TNT Fireworks, the Nations #1 Brand

TNT Fireworks, the Nations #1 Brand

Mar 11, 2019 | KY BASS News

TNT Fireworks, the Nations #1 Brand,  is excited to be an exhibitor at the Bassmaster Classic Convention

in Knoxville next week.    We invite you to visit our booth (#2525 beside the Dick’s Sporting Goods booth) to learn more about fantastic fireworks fundraising opportunities available in your community.

 

Come by and SPIN TO WIN awesome TNT Fireworks gear or a Yeti Cooler!

 

Don’t miss this opportunity and please watch our video at www.tntblast.com.  

Contact Vanessa Hixon for more info.   540-797-9462 or hixonv@tntfireworks.com

B.A.S.S. Names Leading Student Athletes To 2019 Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team

B.A.S.S. Names Leading Student Athletes To 2019 Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team

Mar 5, 2019 | KY BASS News

March 5, 2019

B.A.S.S. Names Leading Student Athletes To 2019 Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sixty-two outstanding high school anglers from across the country have been named to the 2019 Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

The students were selected for the honor based on their success in bass tournament competition, academic achievement and leadership in conservation and community service.

“The Bassmaster High School All-American program recognizes the best young anglers in the nation,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “These student athletes are at the top of our sport both with their tournament success and academic achievements. We are proud to honor their accomplishments on a national level.”

To be considered for the All-State Fishing Team, a student must have been nominated by a parent, coach, teacher or other school official. Students currently enrolled in grades 10-12 with a current-year grade point average of 2.5 or higher were eligible.

B.A.S.S. received more than 400 nominations from across the nation. From these, judges selected 62 student anglers from 35 states to make the All-State Fishing Team. In addition, 32 students received Honorable Mentions recognizing them for their tournament success as well as community service and academic achievement.

“These qualifiers are helping shape the future of our sport,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the B.A.S.S. High School program. “Their enthusiasm for sportfishing and their communities is exceptional, and we can only imagine what the future holds for these anglers.

“We are extremely proud to see our Bassmaster All-American program flourish, and we congratulate these student anglers on their success on and off the water.”

A second panel of judges will review nominations of the 62 All-State team members and select the 12 members of the 2019 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. As in All-State judging, criteria include success in high school fishing tournaments, involvement in conservation efforts and other community service activities.

The 12 finalists will compete in a one-day Bassmaster All-American High School Bass Tournament held during the 2019 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department event, a fan-favorite festival that will take place May 2-6 on Lake Fork out of Emory, Texas.

Elite Series anglers will serve as teammates and “coaches” of the student anglers in the tournament. The high school standouts will be honored on the main Texas Fest stage at the weigh-in.

Below is the list of the 62 All-State anglers and 32 Honorable Mentions, in order by state:

Alabama
Wesley Gore, Jemison
Tucker Smith, Shoal Creek
Grayson Morris, Birmingham — Honorable Mention

Arizona
Bryce Drake, Yuma
Isaiah Rios, Phoenix
Taj White, Glendale — Honorable Mention
Nicklaus Romero, Prescott — Honorable Mention

Arkansas
Bryce Lane, Rogers
Brody Jacks, Benton
Bryson Kindy, Benton — Honorable Mention
Jay Morgan, Trumann — Honorable Mention

California
Miles Kaneko, Berkeley
Samuel West, Fort Bragg

Colorado
Colton Colwell, Windsor
Jack Harpole, Littleton

Connecticut
William Hinckley, North Branford

Florida
Dylan Westhelle, Sanford
Jackson Swisher, Lake City
Garrett Thomas, Mulberry — Honorable Mention
Chase Givens, Dover — Honorable Mention

Georgia
Brooks Anderson, Marietta
Parker Guy, Ocilla
Tanner Hadden, Evans — Honorable Mention
Logan Plueger, Grovetown — Honorable Mention

