National Championship will take home the Living Your Dream Prize Package , which includes a fully outfitted Ranger Z250 and paid entry fees for whatever tournament circuit the angler chooses . The location and dates for the National Championship will be unveiled in November after all National Semi-Finals have been contested .
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2024 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM
ABOUT THE BASS FEDERATION
THE BASS FEDERATION INC ., ( TBF ) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame . TBF is owned by those we serve , and dedicated to the sport of fishing . The Federation is the largest and oldest organized grassroots fishing , youth and conservation organization . TBF , our affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 50 years . TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing , and are proud partners in fishing with MLF . Visit bassfederation . com or highschoolfishing . org and “ LIKE US ” on Facebook .
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