Hometown: Danville, Ky.
Birthdate: 04/14/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Boyle County High School
Fishing Team: Boyle County Fishing
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: National Honor Society (3 years), Health Occupations Students of America (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Finding fish, learning quickly and slow fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Switching baits I know that work, fishing deep water and overthinking where to fish
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Finesse
Most Admired Angler: Kristine Fischer because I love how she doesn’t let anything or anybody stop her. She always has a good attitude and a smile on her face, and she can always find and catch the fish she needs to do well
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Health Care
Social Media: (FB) AllieAddisonFishing; (IG) AllieAddisonFishing
Hometown: Keystone Heights, Fla.
Birthdate: 01/16/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Keystone Heights Jr/Sr High
Fishing Team: Keystone Heights Bassmasters
Tournament Wins: 5
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 11
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (10 years)
Fishing Strengths: Grass — pitching, flipping and punching
Fishing Weaknesses: Deep-water lakes
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Offshore
Most Admired Angler: Ben Milliken because I like his style of fishing
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Marketing and Management
Social Media: (IG) alday0825
Hometown: Dublin, Va.
Birthdate: 10/16/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Pulaski County High School
Fishing Team: SWVA Bassin
Tournament Wins: 6
Top 5 Finishes: 5
Top 20 Finishes: 12
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (8 years), 4-H livestock club (3 years), Scheduling for family lawncare business (2 years), Mentor for youth during sponsored fishing days via SWVA Bassin youth fishing club
Fishing Strengths: Shallow-water cranking, LiveScoping brushpiles, fishing a drop shot on steep banks and fishing a jig on rocks
Fishing Weaknesses: Flipping, dragging and muddy water
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Drop shot
Most Admired Angler: John Crews because he is a well-established angler on tour who also runs a very successful business in the fishing industry, which is very inspiring. My passion is fishing, and I look forward to fishing professionally or one day having my own business associated with the fishing industry
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Management and Law
Social Media: (IG) collieralderman_fishing; (TikTok) collieraldermanfishing
Hometown: Dallas, Ga.
Birthdate: 05/23/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Paulding County High School
Fishing Team: Paulding County Fishing Club
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 3
Extracurricular Activities: FFA (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Finding and fishing offshore spotted bass and flipping shallow cover
Fishing Weaknesses: Finding the big schools when ledge fishing offshore
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing offshore humps and points with brushpiles with a drop shot
Most Admired Angler: I admire Emil Wagner the most because he grew up right down from the city I live in and has shown some amazing successes, whether that be deep-water offshore fishing, shallow-water fishing across the country or working hard to make the Elite Series. He just shows me how dedication and practice can really pay off. I also admire his fishing ability on Lake Lanier, being it is my home lake, and I have learned so much from him
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Marketing and Business
Social Media: (FB) Britton Alery;
(IG) britalery_fishing
Hometown: Cullman, Ala.
Birthdate: 02/05/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Good Hope High School
Fishing Team: Good Hope Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 5
Top 20 Finishes: 9
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing conservation (5 years)
Fishing Strengths: Finesse fishing, fishing deep water and using forward-facing sonar
Fishing Weaknesses: Learning to be more patient and not having much experience fishing shallow, muddy lakes
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a Carolina rig offshore
Most Admired Angler: Brandon Lester because I am blessed to be able to fish with him quite a bit, and he has taught me a lot
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) zacarnoldfishing
Hometown: Fayette, Ala.
Birthdate: 05/29/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Fayette County High School
Fishing Team: FCHS Bass
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: FCHS Bass Club (6 years), FCHS ambassador (4 years), FCHS SkillsUSA (4 years), FCHS JV Basketball (3 years), National Honor Society (2 years), FCHS SkillsUSA vice president (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing a Texas rig, shaky head, crankbait and jerkbait
Fishing Weaknesses: Using jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits and glidebaits
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a Texas rig, crankbait or jerkbait
Most Admired Angler: Chris Lane because of how great of a fisherman he is. When I first started fishing, I watched his Bassmaster Classic win on the Red River in 2011 and it really inspired me because he was not favored to win that tournament, but he found something that made him come out on top. He is also a really nice guy. I had the opportunity to meet him in person at Logan Parks NSANE Tournament and speak with him about his win and he really was an awesome guy to talk to
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Wildlife Management
Social Media: (IG) will_ayres_fishing_
Hometown: Lebanon, N.H.
Birthdate: 12/13/2009
Grade Level: 10th
High School: Lebanon High School
Fishing Team: Lebabon Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 9
Top 5 Finishes: 5
Top 20 Finishes: 3
Extracurricular Activities: Basketball (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing jigs and frogs, flipping wood and docks, skipping and LiveScoping
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing crankbaits, ChatterBaits and glidebaits. Breaking down big water. Changing game plans
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a frog, jig and a Damiki rig
Most Admired Angler: I admire Timothy Dube the most because he is from New Hampshire and came up through the same club that I am fishing in. Along with this, he is good at power fishing and finesse fishing
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media: (FB) jab_bass.09;
(IG) jab_bass.09
Hometown: Alexander City, Ala.
Birthdate: 04/08/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Benjamin Russell High School
Fishing Team: Benjamin Russell Anglers
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 7
Top 20 Finishes: 13
Extracurricular Activities: Varsity Golf Team (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Dock fishing and throwing a jerkbait
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing thick grass
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Topwater
Most Admired Angler: Steve Kennedy
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Marketing
Social Media: (IG) d_barnett13
Hometown: Clanton, Ala.
Birthdate: 07/18/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Evangel Christian School
Fishing Team: Evangel Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 1
Extracurricular Activities: Playing guitar (6 years), Baseball (4 years), Playing drums with church youth band (2 years), Working at tractor equipment business (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Bank fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Bank fishing and fishing grass
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because he is from my hometown, and Logan Parks because he helps with young anglers
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Conservation and Wildlife
Social Media: (IG) _hughbates20
Hometown: Keystone Heights, Fla.
Birthdate: 01/16/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Keystone Heights High School
Fishing Team: Keystone Heights Bassmasters
Tournament Wins: 5
Top 5 Finishes: 8
Top 20 Finishes: 14
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (13 years)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Power fishing
Most Admired Angler: Aaron Martens because he was an amazing teacher
Interested Area(s) Of Study: HVAC
Social Media: (IG) jacobbeach7777
Hometown: La Crosse, Wis.
Birthdate: 11/20/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: West Salem High School
Fishing Team: West Salem High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 20
Top 20 Finishes: N/A
Extracurricular Activities: Working at a local bait shop and Hy-Vee
Fishing Strengths: Fishing current and open areas with weeds and getting big smallmouth from fishing around rocks and points, as well as spending a lot of time on the water
Fishing Weaknesses: Frog fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Anything with heavy line or spinning rods early or late in the year
Most Admired Angler: I admire Trey McKinney because he put the time in at a young age and became a professional and that is what I want to do
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Marketing
Social Media: (IG) wyattbecker99
Hometown: LaGrange, Ga.
Birthdate: 04/17/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Callaway High
Fishing Team: Callaway Fishing
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 9
Extracurricular Activities: Church activities/events, FCA officer, SkillsUSA
Fishing Strengths: Shallow/cover fishing, power fishing and changing up in situations
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping, deep-water fishing and reading graphs
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a Scrounger head and a shaky head
Most Admired Angler: Lee Livesay because of his mental attitude and willingness to grind out tough derbs
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Management
Social Media: (IG) drakebishopfishing
Hometown: Cottondale, Ala.