Idaho
Nathanial Kimberling, Coeur d’Alene
Eyston Kunz, Meridian

Illinois
Wyatt Pazdro, Minooka
Garrett Beatty, Sandwich

Indiana
Carter Ball, Noblesville
Colsyn Head, Poland
Scott Sledge, Greenwood — Honorable Mention
Jack Schable, La Porte — Honorable Mention

Iowa
Samuel Louw, Story City

Kansas
Brett Halstead, Riley
Brock Bila, Louisburg
Kyle Simmons, Leonardville — Honorable Mention
Parker Still, Topeka — Honorable Mention

Kentucky
William Carnes, Stanford
Hannah Wesley, Junction City
Jacob Autry, Beaver Dam — Honorable Mention
Jake Thornbury, Finchville — Honorable Mention

Louisiana
Wes Rollo, Natchitoches
Bryant Martin, Crowley

Maine
Tyler Williams, Belgrade

Massachusetts
Nathan Smith, Uxbridge

Michigan
Nicolas Biundo, Wyandotte
Hayden Scott, Ann Arbor
Brady Stuart, Wyandotte — Honorable Mention

Minnesota
Kobie Koenig, Cohasset
Patrick McMurry, Lakeville
Ethan Vanden Busch, Lakeville — Honorable Mention

Mississippi
Dalton Smith, Brandon
James Willoughby, Gulfport
Garrett McWilliams, Florence — Honorable Mention
Tony Edwards, Tremont — Honorable Mention

Missouri
Devon Rathbun, Springfield
Zak Hobbs, Imperial
Caleb Haines, Springfield — Honorable Mention

Nebraska
Colton Kelle, Beatrice

New Hampshire
Logan Berube, Hampstead

New York
Alex Gauld, Tonawanda
Garrett Lawton, Pulaski

North Carolina
Caz Anderson, Hayesville
Brycen Hendriks, Durham — Honorable Mention
Kyle Dillon, Durham — Honorable Mention

Ohio
Luke Haymaker, Canal Fulton
Kobe Thompson, Crooksville

Oklahoma
Charles Williams, Mannford
Dakota Page, Catoosa
Quinton Story, Henryetta — Honorable Mention

Oregon
Michael Postlewait, Astoria

Pennsylvania
Austin Aikins, Lower Burrell
Dylan Fogarty, Mechanicsburg

South Carolina
Jacob Butts, Starr
Jack Hunt, Townville
Timothy McKenzie, Georgetown — Honorable Mention

Tennessee
Seth Moser, Maryville
Austin Smith, Jacksboro
Jackson Holbert, Decaturville — Honorable Mention
Joshua Lee, Knoxville — Honorable Mention
Hayden Gaddis, Seymour — Honorable Mention

Texas
Hunter Muncrief, Pineland
Cason Ragsdale, Winnsboro
Ben Cully, Rockwall — Honorable Mention
Gabriel Talley, Conroe — Honorable Mention
Braden Clifton, Livingston — Honorable Mention

Virginia
Colin Bennett, Axton
Jacob Lovell, Stuart

West Virginia
Dylan Fitzgerald, Charleston
Trevor Albanese, Berkeley Springs
Sam Ambrose, Berkeley Springs — Honorable Mention

Wisconsin
Tyler Cory, Amherst
Casey Hoffman, New London
Jacob Bigelow, Cecil — Honorable Mention

2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Title Sponsor: Mossy Oak Fishing

2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Presenting Sponsor: Academy Sports + Outdoors

2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Premier Sponsors: Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Talon

2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Supporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Carhartt, Lowrance, TNT Fireworks

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. With more than 510,000 members internationally, B.A.S.S. is not only home to the nation’s premier fishing tournament trails, but it also boasts the most expansive and comprehensive media network in the fishing industry. Its media include The Bassmasters on the ESPN networks, more than 130 hours of tournament programming on the Pursuit Channel, 250 hours of on-the-water streaming coverage on Bassmaster LIVE and 1 million monthly visitors to the flagship website on bass fishing – Bassmaster.com. B.A.S.S. also provides more than 4.4 million readers with the best in bass fishing coverage through Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times, and its radio and social media programs and events reach hundreds of thousands each month.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, culminating in the ultimate event on the biggest stage for competitive anglers, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. The trail also includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, BassPro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, and the Bassmaster Team Championship.

