By Steve Weisman
For the second consecutive year, Bass Federation’s (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF) is returning to the Okoboji Chain of Lakes for the SAF Iowa State Championships. This year’s championship will be held on Saturday, April 27. According to SAF Youth Director, Bob Harris, “Last year we had nearly 50 boats consisting of two-youth partners per boat for the 2023 SAF Championships. With the leagues growing across the state, I am anticipating we could approach 70 teams this year.”
According to Harris, the April 27th date is a month earlier than last year. “We had to make this change to avoid all the spring sports and graduations. However, this might be an advantage to the competing teams, because last year, the bite on the Okobojis was incredible during the month of April.”
There will be both Junior (grades 3-8) and High School (grades 9-12) categories all trying to earn a qualifying sport for the Junior World Championships or the High School National Championships, respectively. Each team has an adult mentor, who provides the boat (must be at least a 16-foot boat with a working livewell) and acts as the boat captain. Harris notes, “The adult will captain the boat and can help with netting a fish, helping with a rod/reel/lure issue or making suggestions. They cannot, however, take up and rod and reel and fish.” Tournament rules allow teams to keep a 5-bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass) limit per boat.
Harris notes that last year’s State Championship on the Okoboji chain of lakes was the perfect place to hold the tournament. Harris says, “The numbers and size of the bass throughout the chain is incredible. In addition, there will be plenty of elbow room and places to explore. Last year’s results included 32 of the teams bringing five-bass limits to the stage for the weigh-in with the top teams averaging over three pounds per fish. If the weather is right, I could see the weights increasing significantly.” The winning team of Ways Raasch and Will Neville from OABICG will be returning to defend their 2023 title.
About the tournament
The tournament itself will launch and have its weigh-in at Emerson Bay Boat Ramp. Take-off will begin at 7:00 a.m. or first safe light with weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. Tournament anglers must be off the water by 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
Registration and check-in will take place at Oak Hill Outdoor at 6 p.m. followed by the mandatory rules meeting. Harris says, “Oak Hill is the perfect venue for this. The atmosphere is all about the outdoors (hunting and fishing) with lots of room to hold the high school anglers and their boat captains.”
Harris says his goal is to have over $8,000 in prizes to give out to the teams. “We are blessed with some excellent sponsors, who help us so much in this area. I am hoping that we can find more local sponsors to help support these young anglers. After all, they are the future of fishing!”
The weigh-in will be like a major bass tournament weigh-in with a trailer and stage, with teams bringing their fish up to the official scale, a PA system to announce weights with everything livestreamed. The livestream can be accessed at highschoolfishing.org. Following the weigh-in, the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club will be providing a meal for entrants and their families.
For more information, contact Harris by calling (712) 304-2015 or via email at swiftfishingteam@gmail.com.
Looking for local youth anglers
Harris says, “Although SAF is not in this area, last year we had a good turnout from northwest Iowa. I am hoping we can get more in 2024. I encourage them to hook up with a friend and get an adult mentor (boat owner) and compete in either the Junior or High School divisions. An angler in the Junior division can fish with a partner in the High School division, say a brother/sister/good friend.”
There is no entry fee. Instead, to be eligible, all the youth anglers have to do is become an active TBF member (cost is $25). Each SAF student will also receive full competitor MLF membership and a one-year subscription to MLF Electronic Magazine, as well as he/she automatically qualifies to be considered for the opportunity to fish in the most prestigious high school event in the nation, the High School Fishing World Finals! The Finals will be held this coming June 20-24 on the Mississippi River at LaCrosse, WI. According to Harris, “At Okoboji, for instance, the top ten percent of the field will automatically be invited to the World Finals.”
IGLFC offers support
Terry Thomsen, president of the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club (IGLFC), says, “The IGLFC is once again excited to be able to partner with SAF. Most certainly, one of our goals is to help youngsters enjoy fishing, and we see this as a great opportunity for our area youth. All they have to do is get a partner in their same age group and have an adult mentor/boat captain, and they are set to go. To help get area youngsters involved, the IGLFC will pay the SAF $25 membership if the youngster’s parent or guardian is a member of the IGLFC.”
In addition, after the weigh-in on Saturday, the IGLFC will sponsor and provide the meal for tournament anglers and their families, boat captains and volunteers. Thomsen says, “We will also provide $100 for the Big Fish award and provide several volunteers to help with the weigh-in.”
Sunday Special Event
Here’s something special for Sunday, April 28. Harris notes, “Last year we created a special boat captain tournament for Sunday to say ‘thank you’ for helping the students experience tournament fishing just like the Bassmasters Elite Series. It went over well, and we’re bringing it back for this year.” Fish limit will again be five bass per boat. Launch will take place at 6 a.m. with weigh-in at 2 p.m.
Captains can fish alone or can also fish with their student anglers who competed on Saturday. Payback will go to 15th place, ranging from $500 for first place, $300 for second place, $200 for third place, $150 for fourth place and $100 for fifth place, with 6th through 9th getting $75 and 10th through 15th getting $50.00. Big Fish prize of $100 for adult and $100 IGLFC Big Fish for the top student angler.
(photo submitted) Last year’s 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.”
(photo submitted) Ways Raasch of last year’s winning team proudly holds the big fish of the day, a 5.01 pounder.
