Last week, the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship was held on Lake Hartwell. It was highlighted by three days full of intense competition and exciting action for the anglers, their families, and spectators.
Three hundred and fourteen teams from across the United States and Canada converged on Anderson, S.C., to participate in the Bassmaster High School National Championship, held on Lake Hartwell, a 56,000-acre lake split in half by the South Carolina-Georgia state line. When it was all said and done, Wisconsin anglers Bryce Moder and Reese Keeney came out on top, winning the 2022 title.
“It felt amazing to win,” said Keeney. “I’ve been chasing this dream since I started fishing, and to win a national championship is a complete dream come true.”
The National Championship is billed as a competition for the best of the best. Teams qualified for the national championship by competing in state and regional competitions over the last year. The year-long competition between high school anglers from all over the country culminated in an end-of-season championship held in South Carolina.
Glenn Cale of Bassmaster oversees all junior, high school, and college B.A.S.S. events nationwide. Cale was excited to be a part of his first major national-level championship in his new role as the B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager for College, High School, and Junior anglers.
“I was ecstatic, super proud, and happy to share the stage with the best kids from across the U.S. that make it through the state trails to the biggest stage in bass fishing.
“We had an outstanding event with superior sportsmanship by all teams. It was awesome to be a part of a very first-class operation and partner with the incredible staff of Visit Anderson to host an outstanding event that included teams from all over the country and two from Canada.”
Tournament weigh-ins were at Green Pond Landing in Anderson. The location is renowned as a premier venue for many top-tier tournaments and this year’s Bassmaster Classic. This year is the first time a national championship has been held anywhere but in Tennessee. Neal Paul of Visit Anderson had this to say about the event,
“Hosting this event for us was a tremendous win for our community and our organization’s standpoint. We identified this tournament as an event we wanted to host about six years ago. To see the fruit of our labor pay off after six years is a big win. It’s also a huge win for our facility at Green Pond, which was designed specifically for an event of this caliber. From the parking to the amphitheater, it’s a venue built for this sized event.
“It’s a big win for the community regarding the economic impact on hotels, boat service departments, tackle stores, restaurants, and more.”
Teams were afforded three days of pre-tournament practice to narrow down areas and settle on the best strategies. Anglers employed many tactics, from drop-shotting in deepwater to running banks with shallow water presentations.
Thursday was the official start of the Bassmaster High School National Championship. As “go time” approached, there was a palpable sense of nervous anticipation and excitement as teams braced for two days of intense competition.
The tournament’s first two days were open to the entire field of anglers. All were vying for a coveted top-twelve spot to get them into the championship Saturday. The end of day two saw high drama for two of the teams.
As scales closed on day two and weigh-in lines dwindled, officials realized that two teams from Florida and Tennessee were deadlocked in twelfth place with the exact same weight, a virtually unprecedented finish. In the end, a tiebreaker rule helped the team of Evan Wood and Spencer Lovett of Tennessee bump Drew and Kamden Bradstreet of Florida out of contention for the championship Saturday. Although disappointed, the Bradstreet boys held their heads high,
“The rules are there for a reason, and the tiebreaker rule went into effect to settle the tie. It’s how it goes.
“We are very happy with our results and thankful for the opportunity. It’s been an amazing week,” Drew said. “I’m a senior, and my brother is a sophomore. We’re excited about the future and hope to be back next year.”
Once the final twelve-team field was set, it was time for the teams to prepare for a Saturday showdown on Lake Hartwell. With camera crews in tow, each team headed out onto the busy waters of the massive compound for what would be an unforgettable experience for these high schoolers, all battling for the championship trophy and scholarship rewards.
“At the top 12 meeting on Saturday morning, teams were confident,” noted Cale. “They all felt really good and were optimistic that the fish would be there. Most teams had a game plan to run and gun, leave it all on the water and take home the crown.”
Strategies varied throughout the week. Some targeted deep water fish positioned on cane piles or brush. The hope was to load up on fish stacked on offshore points. However, fishing pressure seemed to dictate a move to shallow water for many top teams as the week progressed. As a result, many of Saturday’s competitors found their way up shallow in creeks and flats. They opted to work docks and wood with various baits.
Keeney and Moder focused their efforts on a stretch of clay bank loaded with laydowns and current. However, according to the team, the key ingredient was the presence of bait in the area. In addition, adjusting to conditions was vital to their success.
“My dad and partner practiced for a couple of days without me, and they found a decent pattern, ” said Keeney.
“We took a swim jig during the tournament and skipped it up underbrush. However, the water levels increased, making it tough to skip the jig. So we switched to a horny toad, which worked out well.”
The Wisconsin team’s final three-day total of forty-three pounds, one ounce gave them a four pounds, six-ounce edge over the second place team from Cullman, Alabama.
The second-place team of Brody Hopper and Brady Vest also noted that mid-tournament adjustments were an essential ingredient for their success. The team capitalized on a shaky head bite on walkways on day one. However, they quickly realized that things had changed on day two. As a result, they switched tactics, concentrating their efforts on bass relating to schools of baitfish. The team finished with a three-day total of thirty-eight pounds, eleven ounces.
Final tallies at the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Championship included a third-place finish by Chris Fallon and Briar Dodson of Alabama with thirty-eight pounds, two ounces. Ty Trentham and Chase McCarter finished fourth with thirty-seven pounds, nine ounces. Rounding out the top five were Spencer Lovett and Evan Wood with thirty-seven pounds, two ounces.
The next season of competition for most anglers starts in September. Statewide Bassmaster trails kick off regular season action with a full slate of tournaments across the country. National Open events begin in January.