Nominations Now Open For 2019 Class Of Bassmaster High School All-Americans

Nominations Now Open For 2019 Class Of Bassmaster High School All-Americans

Jan 15, 2019 | KY BASS News

Jan. 14, 2019

Nominations Now Open For 2019 Class Of Bassmaster High School All-Americans

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. is seeking nominations for the best and brightest high school bass anglers in the country.

The Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team recognizes the 12 most outstanding high school anglers in the nation. The program is designed to reward young athletes for their performance in tournaments, leadership in their communities and involvement in conservation efforts.

Applications for the team, which is now in its fifth year, will be accepted today through Feb. 8.

To be considered, a student must be nominated by a parent, coach, teacher or other school official. Students currently enrolled in grades 10 through 12 with a current grade point average of 2.5 or higher are eligible.

Judges will select up to two student anglers in each state. These All-State Fishing Team members will become semifinalists in the selection of the 12-member All-American Team. Criteria include success in high school fishing tournaments and involvement in conservation efforts and other community service activities.

The anglers chosen will compete in a one-day Bassmaster High School All-American fishing event to be held in conjunction with the 2019 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — one of nine regular-season Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments being held this year. Elite Series anglers will serve as “coaches” for the student anglers in the one-day fishing event near Emory, Texas. The high school standouts and Elite Series coaches will be honored before the weigh-in crowd.

“The applicants for our High School All-American program continue to amaze me with their dedication to the sport, as well as academic excellence and community involvement,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the Bassmaster High School program. “We’re very proud to offer a platform that recognizes successful student athletes on their many accomplishments, and we can’t wait to see what this 2019 class of anglers has in store.”

All students who compete in high school fishing events are eligible, regardless of whether they are affiliated with B.A.S.S. or another fishing organization.

Notices have been sent to youth fishing directors of the B.A.S.S. Nation and other organizations, as well as leaders of state high school fishing programs. Adults can nominate students by filling out an online form at Bassmaster.com/allamerican. Nominations must be submitted before midnight on Feb. 8.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. With more than 510,000 members internationally, B.A.S.S. is not only home to the nation’s premier fishing tournament trails, but it also boasts the most expansive and comprehensive media network in the fishing industry. Its media include The Bassmasterson the ESPN networks, more than 130 hours of tournament programming on the Pursuit Channel, 250 hours of on-the-water streaming coverage on Bassmaster LIVE and 1 million monthly visitors to the flagship website on bass fishing – Bassmaster.com. B.A.S.S. also provides more than 4.4 million readers with the best in bass fishing coverage throughBassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times, and its radio and social media programs and events reach hundreds of thousands each month.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, culminating in the ultimate event on the biggest stage for competitive anglers, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. The trail also includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, BassPro.com Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series, and the Bassmaster Team Championship.
New Junior Division Unveiled As B.A.S.S. Announces College And High School Slates For 2019

New Junior Division Unveiled As B.A.S.S. Announces College And High School Slates For 2019

Nov 1, 2018 | KY BASS News

B.A.S.S. announced the schedule for the 2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School and Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops events, along with the addition of a new Junior Bassmaster Division.

Photo by B.A.S.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2018

New Junior Division Unveiled As B.A.S.S. Announces College And High School Slates For 2019

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just when it seemed B.A.S.S. couldn’t possibly provide more competitive opportunities for anglers, the organization announced today that it will be adding a Junior Bassmaster Division to its annual slate of events in the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series.

