The SC Bass Nation Youth Series hosted the 2023 SC Bass Nation Youth State Championship Tournament & Family Day on Santee Cooper Lakes. The tournament launched from John C. Land Landing located at Log Jam Road, Summerton, SC on Sunday, Mar. 26, 2023. Blast off was at approximately 7:00 a.m. or safe light. The event was free to the public.
This was the first time in SC Bass Nation history that the Youth State Championship Tournament was held on the shores of Santee Cooper Lakes since the program started in 2008.
“We expected over 150 boats for the weekend’s State Championship Tournament, which equates to 300 students and 150 volunteer adult boat captains," said Tony Gray, SC Bass Nation Youth Director. “High School fishing across the state remains one of the fastest growing activities in local schools. Fishing is a competitive activity that is open and challenging for all young aspiring students in 2nd -12th grades."
Both Junior & High School divisions will be competing for an opportunity to qualify for the 2023 Bassmaster Youth National Championship Tournaments scheduled for Summer 2023.
The event is sanctioned by BASSMASTER and is sponsored by the SC Bass Nation, Marshall’s Marine, SKEETER Boats, Yamaha Outboards, ALX Rods, PHANTOM Outdoors, Destination Clarendon, Santee Cooper Country & Clarendon Club.
Special thanks to Whitney Phillips and her awesome staff at Clarendon Club for all their planning efforts for this year's State Championship.
Competitive Bass Fishing is the fastest growing sport among schools across the nation with the future of our sport in the hands of our young aspiring student anglers. South Carolina Student Anglers have excelled in the sport both at the State & College level among their peers. Notable accomplishments include 2015 & 2016 College National Championships with University of SC, 2017 High School National Championship with South Florence High School, 2020 World High School Championship with Gilbert Bass Anglers, 2022 College National Championship with Coastal Carolina College.
For SC Bass Nation Youth Director, the 2023 Bassmaster Classic Tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee will be extra special as the 2019 SC High School Bass Challenge Tournament Trail Champion Jordan Thompkins from Myrtle Beach, SC qualified to compete in the Champion of Champions Tournament on the biggest stage of them all.
For more information on the tournament trail, contact Tony Gray, scyouthdirector@gmail.com
