The Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. will host the 14th annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship dual event next week. Competition will be held June 21-25.
Teams from most U.S. States and multiple foreign countries, including Canada, Zimbabwe and South Africa, are expected to compete for a share of the richest prize pool in all of bass fishing – the total amount of scholarships and prizes up for grabs at this event is $3 million dollars, according to The Bass Federation (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF).
The student anglers pay no entry fee to compete in this one-of-a-kind dual event. The World Finals portion is the largest of all national high school events, and where the bulk of the prizes and scholarships are awarded. It is also the most difficult to win.
The World Finals is open to any SAF member in the world. At the same time, on the dual stage, the top 10 percent of high school teams from all SAF sanctioned events in the last year are qualified to compete in the National Championship event, with its own set of prizes and scholarships that will top $500,000. The National Championship qualified teams are entered into both events and have a chance at both prize pools.
Each high school team consists of three people to a boat – two anglers and their adult boat captain or coach. The 2023 High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship are projected to bring roughly 3,000 people to La Crosse for the event.
“From the start, neither the TBF /SAF, nor our partners in fishing at MLF – who were among the first to join our SAF movement and grow it side by side with us – require any entry fees for our regular High School events,” said TBF President and CEO Robert Cartlidge. “Nor do we pay cash to kids at high school events. It is always prizes and scholarships. The result has been the explosion we currently see in High School Fishing participation nationwide, and it all adds up to a good wholesome experience for the kids and their families, which is what we all want.”
Student anglers are allowed to launch from any ramp in Pool No. 8 each day at 5:30 a.m. CT, although the main launch location will be Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St. in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will also be held at Veterans Freedom Park, beginning at 1:30 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event live online through weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at HighSchoolFishing.org.
In addition to the college scholarships and prizes offered, the High School Fishing National Champions will also advance to the 2023 MLF Toyota Series Championship, held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., to compete as co-anglers and a shot at the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit HighSchoolFishing.org.
