The Bartow High School Jackets Fishing Team held their Winter Classic at Saddle Creek Park on Saturday, January 9th. For each school tournament, the young anglers are randomly paired together. Each angler gets to keep their three largest bass to bring to the scales, and at weigh-in, anglers weigh their bags individually (to track Angler of the Year points). The totals from each boat are then combined to determine the tournament champions.
Connor Seay with his 6 lb. 11 oz. Big Bass
The 12 teams were met with foggy, overcast conditions ahead of a cold front that would pass later in the afternoon. Despite the weather, Tyler Bazemore and Shane Schmucker were able to put a combined total of 10 pounds, 3 ounces on the scales to win the Winter Classic.
“[We] finally found a pattern around 12:15,” stated Bazemore. “I was able to fill a limit and cull a couple of times. I caught them all on a spinnerbait in some eel grass.”
Schmucker added a keeper bass to help the duo’s overall total on the same pattern.
Connor Seay and Valerie Lynch finished in second place with 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Third place was claimed by Kyler Holland and Stephen Wilkins with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bag. David Bryan and Garrett Seay finished in fourth place with an even 2-pound total, followed by Colton Bone and Joshua Johnson in fifth place with 1-pound, 12 ounces.
Connor Seay took home the Big Bass honors with a 6-pound, 11-ounce kicker.
Bazemore took over the lead in the Angler of the Year points race with the victory. The Angler of the Year race is based off each anglers combined weight throughout the year, as well as club meeting attendance.
There are four events left for the BHS Jackets Fishing Team, with the next scheduled for February 20th at Lake Toho. To follow them throughout the rest of the season, visit their Facebook page.
Photos: BHS Fishing Team
