PARIS, Tenn. — Alex Heintze and Justin Watts claim an obscure technique for their nearly 10-pound lead going into the championship round of the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by TNT Fireworks.
What they are doing on Kentucky Lake will surprise local experts and touring pros alike. With one day remaining the details are incomplete and yet to come.
After two days of fishing the Livingston Parish Bassmasters team has a total weight of 43 pounds, 14 ounces. The score is anchored by today’s catch of 23-4 that ranks as heaviest of the tournament. In second place with 34-7 are Cole Moore and Casey of Anacoco High School in Port Arthur, La.
Heintze hinted on what they are not doing, which goes against the textbook summertime tactic for which the lake is known.
“Kentucky Lake is the number one ledge fishing lake in the nation,” said Heintze, 16 a junior from Baton Rouge. “That’s what just about everyone else is doing this week.”
Fishing the lake’s signature main river channel drop offs is not remotely part of their strategy. Take a cue from their south Louisiana roots.
“We don’t fish ledges back home because they don’t exist,” added Watts, 15 a sophomore from Baton Rouge. “We only fish in shallow water and that’s what is working for us here, too.”
You’d never believe that after hearing the team has 10 areas, which is how the summertime rotation of ledge fishing works. The team never explored the ledges, only making casual stops after filling limits of 5 bass.
“We had our limit today and yesterday by 9:30 a.m.,” admitted Heintze. “We haven’t even been to any of the other areas.”
The what works at home, try it elsewhere tactic is paying off for another top team from Louisiana. Cade Fortenberry and Braden Blanchard of St. Amant High School, also near Baton Rouge, are third place with 34-1.
The team caught a 5-bass limit by noon, based on the strength of fishing shallow water.
“The heavy rain overnight made our water dirty but it should improve by Saturday,” said Blanchard. “What will help is sunshine.”
They will have plenty on Saturday. The forecast calls for sunny skies with a high of 91 degrees.
Tomorrow the top 10 teams have the day off. Teams ranked 11th through 50th places fish at Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake. The two highest finishing teams join the top 10 for the final day on Kentucky and Barkley lakes.
The championship is the culmination of seasonal qualifying events. Competing is a B.A.S.S. high school fishing record of 134 teams representing 37 states and Ontario.
Teams are competing for $75,000 in scholarships and prizes. Schools participating in the B.A.S.S. Nation High School Nation program were eligible to qualify two-angler teams to the championship. Teams also qualified through B.A.S.S. regional events and sanctioned affiliate tournament trails.
High school championship week includes the B.A.S.S. Youth Nation Junior Championship. Tomorrow and Saturday, the 26 teams compete on Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake. Tomorrow the weigh-in begins at 2:30 p.m. in downtown Huntingdon, Tenn. The main campus of Bethel University hosts the final championship weigh-in on Saturday.
Event sponsors are Costa, TNT Fireworks, Toyota, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Carhartt, GoPro, Huk Performance Fishing, Triton Boats and Yamaha.
Official hosts are Paris-Henry County, Carroll County, Northwest Tennessee Tourism and Bethel University.