2011 OBF State Youth Championship
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OHIO JR. BASS FEDERATION
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 2011
For the 68 Jr. Anglers who showed up to compete in the 2011
Ohio Bass Federation State Championship the morning started out with
overcast skies and a forecast of rain. We had a few problems at
registration mostly due to my paperwork skills and a few missing
anglers. It all worked out in the end and all 68 Jr. Anglers were
soon on the water and ready to fish.
These young anglers compete all year in their local clubs to earn
the right to advance to the state and compete for the title of state
champion. The two divisions are 11-14 and 15-18. The winner of each
age group will move onto the National Guard Jr. World Championship
to be held in Gainesville Georgia in 2012. There they will test
their skills against anglers from across the country to earn the
honor of being crowned a National Champion. To make all this happen
it takes the dedication of a lot of adults who are willing to give
of their time and experience to help them reach their goals.
First in line are the parents who care enough to transport
their kids to all the events,
next are the Jr.
club advisors who help organize all their local events, but the most
important of all are the adult anglers who serve as boat captains
and mentors for these young anglers. They give their time, energy
and boats to help these young people become better anglers. Boat
captains spend from 4 to 5 hours a day in their boats, not fishing
but helping the kids.
If you are an avid angler you know how difficult it is to be
on the water and not be allowed to fish, but sit and watch someone
else try their luck against
the wily black Bass.
As weigh in time approaches all the parents and siblings who
traveled to watch their favorite angler compete, begin to line up
around the ramps to await the return of the 33 boats carrying their
sons and daughters. As the boats are loaded you hear them calling,
how many do you have, did you have a good day. The Ohio Bass
Federation State crew and State team members have everything ready
and the weigh in begins with everyone cheering on their favorite
angler. Each angler moves through the line with their hopes high.
The Fish are weighed and pictures taken. After an hour of suspense
the totals are in and everyone awaits the results. This
year’s winners are, in the 11-14 age groups, Charlie Hoffman of the Cinn. Jr. Bass Club wins
third place with a weight of 1.84lb Alex Conner from the SS Minnows from Columbus
comes in second with 3.36lb This
year’s 11-14 State Champion is Seth
Gagen with a weight of 3.37lb. This is Seths first Championship but
he looks to have more in the future.
Big
Bass honors for the younger age group goes to Alex Conner with a
3.36lb bass
In The 15 -18 age group Garrett Doerr from the Cinn.Youth Bass Club with a weight of 3.04lb took third Jacob Spork of the SS Minnows in Columbus took Second with 3.26 lb This
years 15-18 year old State Champion is Daryk Eckert with a
weight of 5.38lb. Daryk
also took big bass honors with a 3.26lb bass. This is Daryks third
OJBF State Championship and he has also won two Bass Federation
Championships . He won the Nation Guard Jr. World Championship in
2009, and finished third in his division at these years National
Championship in Arkansas.
The top three in each age group take home
trophies, a rod and reel, and a tackle box. Every angler who
participate leave with something, thanks to the generous donations
from the following companies and individual’s
we were able to make sure
each young angle left happy and not with empty hands. Knox
Marine
of Fredericktown Ohio Warrior
Baits of Hilliard Ohio
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