National Guard Junior World Championship kicks off on Neely Henry - Major League Fishing

National Guard Junior World Championship kicks off on Neely Henry

Sixty junior competitors in two divisions in search of scholarships, prizes, grants and prestige
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National Guard fishing team members look on as a junior competitor autographs a banner at tournament registration. Photo by Jennifer Simmons.
July 31, 2006 • Jennifer Simmons • Archives

GADSDEN, Ala. – A palpable spirit of excitement hung in the air this morning on Lake Neely Henry as the 60 National Guard Junior World Championship competitors climbed into the boats of their heroes and set out to make a little history themselves. Thirty-two TBF state chapters sent competitors from two age groups to this week’s event in search of a top prize that includes a $5,000 National Guard Scholarship plus a $1,000 National Guard youth grant to the winners’ state TBF chapter.

A junior competitor takes a National Guard backpack at tournament registration.The Junior World Championship is being held in conjunction with this week’s Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship, and the championship-contending pros were on hand to give the junior competitors the thrill of a lifetime. Each boat that went out this morning held one junior competitor from the 11 to 14 age group and one from the 15 to 18 age group, and they will compete today in the personal boat of their pro escort, the list of which includes such heavyweights as Clark Wendlandt, Larry Nixon and 2006 FLW Tour Angler of the Year Anthony Gagliardi.

The fun continues at today’s weigh-in, which begins at 3 p.m. at Gadsden Bait and Tackle/Gadsden City Launch, located at 200 Lake St. The festivities will air in real time on FLW Live, bringing the action in Alabama across the nation to the friends and families of the junior competitors. To watch the weigh-in, log on to FLWOutdoors.com at approximately 3 p.m. Central time and click the FLW Live logo that will appear on the screen.

While the junior competitors will not be navigating the boats – that is left up to the pros – they are in control of choosing where to fish on Neely Henry, though they are allowed to take advice from the pro. Junior anglers can operate the trolling motor. Pros can also help net and measure fish because, as TBF President Robert Cartlidge said last night at the pretournament meeting, this event is meant to help groom these junior anglers into the bass pros of tomorrow.

Onlookers check out the sharp-looking junior championship trophies.There will be a junior champion from both age groups, and the prize structure is the same for both divisions. In addition to the $5,000 National Guard scholarship and the $1,000 National Guard youth grant, the winner will also receive a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performance award recipient, a Lowrance handheld GPS unit and a Yamaha clothing certificate. Cash awards and prizes are given to the top five performers in each division, with everyone in the top five receiving a $1,000 National Guard youth grant to their state TBF chapter. Every contestant receives a championship-qualifier plaque.

Fish care is being cooperatively managed between FLW Outdoors and TBF Inc., with the National Guard live-release boat being a major part of today’s conservation effort.

Afternoon festivities begin at 2 p.m. with the opening of the National Guard Fun Zone, providing interactive fun for all ages. The Fun Zone will be open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. adjacent to the weigh-in site in downtown Gadsden.