By Steve Weisman

The third annual Bass Federation’s (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF) Iowa State Championship held Saturday, May 20 for the first time ever on the Okoboji Chain of Lakes turned out to be quite a shoot-out in the High School Division (grades 9-12). High skies, sunshine and a light variable wind welcomed the contestants as they left the Emerson Bay Boat Ramp area at 7 a.m.

Not only was the Iowa State Championship title on the line, but the top four placers would punch their ticket for the National Championships at LaCrosse, Wisconsin June 22-24. Of the 43 two-person teams, 32 teams brought five-bass limits to the stage at the 2:30 p.m. afternoon weigh-in. A total of 190 bass were weighed in and safely released back into the lake. According to Bob Harris, SAF Youth Director, the bite was tough in the morning after Friday’s cold front, but as the day progressed, the bite improved. “Many of the teams caught up to 25-30 bass throughout the tournament as they worked to upgrade the weight of their five best bass.” The top baits? You name it. Each team worked to figure out the best pattern for the area they were fishing.

Harris notes the morning kicked off on a high note with the student ROTC color guard performing the national anthem. “With the beautiful sun shining down on the calm waters of West Okoboji’s Emerson Bay, it was an incredible way to start the tournament. What a fishery the Okoboji chain of lakes is, and the teams who had never fished here before were amazed at the tremendous water clarity. They also learned a lot about fishing canals and pitching around all the wood docks.”

Leading the way with a five-fish weight of 18.06 pounds was the team of Ways Raasch and Will Neville of team OABICG Falcons. They also brought in the tournament’s big fish with a 5.01 pounder.

Second place went to Noah Franken and Jay Van Zee of team Unity Christian with a five-fish limit of 17.06 pounds. Meanwhile, Emmett King and AJ Draper of Panorama High School Panthers took third place with a five-fish limit weight of 16.07 pounds. Fourth place with a five-fish weight of 15.15 pounds went to the Henry Rosener and Clay Price of the Johnston Fishing Club Dragons. Harris says, “It was really a tight competition with the top five teams separated by a mere three pounds.”

Listed below are the other teams in the top 10:

#5-Owen Hoover and Brentyn Hoover of the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team with a five-fish limit weight of 15.02 pounds;

#6-Darin Dash and Kallen DeBoef of Team Hawks/Tigers with a five-fish limit weight of 14.06 pounds;

#7-Kael Moore and Lane Weichman of Cedar Falls High School Tigers with a five-fish limit weight of 14.02 pounds;

#7-Braedon Draper and Hunter Dishman of the Panorama Panthers with a five-fish limit weight of 14.02 pounds;

#9-Tegan Steinkuehler and Brock Lemrick of the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team with a five-fish limit weight of 13.11 pounds;

#10-Evan Powell and Tyson Rauser of the Iowa Youth Fishing League with a five-fish limit weight of 13.10 pounds.

Several additional teams also punched their ticket to the National Championships with their winning efforts on the season-long Trail of qualifiers covering waters across Iowa. Listed below are the additional qualifying teams:

Owen Hoover and Brentyn Hoover, Kael Moore and Lane Weichman, who also finished fifth and seventh respectively at Okoboji; Joaquin Wailes and Jake Wailes of the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team; Gavin Lindstrom and Blake Schwartz of the Panorama Panthers; Kael Moore and Lane Weichman of the Cedar Falls Tigers; Owen Hoover and Brentyn Hoover of the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team; and Evan Powell and Grant Nore of the Iowa Youth Fishing League.

According to Harris, for the high school format to work, each team is required to have an adult boat captain/mentor, who provides the boat (must be at least a 16-foot boat with a working livewell). “These boat captains are so important for the success of this tournament circuit. It would not be possible without their investment of money, time and emotional support for our youth. They have such a positive impact on these youngsters. At the end of the day, it’s about integrity and learning to solve the fish and the changes that can occur throughout the day, just like the problem solving they do in real life.”

Harris also shares how important sponsorships and volunteers are huge keys in making this high school fishing circuit succeed. “We have over 20 sponsors both statewide and locally that have helped cover the costs for this entire tournament. I’d like to especially mention the efforts of the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club (IGLFC). They were the boots on the ground that helped make this happen. It is obvious through their efforts that the IGLFC has a mission of  investing in the youth of our state. I’d just like to thank the local community for welcoming us and helping make sure we had everything we needed!”

Junior Division (grades 3-8)

Along with the SAF Iowa High School State Championship, the Junior Division State Championship (grades 3-8) was also on the line with a total of 12 two-person teams competing. Once again, it became a shoot-out and close weights with nine of the teams bringing 5-fish limits to the scales.

The team of Ethan Timmerman and Ty Timmerman of the Cedar Falls Tigers ran away with the title with a five-fish limit weight of 16.02 pounds. Second place with a 5-fish weight of 12.13 pounds went to the team of Ryder Lane and Wyatt Reed from the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team. Meanwhile, the team of Jared Kettman and Jonah Leonard of the Cedar Falls Tigers with a five-fish weight of 11.13 pounds. They also brought the big fish of the day to the scales, a 4.10 pounder.

Madek Bolin and Jack DeJoode, also of the Cedar Falls Tigers, took fourth place with a five-fish weight of 11.06 pounds, while the team of Nolan Ponstein and Cole Carstens of the Central Iowa Junior Anglers finished fifth with a five-fish weight of 11.0 pounds.

Harris adds, “I was extremely proud of our Junior Division teams. Just like the high school division, they worked together to figure out what they needed to do to catch these fish. Congratulations to all these teams.”

(photos submitted)

The 43 teams competing for the SAF Iowa State Championship stood in respect as the student ROTC color guard started the morning with “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The winning team of Ways Raasch and Will Neville proudly share the big fish of the day, a 5.01 pounder.

SAF director Bob Harris announces the teams heading to the National Championships at LaCrosse, Wisconsin June 22-24.

The top three Junior Division teams show off their winning hardware.