Birthdate: 04/23/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Tuscaloosa Christian School
Fishing Team: TCS Bass Fishing
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Soccer (8 years), Choir (4 years), Art (3 years), Track (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing shallow and finding patterns quickly
Fishing Weaknesses: Ledge fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Frogging and swimming a jig
Most Admired Angler: Justin Hamner because I’ve known him for years, and I’ve got to see him go from cutting grass to winning the Bassmaster Classic
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering
Social Media: (IG) dane_booth_
Hometown: Denham Springs, La.
Birthdate: 05/25/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Denham Springs High School
Fishing Team: Denham Springs High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: American Red Cross assistant volunteer (11 years), CCA (11 years), Girl Scouts (11 years)
Fishing Strengths: Positivity, throwing good, setting the hook and cheering others on, not just myself
Fishing Weaknesses: Getting in my head and knowing what lure to use at certain times
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Topwater and spinnerbaits
Most Admired Angler: Drew Gill because he is one of the nicest anglers I’ve met, his family is very good people, and he has made his way from a no one to a someone that everyone knows
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Wildlife Biology and Dentistry
Social Media: (IG) brooklyn.b_16;
(IG) brook_fishing; (TikTok) brooklyn.bossom; (TikTok) brooksfishing2
Hometown: Mendenhall, Miss.
Birthdate: 11/19/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Simpson Academy
Fishing Team: Copiah Academy
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 15
Top 20 Finishes: 8
Extracurricular Activities: Football (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Power fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing extremely clear water
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Frog fishing
Most Admired Angler: Aaron Martens because he figured things out by himself. Although that is not how many anglers fish today, that’s how I prefer it. However, I can share amongst a team
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering
Social Media: (FB) Caden Bradley;
(IG) cadenfishes
Hometown: Broadway, Va.
Birthdate: 11/15/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Broadway High School
Fishing Team: Lake Anna Elite Anglers
Tournament Wins: Several
Top 5 Finishes: 18
Top 20 Finishes: 26
Extracurricular Activities: Helping with annual special needs fishing events, community kids fishing days and fly fishing invitationals for disabled veterans, Volunteering in the community to teach others to fish
Fishing Strengths: I am a diverse fisherman. I have strong skills in shallow and deep fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Ledge fishing with LiveScope. I got my ’Scope in September 2024 and am improving each time I use it; however, I still need to work on getting stronger in this area
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping in grass, but I’m also gaining strong skills LiveScoping and am enjoying that
Most Admired Angler: Jacob Wheeler because he is a down-to-earth guy with a diverse skill set in all areas of fishing. I met him a couple of years ago at a tournament with my boat captain for MLF. He was kind. I’ve grown up watching him fish, and he’s so talented. I’ve learned a ton from watching him
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Birthdate: 05/19/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Rosemount High School
Fishing Team: Rosemount Irish
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: Youth group (7 years), Trap team (5 years), National Honor Society (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Making changes and coming up with ideas when things aren’t going to plan
Fishing Weaknesses: Being too hard on myself when making mistakes
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Finesse fishing
Most Admired Angler: My dad because he is the most dedicated person I’ve ever met when it comes to fishing
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering
Social Media: (IG) burma.bassin
Hometown: Brimfield, Ill.
Birthdate: 07/08/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Brimfield High School
Fishing Team: Brimfield High School Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 6
Top 20 Finishes: 8
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (13 years), Basketball (5 years), Bass fishing (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing a good pattern back and forth on a bank and fishing shallow water
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing in deep water and fishing in the wind
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Using Shimano reels, St. Croix baitcasters and jigs and ChatterBaits. If fish are slow, I’ll use crankbaits around rocks
Most Admired Angler: Scott Martin because he has won a Bassmaster Open and I enjoy learning about how he fishes
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Conservation Wildlife
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Walker, La.
Birthdate: 02/17/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Live Oak High School
Fishing Team: Live Oak High School Fishing
Tournament Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 9
Extracurricular Activities: Working part-time for J A an C Lawn and Tree Services (2 years), Working part-time at Elite PowerSports (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Power fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Punching mats
Most Admired Angler: Greg Hackney because he has shown me that a professional fisherman is still just a person, and he has given me great learning/fishing tips
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Social Media: (FB) Cody Carboni;
(TikTok) Cody Carboni
Hometown: Walker, La.
Birthdate: 11/01/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Live Oak High School
Fishing Team: Live Oak High Bass Fishing
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 7
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (15 years), Football (8 years), Track (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping, skipping and pitching
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing too fast
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Beating the bank
Most Admired Angler: Trey McKinney because he started off at a very young age, and it shows that you can start young and still succeed in your dreams
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Electrician (Lineman)
Social Media: (FB) John Carboni Jr.; (IG) jcarboni34; (TikTok) thatonefisher2
Hometown: Houma, La.
Birthdate: 10/02/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Vandebilt Catholic High School
Fishing Team: VCH Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 8
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing team (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Landing fish and capitalizing on bites
Fishing Weaknesses: Knowing when to move spots
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a topwater frog and LiveScoping with a minnow
Most Admired Angler: Mark Daniels Jr. because he is a really humble guy who is very talented and makes great videos to learn from
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) CCfishing
Hometown: Union Grove, Ala.
Birthdate: 03/20/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: A. P. Brewer High School
Fishing Team: A. P. Brewer High School
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 6
Top 20 Finishes: 14
Extracurricular Activities: Basketball (through the ninth grade), Football (through the ninth grade)
Fishing Strengths: Map and electronic skills, casting, leadership and versatility
Fishing Weaknesses: Sometimes struggling to slow down, bank fishing and fishing current
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Topwater fishing — I love the visual strike and adrenaline it brings. I also like fishing ChatterBaits and crankbaits as well as LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because of his relentless work ethic, consistency and ability to stay calm under pressure. He’s proof that hard work, focus and adaptability can lead to success at the highest level. I respect the way he carries himself with professionalism and humility, both on and off the water. He’s the kind of angler I hope to become — passionate, disciplined and always learning
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Communications, Aquaculture and Wildlife Conservation/Management
Social Media: (IG) murphychildersfishing
Hometown: Crawfordville, Fla.
Birthdate: 01/17/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Wakulla High School
Fishing Team: Chiles High School Fishing Club
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 10
Extracurricular Activities: Travel Soccer (9 years), Competitive Soccer — Varsity Letterman (3 years), Director of Wakulla/St. Marks River Tuesday Night Tournaments (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping and fishing swim jigs and ChatterBaits
Fishing Weaknesses: Finesse fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Power fishing
Most Admired Angler: Drew Cook because he is from north Florida
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Management and Construction Management
Social Media: (IG) connorcrawford57
Hometown: North Conway, N.H.
Birthdate: 08/14/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Kennett High School
Fishing Team: NH Junior Bassmasters Club
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 6
Top 20 Finishes: 10+
Extracurricular Activities: Golf Team (2 years), Hockey Team — JV and Varsity (2 years), Kennett Outing Club (2 years), Key Club (2 years), Lacrosse — JV and Varsity (2 years), NH Best Buddies (2 years), DECA (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Casting, fishing knowledge, passion, boat control, reading graphs/maps and breaking down bodies of water
Fishing Weaknesses: Knot tying and knowledge of Southern fisheries
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping trees/docks for largemouth or fishing offshore for smallmouth
Most Admired Angler: Jacob Wheeler because I love his style of fishing, and Tyler Williams because I think it is really cool that he is from up North like I am. I also love his fishing style
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media: (IG) ryandziedzicfishing
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
Birthdate: 06/27/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Chiles High School
Fishing Team: Chiles High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: Enjoying the outdoors, Hunting
Fishing Strengths: Fishing grass and sight fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Using forward-facing sonar
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Swimming a jig and offshore techniques
Most Admired Angler: Lee Livesay because of his consistency and his approach to tournament fishing as a career
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Administration and Marketing
Social Media: (IG) jackson_fishing123
Hometown: Leicester, N.C.