High school tournaments are scheduled for Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., on March 2; Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Ala., on March 30; Norfork Lake in Mountain Home, Ark., on April 28; and Lake Shasta in Redding, Calif., on May 11. A field of up to 50 junior division teams will compete in each event with accompanying coaches or team captains.

“This is another aggressive step toward giving more young people a chance to fish competitively,” said Hank Weldon, B.A.S.S. senior manager for college and high school. “More parents are realizing that children who fish often avoid a lot of the more harmful aspects of our culture — and by creating a division for second- to eighth-graders, we’re helping parents start them out even earlier.”

Another new feature for the high school circuit will be maximum field size of 250 boats.

The schedule itself should be exciting to anglers of both age groups, with stops on lakes like Hartwell, the site of three previous Bassmaster Classics, and Guntersville, which is nationally known for producing big largemouth bass throughout the year.

“We are very excited to once again host the great folks from B.A.S.S. in Anderson County and Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson. “The future in bass fishing is our high school anglers, and we look forward to the opportunity to host them all in our community.”

In addition to the announcement of the high school schedule today, B.A.S.S. officials unveiled the schedule for the 2019 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. That lineup includes stops at North Carolina’s Lake Norman on Feb. 21-23; Smith Lake in Cullman, Ala., March 21-23; Bull Shoals Lake in Mountain Home, Ark., April 25-27; and the St. Lawrence River in Waddington, N.Y., June 20-22.

As past Bassmaster Elite Series events there have shown, a tournament on the St. Lawrence River during summer could create a dynamic atmosphere for college anglers. In August, a new Elite record was set for the heaviest daily limit of smallmouth bass — 27 pounds, 12 ounces.

“We could not be more excited about this opportunity,” said Benjamin Seaman, president and founder of the bass fishing club at Clarkson University, which will host the St. Lawrence River event. “With the Adirondack Mountains and St. Lawrence River Valley in our backyard, Clarkson University is well known among outdoor enthusiasts for its access to great hiking, mountain biking, hunting and fishing — especially world-class bass fishing.”

Unlike past years, when college tournaments were only open to anglers from corresponding regions, all events will be open to competitors from across the country. Teams will still accumulate points during the season toward an overall Team of the Year title.

“Our hope is that every college angler who wants to compete will now have a chance,” Weldon said. “You’re not limited to fishing a certain conference or region. If you want to travel to any one of these events — or all of them — you’re free to do that.”

The Bull Shoals college tournament will take place just prior to the high school event on Norfork Lake, giving Mountain Home four bass fishing-filled days in a row.

“Mountain Home and the Twin Lakes Area is thrilled to host another B.A.S.S. event,” said Jeff Pipkin, president of the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are grateful B.A.S.S. has chosen to bring the college and high school circuits to lakes Norfork and Bull Shoals in 2019.

“We fully support the educational benefits young men and women have to gain through the sport of fishing. Our entire community is equally excited to share why we call this beautiful place our home.”

Dates for the high school and college championships, as well as the annual College Series Classic Bracket, which qualifies one outstanding college angler for the Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, will be announced at a later time.

2019 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Schedule

Event Lake State Date
Tour #1 Lake Norman North Carolina Feb. 21-23
Tour #2 Smith Lake Alabama March 21-23
Tour #3 Bull Shoals Lake Arkansas April 25-27
Tour #4 St. Lawrence River New York June 20-22

2019 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Schedule

Event Title Lake State Date
Eastern Open Lake Hartwell South Carolina March 2
Southern Open Lake Guntersville Alabama March 30
Central Open Norfork Lake Arkansas April 28
Western Open Lake Shasta California May 11

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, ABU Garcia, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota

2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Mossy Oak Fishing, Phoenix Boats

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Mossy Oak Fishing

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Presenting Sponsor: DICK’S Sporting Goods

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Premier Sponsors: Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, ABU Garcia, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury

2018 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Academy Sports + Outdoors

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

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Media Contact: Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com

B.A.S.S. Nation Releases Full Four-Tournament Schedule For 2019

Oct 12, 2018 | KY BASS News

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced Wednesday that the B.A.S.S. Nation, the
popular grassroots organization with affiliated clubs in 47 states and 10 nations worldwide, will
once again hold three regional events and a year-end championship in 2019.
The Nation will visit Alabama’s Lake Guntersville for the Central Regional on April 17-19,
California’s Lake Shasta for the Western Regional on May 8-10 and Sebago Lake in Maine for
the Eastern Regional on Sept. 11-13.
The season will then culminate with the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, which will be held on
South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell at a date to be determined — most likely in October.
“We’re excited to have a schedule that includes well-known bass-fishing havens like Lake
Guntersville, Lake Shasta and Lake Hartwell,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart.
“Obviously, the tradition that B.A.S.S. has with those three lakes speaks for itself.
“But we’re also really excited about holding a B.A.S.S. Nation Regional event at a great site like
Sebago Lake. It’s a place that we’ve visited for smaller divisional tournaments before, but a
place that maybe a lot of people aren’t as familiar with as some of the others.”
The timing of the Guntersville event — right in heart of spring — should make for good weather
and excellent fishing on a 69,000-acre Tennessee River fishery that is known for producing giant
largemouth. The tournament will feature a field of 190 boats with 418 anglers, including
alternates.
Guntersville has hosted 22 major B.A.S.S. tournaments, including the 1976 and 2014
Bassmaster Classics and Bassmaster Megabucks events in 1990 and 1992.
“All you have to say is ‘Guntersville,’ and bass fishermen perk up,” Stewart said. “Bass anglers
of all skill levels understand what an opportunity it is to fish a lake like Guntersville, especially
during the spring.”
The Lake Shasta tournament, which will be held in Redding, Calif., will have a field of 110 boats
with 242 anglers — and history says it could be a spotted bass slugfest.
“When we were out there for the Nation Regional in 2017, anglers were saying you could pull
up to any place you wanted to, throw any bait you wanted to throw and expect to catch fish,”
Stewart said. “We had some incredible fish weighed in, mostly big spots. We hit it just right —
and hopefully we will again.”
The final regional of the year, on Sebago Lake, will feature 180 boats with 396 anglers leaving
from Point Sebago, Maine. The 30,000-acre fishery, which is the state’s second-deepest lake at

316 feet, has excellent populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass as well as landlocked
salmon and lake trout.
Unlike 2018, when the site of the Nation Championship was announced well after the regional
lineup, Lake Hartwell has already been identified as the site of the 2019 year-end event. The
56,000-acre fishery on the Georgia/South Carolina border has hosted three Bassmaster Classics,
including the 2018 event that drew a record total attendance of 143,323.
The event will be hosted by Visit Anderson.
“Our team at Anderson county could not be more excited about hosting the 2019 B.A.S.S.
Nation Championship again at Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, executive
director of Visit Anderson. “Our community enjoys a tremendous amount of success whenever
we’re hosting the great folks at B.A.S.S. We owe a great deal of credit to B.A.S.S. for their part
in helping to make Lake Hartwell a championship fishery and Green Pond Landing one of the
top facilities in the nation.
“We look forward to welcoming the anglers, their families and the entire B.A.S.S. Nation in
2019.”
The Top 3 finishers from the 2019 Nation Championship will earn a spot in the 2020 Classic, and
the overall Championship winner will receive an invitation to fish the 2020 Bassmaster Elite
Series.
“When we refer to the B.A.S.S. Nation as a grassroots organization, we mean exactly that,” said
B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “It’s an organization that gives anglers from all walks of life an
opportunity to fish at the highest level of professional bass fishing.
“That’s what makes it truly special — and that’s why it’s still growing after 50 years.”