PARIS, Tenn. — At Kentucky Lake today Justin Watts and Alex Heintze of the Livingston Parish Bassmasters had only five bites, but they came quick and early.
The resulting catch weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces, has the anglers from Baton Rouge, La., in the lead at the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by TNT Fireworks.
The early success influenced the anglers to abandon the hot spot on the lake at 10:30 a.m., with the idea of saving it for tomorrow.
“The day went as we planned,” said Watts. “We just decided to go look for other similar areas.”
Added Heintze, “our primary area is about 300 yards long, so we wanted to find more water so we can start there tomorrow, do the same thing over again.”
That was a good idea, considering the second place team of Matt Shirley and Cade Barnes are in easy striking distance of the lead. The team from Tuscaloosa County High School in Alabama finished the day with a weight of 20 pounds.
They, too, had an early bite that resonated with fishing successes of the top teams.
“We have an early bite,” said Shirley. “We have about 20 spots and two different patterns going for us.”
He didn’t disclose bait details, although the one-two punch involves a reaction lure, followed up by a finesse fishing bait.
“Once we find the sweet spot of where the fish are holding we can slow down and hone in on them,” said Barnes.
The even better scenario for the team is having most of those spots saved over from practice.
“Today we didn’t get to all of our fishing spots so we have plenty of water,” added Barnes.
That can be good and bad on this lake. During summer a majority of the best bass fishing happens offshore. The bass favor the river-generated current that provides cooler water and attracts baitfish. The bass follow the food, meaning success hinges on being at the right place, at the right time.
Ben Muse and Taylor Cox of the Carrollton High School in Texas are in third place with 19 pounds. Cox, along with Morgan Winegardner of Maryland, are the two girls competing in the tournament.
The championship is the culmination of a season of qualifying events held throughout the U.S. and Canada. Competing is a B.A.S.S. high school fishing record of 132 qualified teams representing 37 states and Ontario.
Tomorrow the tournament field is cut to the top 10 teams. Those ranked 11th through 50th places will fish on Friday at Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake. The object is to provide a second qualifying chance while bringing another level of competition to the event. The two highest finishing teams join the top 10 for the final day on Kentucky and Barkley lakes.
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.
High school championship week includes the B.A.S.S. Youth Nation Junior Championship. On Friday, junior teams compete in a qualifying round at Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake. On Saturday the teams fish on Kentucky and Barkley lakes with the high school finalists. The B.A.S.S. Youth Nation is designed to seed the high school program.
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.