The Bass Federation, FLW Launch High School Fishing Expansion for 2014

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Jan 16, 2014, 12:28 ET

PONCA CITY, Okla., Jan. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the national introduction of High School Fishing by The Bass Federation (TBF) and FLW under the Student Angler Federation (SAF) umbrella in 2011, participation has more than doubled each year and three states (Kentucky, New Hampshire and Missouri) have joined Illinois in sanctioning bass fishing as an official high school sport. To accommodate rapidly growing demand, SAF will expand its slate of national High School Fishing events and enhance its existing lineup of state and conference championships in 2014.

Next year the top 10 percent of each High School Fishing state championship field will advance to a conference championship instead of just the state champions as in years past. The top 10 percent of each conference championship field in 2014 will also advance to the 2015 High School Fishing National Championship that will coincide with the TBF National Championship and a Walmart FLW Tour stop.

A series of national High School Fishing opens held at FLW Tour events will also be introduced for 2014. Each open will offer a conference championship berth to the winning team and qualify students for the High School Fishing World Finals.

"The expansion in High School Fishing shows The Bass Federation and FLW's commitment to providing unprecedented opportunities for high school anglers across the country," TBF National Youth Director Mark Gintert said. "As our participation numbers in each state continue to grow, we want to reward teams proportionately. The addition of national High School Fishing opens at FLW Tour stops gives our anglers additional advancement opportunities as well as the opportunity to experience big-time professional fishing up close and personal."

In 2013 TBF and FLW held 52 High School Fishing tournaments nationwide. Each tournament is part of the Student Angler Federation, the first and only national high school fishing program providing turnkey solutions for state athletic associations.

"High School Fishing is an exciting growth area for our sport, and in addition to on-the-water opportunities, we are thrilled to give students the chance to meet some of the world's best anglers and experience the thrill of professional bass fishing at a very personal level next season," FLW Vice President of Operations Dave Washburn said. "High School Fishing provides students with a connection to their school that they've never enjoyed before and is creating a whole new generation of anglers. It's a win for the students, a win for the schools and a win for the future of fishing and conservation in the United States."

Visit highschoolfishing.org for additional details. Registration for the High School Fishing Opens will start January 17.

2014 High School Fishing Opens hosted by the Walmart FLW Tour
February 9	Caloosahatchee River, Moore Haven, Fla.	FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee
March 9	Lake Russell, Anderson, S.C.	FLW Tour on Lake Hartwell
April 12	Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.	FLW Tour on Beaver Lake
June 8	Wheeler Lake, Rogersville, Ala.	FLW Tour on Pickwick Lake
June 29	Lake Barkley, Dover, Tenn.	FLW Tour on Kentucky Lake

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. 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 40 years. Visit Bassfederation.com.

ABOUT FLW
FLW is the industry's premier tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2014 over the course of 229 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 tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the "Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water." For more information about FLW visit FLWOutdoors.com and look for FLW on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.

FLWOutdoors.com

SOURCE FLW