Hettinga and Hammond win New Mexico

Justin Hettinga and Skylar Hammond won the two-day 2012 New Mexico B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Junior State Championship this fall on Elephant Butte Reservoir.

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. — Justin Hettinga and Skylar Hammond won the two-day 2012 New Mexico B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Junior State Championship in September on Elephant Butte Reservoir.

Hettinga, fishing in the 15- to 18-year-olds division, won by a margin of 5 1/2 pounds. He caught the biggest bag on the tournament with 7.3 pounds on Day 1, and he caught the biggest bass of his age group, a 2.66-pound largemouth. He finished with 9.89 pounds over the two days. Hettinga was fishing with Fatboy Craws.

Hammond won the 11- to 14-year-olds age division by fishing a salty tube. He caught the biggest bass in his age group, a 1.69-pound smallmouth.

Competitors in the championship must qualify as one of the Top 3 anglers in a participating youth club. Six anglers competed in each age division.

Hettinga and Hammond will join the New Mexico B.A.S.S. Federation Nation adult team at the 2013 Cabela's Bassmaster Federation Nation Western Divisional in April in California.

“For the first time in New Mexico BFN history, a father competing on the adult side of the Divisional competition will be joined by his son fishing the youth side of the completion,” said David Herrera, New Mexico B.A.S.S. Federation Nation youth director, of Skylar and his father, Steve Hammond. “Steve’s accomplishments in the BFN qualifying tournaments earned him the honor of state team captain, but I can safely state that his most memorable moment of the year was watching his son earn the state championship title in his age group.

“Congratulations to Justin Hettinga and Skylar Hammond,” added Herrera. “You are now officially members of the New Mexico State traveling team. We wish you the best as you prepare to represent New Mexico at the divisional.”