Birthdate: 06/28/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Clyde A. Erwin High School
Fishing Team: Warrior Bass Anglers
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: Trout fishing (12 years), Carpentry (4 years), FFA (4 years), Golf (4 years), FCCLA (2 years), Lawn care (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing shallow water, power fishing and skipping docks
Fishing Weaknesses: Deep fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing wacky rigs, jigs, topwaters, big glidebaits, Texas rigs and shaky heads
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because I love the way he carries himself as a person and as an angler. He is driven to do things differently and stand out from other anglers in the field. He is funny and has been a big role model for me
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) eliellegefishing
Hometown: Henderson, Texas
Birthdate: 12/12/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Henderson High School
Fishing Team: Henderson Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 8
Extracurricular Activities: Just fishing (2025 is the first year I’ve fished tournaments consistently)
Fishing Strengths: Fighting until the last minute, staying on top of homework before tournaments and keeping a positive mindset
Fishing Weaknesses: I can be stubborn and not adapt to the fish
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping (minnow, drop shot, etc.)
Most Admired Angler: Brandon Palaniuk because he wasn’t given a handout or blueprint to make the Elites. He is so versatile and good on any body of water he is fishing. He grinded his way to the Elites through B.A.S.S. Nation, and I love that grind mindset he has
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and
Ag Business
Social Media: (FB) Cale Ellis; (IG) caleellis12
Hometown: Bainbridge, Ga.
Birthdate: 06/03/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Bainbridge High School
Fishing Team: Bainbridge High School BassCats
Tournament Wins: 13
Top 5 Finishes: 14
Top 20 Finishes: 23
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (10 years), BassCats fishing team (7 years), Key Club (2 years), Wrestling (2 years), Key Club treasurer (current)
Fishing Strengths: Ability to fish both offshore and shallow and adjust to changing weather conditions
Fishing Weaknesses: Tackle organization during a tournament — I’m just moving so fast that things get unorganized quickly
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping and punching thick vegetation
Most Admired Angler: I really admire Jacob Wheeler and his ability to adjust and adapt to different bodies of water in a short amount of time
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Management
Social Media: (IG) brennanenfinger
Blalock Eskew
Hometown: Newnan, Ga.
Birthdate: 12/31/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Heard County High School
Fishing Team: Heard County Bass Anglers
Tournament Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 10
Top 20 Finishes: 17
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Fishing brushpiles and using a wacky rig
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing offshore
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Brandon Palanuik because of his determination
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Civil Engineering
Social Media: (FB) Blalock Eskew; (IG) blalockeskew
Hometown: Mechanicsville, Va.
Birthdate: 05/29/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Grace Christian School
Fishing Team: Southern Outcast
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Burkwood Swim Team (7 years), Piano (5 years), GCS Swim Team (2 years), GCS Varsity Soccer team captain (2 years), Richmond United Travel Soccer team captain (2 years), Richmond Strikers Travel Soccer team captain (1 year), Lifeguard, Dock attendant and ship store worker, ‘Summer on the River’ Camp: Rappahannock River (July 2023/24)
Fishing Strengths: Competing under pressure, fishing in new bodies of water and staying focused the whole tournament
Fishing Weaknesses: Doubting myself and always wondering if my competitors are doing better than me
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing plastics, pitching Texas rigs and wacky rigs and fishing Carolina rigs
Most Admired Angler: Chris Lane because I have reached out multiple times with questions, and he has answered me without hesitation. I feel like he is willing to share everything he knows to help other people succeed in this sport
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Marketing
Social Media: (IG) fitch_on
Hometown: Bradenton, Fla.
Birthdate: 04/13/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Parrish Community High School
Fishing Team: Highlands County
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: FFA (5 years), Wrestling (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping cover, dragging a worm, burning a ChatterBait and power fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Finesse fishing, throwing a minnow and LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Dragging a big worm
Most Admired Angler: My grandpa because by going with him and seeing him always happy when he is out on the water, he has taught me about and gotten me to love fishing.
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Agriculture and Civil Engineering
Social Media: (IG) foy.micah
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Birthdate: 5/10/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Hill Murray High School
Fishing Team: Hill Murray High School
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: Ice Hockey (4 years), Varsity Fishing (4 years), Varsity Fishing Club vice president (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Versatility and dedication to learning new techniques
Fishing Weaknesses: Keeping my head in the game and doubting myself
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing frogs, deep crankbaits, drop shots, jigs, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, pencil poppers, jerkbaits and Texas rigs
Most Admired Angler: Easton Fothergill because he proved that you can come from up North and still make it to the big leagues. He is also a really kind person that is willing to help and give advice to young anglers like me
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Law Enforcement and Environmental Science
Social Media: (FB) Reid Fragnito;
(IG) reidfragnito
Hometown: Frostburg, Md.
Birthdate: 04/06/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Northern Garrett High School
Fishing Team: Garrett Bass Slayers
Tournament Wins: 5
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: N/A
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (11 years), Soccer (11 years), Cross Country (2 years), Wrestling (2 years), 4-H
Fishing Strengths: Skipping docks and flipping jigs through grass mats
Fishing Weaknesses: Tying different leader knots
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing grass edges and utilizing docks
Most Admired Angler: I admire Scott Martin — I like how down-to-earth he is and how well he is able to learn different lakes
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Natural Wildlife and Fisheries
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Silver City, Iowa
Birthdate: 03/30/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Treynor High School
Fishing Team: Hawg Dogs
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 6
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Basketball (12 years), Soccer (12 years)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping docks and drop shotting
Fishing Weaknesses: Reading a graph/LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Power fishing, but I am working on becoming well-rounded by working on offshore techniques such as drop shotting
Most Admired Angler: Trey McKinney because he is only 20 years old and is very successful in the Bassmaster tournaments. I am able to learn a lot from him just by watching the way he fishes and how he stays calm
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Ethel, La.
Birthdate: 06/04/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Silliman Institute
Fishing Team: Silliman Fishing
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 3
Extracurricular Activities: Pole Vaulting (3 years), Track and Field
Fishing Strengths: Power fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Knowing the proper techniques to scout new fisheries efficiently and understanding the complete use of electronics
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Power fishing
Most Admired Angler: Cliff Crochet because we are similar in many ways and I use a lot of his techniques. Gerald Swindle because he always has a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Construction Management
Social Media: (IG) dg_j4
Hometown: Moss Point, Miss.
Birthdate: 07/22/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: East Central High School
Fishing Team: Jackson County High School Bassmaster and Magnolia Bassmaster
Tournament Wins: 10
Top 5 Finishes: 7
Top 20 Finishes: 7
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing, Golf (placed second in state last year), Hunting
Fishing Strengths: Fish knowledge plus being able to adapt to depth, location, etc.
Fishing Weaknesses: Having patience
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Power fishing and fishing frog/flipping
Most Admired Angler: I admire Dustin Connell’s versatility — he’s equally skilled at fishing both shallow and deep water
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Management
Social Media: (IG) waylinhardison
Hometown: Stuart, Va.
Birthdate: 03/19/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Patrick County High School
Fishing Team: Patrick County High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 10
Extracurricular Activities: Stuart Presbyterian youth group (7 years), Patrick County High School Baseball (5 years), Travel baseball (4 years), Boathouse Ranger Fairystone State Park (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Using a jerkbait and drop shot, as well as fishing deeper water
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing thick grass because we do not have a lot of that in our home lakes
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing points, either on the bottom, or a moving bait
Most Admired Angler: Tyler Berger because he shares a lot of his knowledge and takes to the water to demonstrate how it works
Interested Area(s) Of Study: I’m interested in studying a field that would allow me to be outdoors or related to fishing such as conservation or marine engines. I also have interest in the electrical industry
Social Media: (IG) heath_.productions; (YouTube) willheathfishin
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Birthdate: 12/31/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Rosemount High School
Fishing Team: Rosemount Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Swim (3 years), Cross Country (2 years), Mock trial (2 years), Track (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Frogging, flipping and shallow-water fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Super-finesse fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing any moving bait or shallow-water bait
Most Admired Angler: I like how KVD and Matt Robertson have created their own brands, and I like how Matt Robertson has the personality he shows as well. I also like Easton Fothergill as well, because when he was in high school he fished the same lakes and tournament series as myself
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Aviation
Social Media: (IG, TikTok, YouTube, X) Bergerbassin
Hometown: Bow, N.H.
