Lake Hartwell set to host 15th annual High School Fishing National Championship and World Finals next week
High School Fishing National Championship to offer millions to student anglers in scholarships and prizes
ANDERSON, S.C. – The 15th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship, the world’s premier high school fishing event, is set to take place at Lake Hartwell and Anderson, South Carolina, next week, June 19-22. Teams from most U.S. states and multiple foreign countries, including Canada and South Africa, are scheduled to compete for a share of the richest prize pool in all of high school bass fishing – the total amount of scholarships and prizes offered up for grabs at this event is an eye-popping $3.2 million dollars, according to The Bass Federation (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF).
Each High School team consists of three people to a boat – two High School Fishing anglers and their adult boat captain or coach. The 2024 High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship, hosted by Visit Anderson, are set to bring an estimated 3,000 people to Lake Hartwell and Anderson, South Carolina for the week-long event.
“We’re so excited to be hosting the High School Fishing National Championship in Anderson County, Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The leadership of Anderson County has given us one of the finest facilities in America with Green Pond Landing and the resources to host first-class events such as the High School Fishing National Championship.
“This event will serve as a tremendous economic success for our community, and we look forward to hosting the anglers, their families, and the tremendous folks from The Bass Federation and Major League Fishing in our community.”
Student anglers will launch each day at 6 a.m. (or first safe light) from Green Pond Landing, located at 470 Green Pond Road Anderson. Weigh-ins will also be held at Green Pond Landing and will begin at 1:30 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event live online through weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at HighSchoolFishing.org.
The student anglers pay no entry fee to compete in this one-of-a-kind dual event. The World Finals portion is the largest of all national High School events, and where the bulk of the prizes and scholarships are awarded. It is also the most difficult to win. The World Finals is open to any SAF member in the world, so all anglers attending will be competing in the World Finals. At the same time, on the dual-stage, the top 10% of High School teams from all SAF sanctioned events – including MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Opens Presented by Tackle Warehouse – in the last year are qualified to compete in the National Championship event, with its own set of prizes and scholarships that will top $500,000. The National Championship qualified teams are entered into both events and have a chance at both prize pools all in one trip.
In addition to the college scholarships and prizes offered, the High School Fishing National Champions will also advance to the 2024 MLF Toyota Series Championship, held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, to compete as co-anglers and a shot at the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit HighSchoolFishing.org. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow High School Fishing on Facebook and on MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.