2014 Florida High School Fishing State Championship returns to Lake Toho
PONCA CITY, Okla. – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW is pleased to host the 2014 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Florida High School State Championship on Sunday, March 2 at Big Toho Marina and Kissimmee City Park.
Registration for anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at HighSchoolFishing.org. Check-in is 3-4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 1 at the weigh-in trailer at Big Toho Marina in Kissimmee, Fla., with a mandatory rules briefing to follow. We highly encourage all teams to pre-register online or by phone in advance to avoid late registration fees.
Matt Larson and Don Meirs at Experience Kissimmee are dedicated to continuing their support of young anglers. They offer a first-class experience and location at the newly renovated City Park and Big Toho Marina in Kissimmee.
“State championships allow every SAF member in North America the opportunity to fish in a championship tournament setting,” TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, stated. “This year, with the help of our partners at FLW, we’re expanding the program again by offering more advancement opportunities based on field size. In 2014, the top 10 percent of the field will advance. This rewards areas of the country working hard to grow the sport of high school fishing.”
Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is only $25 per year. Membership includes full TBF and FLW benefits, FLW Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for clubs and students. The top 10 percent of each SAF state championship and the top three teams from any SAF National OPEN event will advance to an FLW/TBF High School Fishing Conference Championship. The top 10 percent of each conference championship will advance to the FLW/TBF High School Fishing National Championship, slated to be held in the spring of 2015 in conjunction with a major TBF or FLW event. The national champions will win a $5,000 college scholarship to the school or their choice. All SAF members nationwide and all open and state championship participants automatically qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2014 High School Fishing World Finals. At the 2013 World Finals, over $40,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded. As with all SAF national events, there is no entry fee to this come one, come all, family vacation event that gives every high school team a shot at thousands in scholarships and prizes.
If you’re not a 2014 SAF member, there’s a one-time $25 fee per angler. This includes full TBF and FLW membership for the year, as well as free entry to all national SAF events.
A unique SAF event feature is the “angler testing” component. It’s not “just about fishing,” but also about education. This year’s angler testing will come from TBF’s new online education format with Faculty of Fishing. Anglers can go to highschoolfishing.org and click on “Online Education” then type in their SAF number and zip code to access the FOF site. They have a host of chapters covering a wide variety of topics.
“Angler testing and education is an industry first by TBF,” Gintert said. “We built education into the foundation of the entire program when we began, and our partnership with FLW provides even more benefits and opportunities for them to take advantage of,” Gintert continued. “For only $25 per year these young anglers will have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”
Event details:
Sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at HighSchoolFishing.org. Anglers can also pay a $25 late registration fee which applies to those registering on site. The best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org.
Mandatory check-in: Saturday, March 1 at Kissimmee City Park and Big Toho Marina 3-4:30 p.m. with the rules meeting immediately following.
Takeoff and weigh-in: Sunday, March 2 at Kissimmee City Park and Big Toho Marina. Takeoff will commence at safe light. Weigh-in at 3pm. Questions? Call 580-765-9031.
Tournament waters: Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes up to, but not including the Kissimmee River. (Locking is permitted).
About FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2013 over the course of 231 tournaments across five tournament circuits, four of which provide an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing organization there is. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 45 years. TBF started the Student Angler Federation and the national High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org.