Birthdate: 04/23/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Bow High School
Fishing Team: Bow High School Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 9
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Ice hockey (12 years), Lacrosse (11 years), NH Junior Bassmasters (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing offshore, utilizing electronics and fishing grass
Fishing Weaknesses: Using swimbaits and cranking
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Finesse fishing and offshore fishing
Most Admired Angler: Tim Dube because he is the only angler from New Hampshire so far to qualify for the Elite Series and have a Bassmaster Classic appearance. Along with all his accomplishments he also has a great work ethic and overall is a great guy
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Marketing
Social Media: (IG) herrick1ethan
Hometown: Augusta, Ga.
Birthdate: 03/25/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Lakeside High School
Fishing Team: Clarks Hill Youth Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: Cotillion Club (6 years), Lakeside Golf Team (1 year going on 2), Working at Greenfish Tackle (current)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing offshore and open water like brushpiles and points
Fishing Weaknesses: Grass fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Herring fishing
Most Admired Angler: Emil Wagner because we have very similar fishing styles, and he proved that a true herring fisherman can compete at the top level, and that’s something I want to do
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (FB) drew.higgins_21; (IG) drew.higgins_21
Hometown: Leesville, S.C.
Birthdate: 03/18/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Gilbert High School
Fishing Team: Gilbert Bass Anglers
Tournament Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: N/A
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: LiveScoping and finesse fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Grass fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Brandon Palaniuk because of his use of electronics and his YouTube videos
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Marine Science
Social Media: (IG) nhold_fishing
Hometown: Hopatcong, N.J.
Birthdate: 07/07/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Hopatcong High School
Fishing Team: B.A.S.S. Nation New Jersey and Slaynation New Jersey
Tournament Wins: 16
Top 5 Finishes: 41
Top 20 Finishes: 43
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (12 years), Working at a kids’ fishing camp via Lake Hopatcong guide service (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Skipping a jig in tight areas and drop shotting with LiveScope
Fishing Weaknesses: Deep cranking
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping a jig/power fishing
Most Admired Angler: Mike Iaconelli because he is a fellow New Jersey angler and added a new level of energy in tournament fishing when he first started, has been super-consistent throughout his career and gives back a ton to younger anglers through charity
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) hukmaxfishing08
Hometown: Beaufort, S.C.
Birthdate: 04/18/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: The Complete Student
Fishing Team: The South Carolina Lower State Bass Club
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 1
Extracurricular Activities: Saltwater fishing — when living in Costa Rica, we offshore fished 2 to 3 times per week (I have extensive experience with trolling for pelagic fish and bottom fishing for the inshore species)
Fishing Strengths: LiveScoping and fishing the prespawn
Fishing Weaknesses: Ledge fishing and deep fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a weightless Senko and a topwater
Most Admired Angler: Martin Villa because he’s a grass-roots fisherman who has made his way to the top level
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Building Construction
Social Media: (IG) parkerjone_
Hometown: Cross Junction, Va.
Birthdate: 11/20/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: James Wood High School
Fishing Team: Frederick County Bass
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Ice Fishing Team – Wisconsin (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Adaptability to weather and water conditions, pattern recognition, electronics proficiency and boat control
Fishing Weaknesses: Lack of opportunity for tournament experience due to family circumstances
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Matt Robertson because he matches my personality and fishing style
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) clark_kelly_outdoors
Hometown: Headland, Ala.
Birthdate: 06/09/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Headland High School
Fishing Team: Headland Bass Team
Tournament Wins: 6
Top 5 Finishes: 12
Top 20 Finishes: 20
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Fishing deep water
Fishing Weaknesses: Shallow water
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing deep water
Most Admired Angler: Mike Iaconelli because I watched him growing up
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Finance
Social Media: (IG) mfk0609
Hometown: Petal, Miss.
Birthdate: 04/18/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Petal High School
Fishing Team: Petal High School Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 14
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing team (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: I can produce consistent bites all the way from the prespawn to late fall
Fishing Weaknesses: Cold fishing is something I’m still learning and mastering
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Finding a crankbait/jerkbait bite and dragging a Carolina/Texas rig or shaky head. Also a jig can play a key role in my lineup
Most Admired Angler: Greg Hackney is one I’ve always loved; he just gets the job done and is super down-to-earth
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Forestry
Social Media: (IG) cash_kirkpatrick
Hometown: Avon Park, Fla.
Birthdate: 10/23/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Florida Cyber Charter Academy
Fishing Team: Kids4Fishing
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 16
Top 20 Finishes: 28
Extracurricular Activities: Highlands County Anglers (5 years), Kids4Fishing (4 years), Florida B.A.S.S. Nation (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Shallow fishing or fishing tree piles with drop shots
Fishing Weaknesses: Smallmouth and spotted bass fishing — I have never done it before at this moment
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Shallow flipping/worm fishing and drop shotting tree piles
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell for his relentless work ethic, calmness under pressure and ability to perform when it matters most. He’s proven himself as one of the top anglers in the sport while staying humble and grounded. His mastery of forward-facing sonar and innovative techniques shows his dedication to evolving with the sport, and his quiet confidence sets him apart. Connell’s journey from small-town beginnings to the top of professional bass fishing is a testament to what focus and determination can achieve
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Management
Social Media: (IG) eli_k1045;
(YouTube) FishinWithEli
Hometown: Hanover, Va.
Birthdate: 12/21/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Grace Christian School
Fishing Team: Southern Outcast
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: Compass Christian Church Youth group (4 years), Varsity Baseball (3 years), National Honor Society (2 years), Varsity Soccer (2 years), JV Basketball (1 year), JV Soccer (1 year), Mexico mission trip (spring of 2024 and 2025), Hurricane relief in Florida (fall of 2024)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing plastics around docks and shorelines
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing deep and fishing with jerkbaits
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a wacky rig
Most Admired Angler: I admire Andy Montgomery because of his faith in God
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media: (IG) dfish4bass
Hometown: Max Meadows, Va.
Birthdate: 12/22/2009
Grade Level: 10th
High School: Pulaski County High School
Fishing Team: SWVA Bassin
Tournament Wins: 6
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 7
Extracurricular Activities: Travel baseball (5 years, but I stopped 2 years ago to pursue my love of fishing and fish more tournaments), Working part-time mowing to earn money to buy tackle and gas for tournaments
Fishing Strengths: Fishing crankbaits, jigs and drop shots, using LiveScope and perseverance regardless of conditions
Fishing Weaknesses: At times, I get tunnel vision when I should be moving to another bait that may work better
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Power fishing
Most Admired Angler: I admire Logan Parks because he breaks down how to fish new lakes he hasn’t fished before. He explains what to look for when trying to find a pattern
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Project Management
Social Media: (FB) Dawson Lytton;
(IG) dawson_lytton29
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Birthdate: 05/20/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Briarwood Christian High School
Fishing Team: Briarwood Christian Bass Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 8
Top 20 Finishes: 20
Extracurricular Activities: Snow Skiing (11 years), Water Skiing (8 years), Wake Surfing (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Grass fishing and graphing deep ledges with side scan and then using forward-facing sonar to catch those fish
Fishing Weaknesses: Skipping and flipping docks
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Frogging/fishing a swim jig and punching grass mats
Most Admired Angler: Zeke Gossett, because I have learned the most about fishing from Zeke. He has spent the most time with me on the water
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Medical
Social Media: (IG) ethanmcbrayerfishing
Hometown: Evans, Ga.
