Raymer, Turner win National Guard Junior World Championship - Major League Fishing

Raymer, Turner win National Guard Junior World Championship

TBF junior anglers net $5,000 scholarship for first-place finish
Image for Raymer, Turner win National Guard Junior World Championship
Lowell Turner III (left) of Bradford, R.I., and Kyle Raymer (right) of Brandenburg, Ky., show off their trophies after capturing TBF National Guard Junior World Championship titles. Turner took home the top award in the 11-14 age division while Raymer netted the title in the 15-18 age division. Both anglers won a $5,000 scholarship. Photo by Gary Mortenson.
August 16, 2008 • MLF • Archives

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Kyle Raymer, 17, of Brandenburg, Ky., and Lowell Turner, 13, of Bradford, R.I., are the National Guard Junior World Champions after two days of competition on Lake Monticello. Held in conjunction with the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup on nearby Lake Murray, the National Guard Junior World Championship awarded $42,000 in scholarships and youth-program grants to the top six competitors in the 11 to 14 age bracket and top six competitors in the 15 to 18 age bracket.

Raymer, from The Bass Federation’s Southern division, won the 15 to 18 age group with three bass weighing 3 pounds, 14 ounces. He fished Saturday with Team National Guard pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla.

“This is a dream come true,” Raymer said. “It’s just an awesome feeling. I thought I had a chance to win but I wasn’t sure. You never know what’s going to happen in any given tournament.”

Kyle Raymer of Brandenburg, Ky., won the TBF National Guard Junior World Championship in the 15-18 age division. Raymer, who used a final-day catch of 3 pounds, 13 ounces to capture the title, walked away with a $5,000 scholarship.Raymer caught his Lake Monticello bass throwing a shaky-head rig dipped in chartreuse which he believes made a big difference with the cloudy skies today.

“Scott gave me a lot of great tips to better my fishing on the water today,” Raymar continued. “I can’t wait for what the future holds.”

Rounding out the top six anglers in the 15 to 18 age group are Ben Dziwulski of Woodbine, Md. (two fish, 2-2); Tyler Dennis of Shawnee, Okla. (one fish, 1-0); Broghan Cullen of Sun Prairie, Wis. (one fish, 0-15); Nathan Bromley of Albany, Ore. (zero fish); and Nick Sampson of Gorham, Maine (zero fish).

Lowell Turner III of Bradford, R.I., won the TBF National Guard Junior World Championship in the 11-14 age division. Turner, who used a final-day catch of 6 pounds, 6 ounces to capture the title, walked away with a $5,000 scholarship.Turner, who represents the TBF’s Eastern division, won the 11 to 14 age bracket with one bass weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces.

“I am totally shocked right now,” Turner said. “I only had one bite all day and that was the fifth cast I made this morning. It just happened to be huge. This was by far the biggest fish that I have ever caught.”

Turner caught his big bass on a Strike King Red Eye in Sexy Shad color. He fished with National Guard pro Ramie Colson from Cadiz, Ky.

“Ramie taught me key spots where to fish and how to present a bait,” Turner said. “I really learned a lot through out this whole experience.”

Rounding out the top six anglers in the 11 to 14 age group are Nikolas Autrey of Port Angeles, Wash. (five bass, 5-10) Johnny Schultz of Maumelle, Ark. (two fish, 1-13); Hamilton Brown of Plant City, Fla. (one fish, 1-8); Zach Whitten of Oceana W.Va. (zero fish) and Lucas Lindgren of Rush City, Minn. (zero fish).

The junior anglers were paired with a FLW Tour pro for two days of competition on Lake Monticello. There are three anglers to a boat: a junior angler from each age group plus an FLW Tour pro who assists the junior anglers but does not fish. The two junior anglers shared control of the boat each day but competed in their respective age groups. Weights zeroed on Saturday and the top six anglers in the 11 to 14 age bracket and the top six anglers in the 15 to 18 age bracket continued competition, with the winners determined by the heaviest catch from Saturday.

Designed to highlight the best up-and-coming bass fishing talent in the country, the National Guard Junior World Championship also provides national recognition for the positive activities pursued by America’s youth.

The first-place finishers in each age bracket received a $5,000 scholarship in addition to a sponsor merchandise package. Second-place finishers received $3,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Third-place finishers received $2,500 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Fourth-place finishers received $2,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Fifth-place finishers received $1,500 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Sixth-place finishers received $1,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages.

Additionally, FLW Outdoors, on behalf of the National Guard, awarded $1,000 to each of the state TBF chapters represented by the six finalists in each age bracket. This money, totaling $12,000, benefits each chapter’s youth program.

For more information about TBF Junior Angler programs, contact your state’s TBF chapter. A list of chapters can be found at www.bassfederation.com. For more information about FLW Outdoors, the Forrest Wood Cup and the National Guard Junior World Championship, call (270) 252-1000. A complete list of youth anglers competing in the Junior World Championship is posted at www.flwoutdoors.com.