Birthdate: 07/11/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Harlem High School
Fishing Team: Clarks Hill Youth Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing (10+ years)
Fishing Strengths: Versatility — can fish well deep and shallow
Fishing Weaknesses: Skipping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing on deeper-water blueback fisheries
Most Admired Angler: Patrick Walters because we fish the same, and I have learned lots from watching him on Bassmaster LIVE and following along with him on social media
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Management
Social Media: (FB) wick_medlin; (IG) wick_medlin
Anderson Mesplay
Hometown: Anderson, S.C.
Birthdate: 01/22/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Carolina Hybrid Academy
Fishing Team: Pendleton High School
Tournament Wins: 8
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Youth fishing (6 years)
Fishing Strengths: Power fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Finesse fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping and pitching
Most Admired Angler: Gerald Swindle because he always stays positive no matter the situation
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (FB) Anderson Mesplay; (IG) mesplayanderson
Hometown: Heath, Texas
Birthdate: 12/17/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Rockwall-Heath High School
Fishing Team: Heath Hawks Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (I played baseball my whole life and quit my freshman year to pursue my fishing career), Fishing (7 years)
Fishing Strengths: Casting, hook sets and sticking through tough days
Fishing Weaknesses: Boat positioning, opening/loosening the drag on big fish, forgetting to retie after catching big/multiple fish and leaving alone spots that produced in the past but aren’t on the day or weekend of the tournament
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Sight fishing big females off of a bed or LiveScoping brushpiles and other offshore structure
Most Admired Angler: Edwin Evers because when he’s not fishing, he’s farming, and my family is full of farmers; I come from a place that’s only known for agriculture
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business,
Ag Mechanics, Livestock Production, Agricultural Science, Animal Science and Natural Resource Management
Social Media: (IG) cashmfishing
Hometown: New Braunfels, Texas
Birthdate: 01/07/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: New Braunfels High School
Fishing Team: Twitch Reel Fishing
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 8
Extracurricular Activities: Travel baseball (13 years), Football (6 years), FFA Agricultural Mechanics (3 years), High school baseball (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Pick up any bait and being comfortable using it. It has helped me develop the skill of changing techniques in a hurry, and being able to adjust to variable water conditions, as well as structural changes
Fishing Weaknesses: Lack of experience using a deep-diving crankbait as well as flutter spoons. I need to improve on making strategy changes during tournaments. Fishing without LiveScope has drawn me away from these methods and has forced me to use techniques that are faster, more efficient and more productive
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing topwater and punching hydrilla mats
Most Admired Angler: Tyler Anderson because he is a great Christian angler and has amazing tips for breaking down different bodies of water and different situations for certain techniques
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Marketing, Finance and Architecture
Social Media: (IG) ryland_miller9
Hometown: Hartselle, Ala.
Birthdate: 01/26/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Priceville High School
Fishing Team: Alabama Bass Academy
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 20
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Forward-facing sonar and deep-water fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Shallow fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Minnow shaking
Most Admired Angler: Jacob Wheeler because of his ability to prevail in all the tournaments he fishes and almost always make a Top 10
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) peyton_mixon_fishing
Hometown: Hoover, Ala.
Birthdate: 06/04/2010
Grade Level: 10th
High School: Spain Park High School
Fishing Team: Spain Park Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: Pickleball (4 years)
Fishing Strengths: Focus
Fishing Weaknesses: Reading LiveScope
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a wacky worm
Most Admired Angler: Ben Milliken — I like his technique of fishing and how open he is about it
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) SPHSFT
Hometown: Max Meadows, Va.
Birthdate: 05/14/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Fort Chiswell High
Fishing Team: SWVA Bassin
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing tournaments with my dad (since I was 8 years old), Football, High school baseball, Hunting, Travel baseball
Fishing Strengths: Fishing structure, docks, bridge pilings and riprap, as well as using jigs, crankbaits, drop shots and swimbaits
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing jigs, drop shots, crankbaits and swimbaits
Most Admired Angler: Wesley Strader because he fishes the way I like to fish
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Criminal Justice
Social Media: (FB) SWVA Bassin
Hometown: Fulshear, Texas
Birthdate: 12/08/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Fulshear High School
Fishing Team: Fulshear High School and Texas High School Bass Association
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Football — 6A High School, QB and other positions, captain (4 years), Rodeo (4 years), Young Men’s Service League member (3 years), Track and Field — Pole Vault (2 years), Train shooting, Young Men’s Service League president (2024), Fishing, Hunting, Ranching on family ranch
Fishing Strengths: Knowing how the fish are acting
Fishing Weaknesses: Learning LiveScope
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping
Most Admired Angler: Jimmy Houston because he has so much knowledge to share from all his years of fishing
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Ag Business and Ag Economics
Social Media: (IG) aceouthier
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Birthdate: 02/25/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Lake Highland Preparatory School
Fishing Team: Seminole Junior Anglers
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 9
Top 20 Finishes: 13
Extracurricular Activities: Football (all of high school), Lacrosse (all of high school)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping, using glidebaits, fishing deep brush and grass and bed fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Crankbaits
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing glidebaits or flipping
Most Admired Angler: Mike Iaconelli because I’ve been watching him my whole life and he’s a very exciting angler to watch. He’s always pumped up and is pretty good at fishing
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) lukeizfishing
Hometown: Hampstead, Md.
Birthdate: 01/31/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Hereford High School
Fishing Team: HS/JR Upper Bay Bassin (MLF) and Jr. Potomac Bassmasters (MD B.A.S.S. Nation)
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Lacrosse — Youth (10 years), Football — Varsity, JV and Youth (8 years), Hereford High School Football Camp volunteer (1 year), Hereford High School new student mentor (1 year), Susquehanna Flats Bass Fishing Trail volunteer (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: LiveScoping in open water on bait balls or brush, flipping/skipping docks and the ability to adapt to changing conditions
Fishing Weaknesses: Knowing when to move on from a fish I can see while LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping and skipping docks
Most Admired Angler: Grae Buck because I know him on a personal level. He has inspired me to be persistent with my dreams and journey to becoming a professional angler
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Marketing
Social Media: (IG) lukepappas_fishing
Hometown: Ballground, Ga.
Birthdate: 09/05/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Cherokee High School
Fishing Team: Cherokee High School
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 6
Top 20 Finishes: Numerous
Extracurricular Activities: Whitetail hunting (I have whitetail hunted my whole life and enjoy that when I am not on the water)
Fishing Strengths: Catching herring eaters and pelagic fish using forward-facing sonar
Fishing Weaknesses: Trying to break down shallow-water grass or different types of vegetation
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Using my Garmin LiveScope to target offshore fish on any lake
Most Admired Angler: An angler I admire most is Dustin Connell because of his positive mindset and willingness to do anything and make any sort of adjustment to catch fish
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Management
Social Media: (IG) logan_parker_fishing46; (TikTok) logan_parker_fishing46
Hometown: Petal, Miss.
Birthdate: 09/14/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Petal High School
Fishing Team: Petal High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 8
Top 20 Finishes: 16
Extracurricular Activities: Beta Club (4 years), Educators Rising (4 years), First Priority (4 years), National Honor Society (3 years), National Technical Honor Society (3 years), Archery (2 years), Leadership Academy (2 years), Mu Alpha Theta (2 years), Sonshine Girls (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Power fishing, public speaking and driving trolling motors
Fishing Weaknesses: Finesse fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a crankbait
Most Admired Angler: Hilary Martin because she inspires me to succeed in a male-dominated sport
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Portland, Tenn.
Birthdate: 08/07/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Portland High School
Fishing Team: Portland High and TBF
Tournament Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing (6 years), Hunting (6 years), FFA, Mowing, Welding
Fishing Strengths: Flipping and LiveScoping
Fishing Weaknesses: Power fishing — mainly crankbaits
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping and LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Gerald Swindle may not be the best, but I Iove how he is honest and no matter how good he does he is always smiling
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media: (FB, IG, TikTok, X, YouTube) Pearson Outdoors
Hometown: Winter Garden, Fla.
Birthdate: 03/07/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: West Orange
Fishing Team: Seminole Junior Anglers
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 7
Extracurricular Activities: Lacrosse (6 years)
Fishing Strengths: Finding fish, being consistent and landing the large ones along the way. Consistency is what earned me the top angler of my club in my very first year
Fishing Weaknesses: I am always learning
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing offshore — I am extremely versatile on presentations
Most Admired Angler: Scott Martin because he’s someone who’s built a legacy in the sport through hard work, consistency and passion. He’s won at every level, from FLW to MLF, and still finds ways to keep improving and adapting. What really stands out to me, though, is how much he shares what he knows. His YouTube channel, the way he talks through strategies, and his willingness to mentor younger anglers shows that he wants to grow the sport, not just win in it. That’s the kind of pro I want to be someday — not just successful, but someone who gives back to the fishing community and helps others get better
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Engineering
Social Media: (IG) grant_pergler
Hometown: Hosford, Fla.
Birthdate: 09/14/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Liberty County High School
Fishing Team: Liberty County Anglers
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: Working bees/honey production (5 years)
Fishing Strengths: Throwing a frog and using LiveScope
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing slow — I’m more of a fast-paced fisherman
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Throwing a drop shot using LiveScope
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because I appreciate the fact that Dustin started from nothing. He worked hard and risked it all to enter and win his first major tournament
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Marketing
Social Media: (FB) Nathan Phillips; (IG) nathan._phillips08
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Birthdate: 04/07/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Spain Park High School
Fishing Team: Spain Park High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing (started in 2020 fishing recreationally in a backyard stocked lake; joined Spain Park High School Fishing Team in 2023)
Fishing Strengths: LiveScoping
Fishing Weaknesses: Shallow fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Offshore fishing
Most Admired Angler: Easton Fothergill because his fishing style and techniques are the most interesting to me
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Engineering
Social Media: (IG) sphsft (Spain Park High School Fishing Team)
Hometown: Sebring, Fla.
Birthdate: 03/24/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Sebring High School
Fishing Team: Highlands County Anglers
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing competitively (9 years), Conservation projects with FWC, Hunting, Piano
Fishing Strengths: Being able to grind for hours, LiveScoping, finesse fishing and catching pressured fish
Fishing Weaknesses: Flipping scattered cover
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing glidebaits and LiveScope
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because he is always positive
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Law and Engineering
Social Media: (IG) jaxon.rapp_fishing
Hometown: Headland, Ala.
Birthdate: 04/02/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Headland High School
Fishing Team: Headland Bass Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 9
Top 20 Finishes: 15
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Determination and consistency
Fishing Weaknesses: Procrastination and overthinking
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing grassy banks with swim jigs and throwing drop shots in brushpiles
Most Admired Angler: Christian Greico because him and I have a very similar type of fishing
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Social Media: (IG) reistonratchford
Hometown: Mobile, Ala.
Birthdate: 05/13/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Mary G. Montgomery High School
Fishing Team: Mary G. Montgomery and Bass Tactix Delta Division
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Not afraid to try new techniques
Fishing Weaknesses: Staying in one spot too long
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing crankbaits and topwater frogs
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because he always has a good attitude about things — even when he’s not doing good he always tries to be positive
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engine Mechanics
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Auburndale, Fla.
Birthdate: 09/04/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: George Jenkins High School
Fishing Team: George Jenkins Bassmasters
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 8
Top 20 Finishes: 7
Extracurricular Activities: National Honor Society (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Patience, persistence and positivity
Fishing Weaknesses: Flipping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a crankbait, Carolina rig and Texas-rigged Speed Worm up shallow
Most Admired Angler: Stephanie Hemphill-Pellerin — she fishes the MLF Invitationals and the National Professional Fishing League. She has her own guide service and always keeps her head up regardless of where she finishes in a tournament
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business ethics and Agriculture
Social Media: (IG) ellareadyfishing
Hometown: D’Iberville, Miss.
Birthdate: 02/07/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: D’Iberville High School
Fishing Team: N/A
Tournament Wins: 12
Top 5 Finishes: 29
Top 20 Finishes: 47
Extracurricular Activities: Golf
Fishing Strengths: Fishing slow
Fishing Weaknesses: Casting accuracy
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Shallow fishing
Most Admired Angler: Keith Poche because he catches most of his fish in shallow and narrow places
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Harned, Ky.
Birthdate: 05/17/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Breckinridge County High School
Fishing Team: Breckinridge County Bass Fishing
Tournament Wins: 5
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Golf (5 years), Fishing (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Versatility and being able to adapt in tough conditions
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing highland reservoirs
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Shallow power fishing such as flipping a jig or a ChatterBait
Most Admired Angler: Andrew Nordbye because I like his versatility in being able to catch fish offshore LiveScoping and go up shallow and find a good bag. Most of all I like his love for the Lord and how he is not afraid to share it
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Civil Engineering
Social Media: (IG) klay_rhodes_fishing; (X) Klay Rhodes Fishing
Hometown: Lakeland, Fla.
Birthdate: 04/24/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: George Jenkins High School
Fishing Team: George Jenkins Bass Masters
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 5
Top 20 Finishes: 10
Extracurricular Activities: FFA (7 years)
Fishing Strengths: Patience and getting the hang of new things
Fishing Weaknesses: Flipping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Offshore fishing and using a Carolina rig and crankbait
Most Admired Angler: Joey Bloom — I choose Joey because he started where I started, fishing small high school tournaments. Then he pushed himself to become someone in the fishing world and made a name for himself, and he will always help those who are in need
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Animal Science
Social Medi: (IG) sarahrisingfishing
Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.
Birthdate: 12/28/2006
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Winter Park High School
Fishing Team: SJA
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 1
Extracurricular Activities: TSA (3 years), SJA (1 year)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing with jerkbaits
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing with LiveScope — I’m just not used to it yet
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Using quick-reaction baits
Most Admired Angler: N/A
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Chemical Engineering
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Gray Court, S.C.
Birthdate: 11/18/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Laurens District 55 High School
Fishing Team: LDHS Anglers
Tournament Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 9
Top 20 Finishes: 20
Extracurricular Activities: Boat mechanic, Fishing, Working 15-20 hours per week after school on his personal business building fences
Fishing Strengths: Fishing the conditions, adapting to change, fishing to my strengths, boat control and tackle management
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing with a minnow while using LiveScope
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a topwater, shaky head, crankbait and ChatterBait
Most Admired Angler: Gerald Swindle because he keeps a positive attitude and puts in maximum effort regardless of the final outcome
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering and Business
Social Media: (FB) owen.satterwhite
Hometown: Holden, Maine
Birthdate: 08/02/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Bangor High School
Fishing Team: N/A
Tournament Wins: 5
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Swimming (9 years), Football (6 years)
Fishing Strengths: Finding fish on offshore structure, patience and perseverance
Fishing Weaknesses: Long-range casting accuracy and keeping a good pace
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a jig
Most Admired Angler: Tyler Williams because he is from my area, likes similar techniques and I know him
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Inland Fisheries Management
Social Media Handles: N/A
Hometown: Windham, N.H.
Birthdate: 08/21/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Windham High School
Fishing Team: N/A
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 4
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Casting skills, including pitching, flipping and skipping, as well as fishing knowledge like high-percentage areas as well as lure selection
Fishing Weaknesses: Tournament experience
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a jig and for finesse fishing using a Damiki and topwater
Most Admired Angler: Kevin VanDam is my favorite because of his dominance across his career
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Mechanical Engineer
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Owenton, Ky.
Birthdate: 09/25/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Covington Catholic High School
Fishing Team: Covington Catholic Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 1
Extracurricular Activities: Hunting
Fishing Strengths: LiveScoping
Fishing Weaknesses: Not eating or drinking while fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because he has fun while doing what he loves most
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) eli_scroggins_bassfishing
Hometown: Sebring, Fla.
Birthdate: 09/21/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Sebring High School
Fishing Team: Highlands County Anglers
Tournament Wins: 12
Top 5 Finishes: 6
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (from T-ball all the way through freshman year), 4-H (from age 8 all the way through present; I’ve shown a hog for the past 10 years), Bible Fellowship Church youth group (8 years), FFA (3 years)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping and LiveScoping
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing in windy conditions and rough waters
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Shallow-water fishing and LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Trey McKinney because he always finds a way to adapt, whether it’s fishing shallow or offshore — that’s how he’s always in the Top 10
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (FB) JackSebring; (IG) jack_sebring
Hometown: Prairieville, La.
Birthdate: 09/23/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Catholic High School
Fishing Team: Catholic High Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 1
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball (all my life), Fishing (all my life), Fishing team (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Punching, flipping and fishing a ChatterBait
Fishing Weaknesses: Staying too long in a spot trying to make something happen
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Frogging and punching
Most Admired Angler: Ben Milliken because he always finds a way to make them work
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Medicine
Social Media: (IG) bakeralstonsharp
Hometown: Ninety Six, S.C.
Birthdate: 06/02/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Ninety Six High School
Fishing Team: Ninety Six Wildcat Anglers
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 12
Extracurricular Activities: Helping feed people in need through Soul Food (4 years, through church youth group), Volunteering at Maxwell Farms with the students of Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries, a community residential group home (4 years), Angler for Athletes tournament (3 years), FFA (2 years), Involved in Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries “Take a Student Fishing” fishing tournament and supported other tournaments they’ve had
Fishing Strengths: Bed fishing, LiveScoping and reading graphing maps
Fishing Weaknesses: Skipping and side scanning
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Peyton Sorrow — I started on my school’s fishing team in sixth grade and met Peyton the following year. He fished the same trail but with another school. While we have a four-year age difference, we have remained friends, and not only does he mentor me from an angler perspective, he encourages me and holds me accountable from an academic perspective
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) shumanwells
Hometown: Melbourne, Ark.
Birthdate: 11/23/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Melbourne High School
Fishing Team: Melbourne Bearkatz Fishing
Tournament Wins: 6
Top 5 Finishes: 25+
Top 20 Finishes: 25+
Extracurricular Activities: Trap Shooting (4 years), Golf (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing topwaters, jerkbaits, swimbaits and glidebaits, pitching and spring/summer fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Winter fishing and finesse presentations
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing big swimbaits/glidebaits and power fishing
Most Admired Angler: Jacob Wheeler because of his ability to adapt and catch them everywhere he goes
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Biology
Social Media: (FB) Melbourne Bearkatz Fishing
Hometown: Flat Lick, Ky.
Birthdate: 04/14/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Knox Central High School
Fishing Team: Knox Central High School
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Basketball (11 years)
Fishing Strengths: Casting, working lures and staying focused
Fishing Weaknesses: Knowing lures for different seasons — I need to continue using different lures
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Working a jig or a ChatterBait
Most Admired Angler: Scott Martin because he has a great attitude and catches a ton of big fish
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering
Social Media: (IG) dylansizemore95
Hometown: Taylor, Ala.
Birthdate: 09/16/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Rehobeth High School
Fishing Team: Rehobeth Bass Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 1
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Very dedicated and always trying to learn more about the sport
Fishing Weaknesses: Getting caught up in all the different lure colors and techniques, which don’t always work
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Anything they will bite
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because he doesnt seem like he is caught up in the fame and seems very honest and just a great guy all around
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Animal Sciences
Social Media: (IG) braxton_fishes
Hometown: Crystal Springs, Miss.
Birthdate: 12/10/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Copiah Academy
Fishing Team: Copiah Academy
Tournament Wins: 6
Top 5 Finishes: 13
Top 20 Finishes: 22
Extracurricular Activities: Circle Track Factory stock driver (7 years), Copiah Academy Skeet Shoot Team (5 years)
Fishing Strengths: Flipping, frogging and topwater fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Bank fishing and flipping
Most Admired Angler: Kevin VanDam has always been my favorite, and I admire Greg Hackney because he’s an expert at shallow-water fishing and lives close to my home state
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) sojournercharlie
Hometown: Fuquay Varina, N.C.
Birthdate: 09/30/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Fuquay Varina High School
Fishing Team: Triangle Bass Club
Tournament Wins: 20
Top 5 Finishes: 9
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: High School National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fishing Strengths: Adapting to changes in conditions
Fishing Weaknesses: Being too busy to get more time on the water
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Running and gunning
Most Admired Angler: Rick Clunn — I grew up watching him and I admire his longevity and commitment to the sport
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Engineering
Social Media: (IG) grady_stanley_fishing
Hometown: Fuquay Varina, N.C.
Birthdate: 05/11/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Fuquay Varina High School
Fishing Team: Triangle Bass Club
Tournament Wins: 5
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: N/A
Extracurricular Activities: Future Christian Athletes Club (2 years), Student Leadership Team at Fuquay Varina United Methodist Church (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Always confident, even to the last minute, knowing there’s always a chance to catch a big one
Fishing Weaknesses: Being too committed to a bait or place where you have history
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Beating the bank with a frog or jig or sitting in the middle in 100 feet of water catching fish on a topwater or Damiki rig
Most Admired Angler: Jacob Wheeler because he always adapts to any situation he’s in and proceeds to always catch fish
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Marine Mechanic
Social Media: (IG) levi_stanley_fishing
Hometown: Boerne, Texas
Birthdate: 11/17/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Boerne Champion
Fishing Team: Bass Club of Champions
Tournament Wins: 5
Top 5 Finishes: 12
Top 20 Finishes: 29
Extracurricular Activities: Boy Scouts of America (working on Eagle Scout rank)
Fishing Strengths: Shallow-water visible structure
Fishing Weaknesses: Locating offshore schools of fish
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a Topwater, flipping
Most Admired Angler: Chris Zaldain, his resilience and enthusiasm
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media: (IG) remingtonstewart_fishing
Hometown: Nicholasville, Ky.
Birthdate: 12/17/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: East Jessamine High School
Fishing Team: Jessamine County High School Elite
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 8
Top 20 Finishes: 13
Extracurricular Activities: Church youth group (5 years), FFA (3 years), Teaching Jessamine County Youth Bass 101 classes (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Shallow-water power fishing, shallow grass fishing, bait versatility, tournament prep and making adjustments on the water
Fishing Weaknesses: TV- style ledge fishing and herring lakes
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping, cranking and using glidebaits, topwaters and spinnerbaits
Most Admired Angler: Brandon Palaniuk because of how he always has a a positive mindset, adapts on the water to what he sees and is very versatile in his techniques
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Criminal Justice and Business Management
Social Media: (FB) Dylan Teater; (IG) _dylanteater_
Hometown: Hendersonville, Tenn.
Birthdate: 03/31/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Station Camp High School
Fishing Team: Sumner County Bass Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: FFA (3 years), Volunteer work (3 years), Young Life (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Always having the right mindset and wanting to learn, as well as the ability to stay focused when it is a grind on the water
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping and fishing offshore brushpiles
Most Admired Angler: Logan Parks because he is a very good guy and does a lot for the youth fishing community, and he and his partner won the million-dollar tournament on Table Rock Lake which, at the time, was in my backyard
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Marketing
Social Media: (IG) hooked_on_brody_teller
Hometown: Buford, Ga.
Birthdate: 08/23/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Buford High School
Fishing Team: Buford High School Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: 2
Extracurricular Activities: Lacrosse (10 years), Cross Country (6 years), Youth Lacrosse coach (2 years), Bass Fishing Team
Fishing Strengths: Fishing highland reservoirs, adjusting quickly when the situation calls for it and am effective in using down scan, side scan, LiveScope and mapping to accurately pattern out bass on different bodies of water
Fishing Weaknesses: Flipping and pitching shallow cover, fine tuning preparation before getting on the water and need to fish more lowland reservoirs
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Finesse fishing using a Neko rig and drop shot, using LiveScope to be more accurate in casting and spend less time where fish are not present
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because of his attitude when he is fishing. He stays positive and has a good time on the water, even when a tournament day is not going his way
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Social Media: (IG) connort_fishing
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Birthdate: 08/24/2007
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Vestavia Hills High School
Fishing Team: Vestavia Hills Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: Deer hunting, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fishing, Hand in Hand special needs ministry volunteer at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Mountain biking, Spending time outdoors, Volunteering with Team Ministries at Clays4Kids Clay Shoot event, Champions of Chemo event and Heart2Heart event
Fishing Strengths: Fishing grass and brushpiles
Fishing Weaknesses: Efficiently using side and down scan
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Swimming a jig/frogging and shaking a minnow
Most Admired Angler: Logan Parks — I look up to him because he has mastered the business side of fishing by creating his high school/college tournament, which I have competed in both years, and he was one of the first to live stream his tournaments
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Mathematics
Social Media: (IG) andersonthrowerfishing; (TikTok) andersonthrowerfishing
Hometown: Opp, Ala.
Birthdate: 04/06/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Straughn High School
Fishing Team: Straughn Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 3 (1 solo, 2 team)
Top 5 Finishes: 5
Top 20 Finishes: 12
Extracurricular Activities: Community service for people with special needs, Christmas community service for families in need, Planning Cast for Kids event, Miracle League Baseball
Fishing Strengths: Fishing deep water and also throwing a swim jig in grass and flipping pads in Florida. I’m very open to what the lake is presenting
Fishing Weaknesses: If the pattern of weather changes through the night or weekend, I struggle to change and adapt with the weather
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping in mid- to deep-range water
Most Admired Angler: John Crews and Jeff Gustafson — both of them are great role models; they give back to younger anglers and make sure to teach what they can for them to learn. I have been a marshal in both of their boats, and they were some of the best times I’ve ever had on the water
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Biology (study to restore the vegetation in lakes)
Social Media: (FB) Brayden Tisdale;
(IG, YouTube) btisdalefishing
Hometown: Friendsville, Md.
Birthdate: 05/14/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Northern Garrett High School
Fishing Team: Garrett Bass Slayers
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: N/A
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Dock fishing and grass fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing deep water
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing grass and utilizing forward-facing sonar
Most Admired Angler: Jacob Wheeler because of his versatility and quick thinking
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering
Social Media: N/A
Hometown: Franklin, Ga.
Birthdate: 12/26/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Heard County High School
Fishing Team: Heard County Bass Anglers
Tournament Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 10
Top 20 Finishes: 16
Extracurricular Activities: Working on family poultry and cattle farm (I’ve worked on my family farm my whole life), Helping manage elderly neighbors’ cattle herd/farm (3 years), Pickle ball (1 year), National Honor Society
Fishing Strengths: LiveScoping with a worm
Fishing Weaknesses: Really shallow fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: LiveScoping
Most Admired Angler: Logan Parks because he helps promote high school and college anglers
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business and Marketing
Social Media: (FB) Ellis Turner; (IG) ellisturner498
Hometown: Sebring, Fla.
Birthdate: 03/04/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Sebring High School
Fishing Team: Highlands County Anglers
Tournament Wins: 12
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 4
Extracurricular Activities: Baseball, Golf
Fishing Strengths: Offshore fishing
Fishing Weaknesses: Bed fishing
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing offshore and flipping
Most Admired Angler: Jacob Wheeler because he explains everything so much better, and when I am confused, I just watch him and he gives me a answer
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Undecided
Social Media:(FB) Mason Turner;
(IG) masonturner89
Hometown: Denham Springs, La.
Birthdate: 06/30/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Denham Springs High School
Fishing Team: Denham Springs High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 4
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 7
Extracurricular Activities: Jr. Southwest Bassmaster member (10 years), Jr. Southwest Bassmaster treasurer (2015-2024), Duck hunting, First Baptist Church High School youth group
Fishing Strengths: Shallow-water power fishing, flipping and throwing a spinnerbait and frog
Fishing Weaknesses: Using electronics, but I’m learning
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Flipping
Most Admired Angler: Takahiro Omori has been my favorite since I was little. I really like his attitude, and he is consistent
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business (or whatever curriculum needed for game warden-type profession)
Social Media: (IG) jackvarnado44
Hometown: Houma, La.
Birthdate: 04/13/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Vandebilt Catholic
Fishing Team: Vandebilt Catholic Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 3
Top 20 Finishes: 5
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Making long casts and putting in the time to figure them out
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping — I love it, but I’m not good at it
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Grass fishing and fishing offshore structure
Most Admired Angler: Lee Livesay because he is very versatile and doesn’t give up
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Administration
Social Media: (IG) jameswalker_985
Hometown: Munford, Ala.
Birthdate: 04/02/2009
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Munford High School
Fishing Team: Munford Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 20 Finishes: 6
Extracurricular Activities: Senior Beta (3 years), SGA (3 years), FFA (2 years)
Fishing Strengths: Fishing a jig, ChatterBait, spinnerbait and shaky head
Fishing Weaknesses: LiveScoping
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Fishing a shaky head, grass fishing and fishing brushpiles
Most Admired Angler: Trey McKinney — he has been a top finisher from the start. I hope to be like him one day and develop the depth of knowledge he has to be such a well-rounded angler
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Engineering
Social Media: (IG) jaggerwellsfishing
Hometown: Petal, Miss.
Birthdate: 09/18/2008
Grade Level: 11th
High School: Petal High School
Fishing Team: Petal High School Bass Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: N/A
Top 5 Finishes: 1
Top 20 Finishes: 7
Extracurricular Activities: N/A
Fishing Strengths: Finding changes in water and locating primary and secondary points
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing in deep water
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Soft-plastic slow fishing
Most Admired Angler: Cliff Pace
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business
Social Media: (IG) asherwheat
Hometown: Opp, Ala.
Birthdate: 02/18/2008
Grade Level: 12th
High School: Straughn High School
Fishing Team: Straughn High School Fishing Team
Tournament Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: N/A
Top 20 Finishes: N/A
Extracurricular Activities: Fishing — I’ve fished since I was three. I fish small tournaments around Alabama, some by myself and some with my dad
Fishing Strengths: Jigging, flipping, LiveScoping, finesse fishing and fishing a ChatterBait and topwater
Fishing Weaknesses: Fishing a spinnerbait
Preferred Fishing Techniques: Jigging
Most Admired Angler: Dustin Connell because of the way he can break down water, and Jacob Wheeler because of the way he studies, his knowledge of the lakes, how he takes patterns from every lake and the way he acknowledges the differences in season
Interested Area(s) Of Study: Business Administration
Social Media: (IG) draydenwhitten
