Idaho and Montana individuals qualified to fish the 2023 Semi-Final on Noxon Reservoir, September 23-24.  Idaho came with 15 pairs (15 Boaters and 15 Co-Anglers), Montana had 16 pairs (16 Boaters and 16 Co-Anglers).

Although we had some windy, rainy and cooling weather during the pre-fish period by tournament time, the weather cleared and we had a great weekend with temperatures ranging from mid-40’s to mid-70’s, very comfortable fishing conditions and the Bass seemed to like it also.  Bass were caught ranging up to the 6 lbs. and daily limits in the 18+ lb. range.

All had a great time beginning with a Pulled Pork BBQ banquet on Friday evening.

Top Boater overall and Montana TBF Championship Qualifier for the 2^nd year in a row, Yeej (Yang) Moua with a 2-day combined weight of 36.57 lbs.

Top Co-Angler overall and Montana TBF Championship Qualifier, Mark Hilyer with a 2-day combined weight of 29.67 lbs.

Top Boater for Idaho, Rick Funk, finished 2^nd overall with a weight of 33.11 lbs.

Top Co-Angler for Idaho, Daniel Dobransky, finished 3^rd overall with a total weight of 25.01 lbs.

Wow, what a hot one! Only one 5-bass limit over two days! Temperatures averaged around 105-110
degrees and wind battered the shores of Wilson Reservoir, Kansas for much of practice and the
tournament days for the 2023 TBF District 21 National Semi-Finals. Jeremy Fuentes from New Mexico
weighed in 13.02 lbs. on Day 1 to take a lead on the boater side and followed it up with 6.18 lbs. on Day
2 for a total of 19.20 lbs. On the Co-Angler side, Tim McClintick from Colorado weighed in 8.77 lbs. on
Day 1 and 6.66 lbs. on Day 2 for a total of 15.43 lbs. They would not look back and went on to claim the
Boater and Co-Angler 2023 District 21 Champion titles. Both will be moving on to the 2024 TBF
National Championship.
Joining them will be the top boater from Colorado, Ron Geibel with a 2-Day total of 16.23 lbs.
and top Co-Angler from New Mexico, Mike Estrada with a 2-Day total of 12.10 lbs.
During the tournament, water temperatures hovered at 80-82 degrees.
A combined 105 largemouth and smallmouth bass for a total weight of 273.96 lbs. were brought
to the scales. 100 % of them were released alive and well to be fished for again…
A very special thank you to the Colorado Junior Bass Club President Brandon Martinez and his
wife and CJBC Treasurer, Jessica Holcomb for all there assistance and hard work during this
event!!! They are a true class act! Without them this event would not have been successful.
CTBF would like to thank Meridy’s Restaurant and Lounge, Days Inn-Russell, KS, and Kansas
Parks and Wildlife for their hospitality.

HOT, HOT, HOT!  Ohio’s JR Team Grayson Goodwin and Colton Baker was on fire and showed out on the final Championship Day taking home the Win and Title of the 2023 Junior World Champions.

The 2023 Junior World Championship was held in Ponca City, OK home of the Bass Federation’s National Office. The Bass Federation celebrated its 55^th year of serving its members this year. The Presidents and Youth Directors not only came to support their home teams competing in the Junior World Championship but also for the Annual Leadership Conference and meetings. The JWC was held on the OG&E Power Plant, Sooner Lake with 52 teams competing for the title of Junior World Champions.

The 3-day event started on Wednesday morning July 26, 2023, with warmer weather a light southern breeze and gorgeous sunrise. The entire field fished the first two days in hopes to make the final top 12 cut after Day 2 weigh-in on Thursday.

Advancing to the final day, the top 2 over all teams would take the first 2 advancement spots then with the 5 separate divisions, the top 2 teams from each division represented rounded out the field leaving the Top 12 teams to compete for the Title and the prize purse of 13.5k in scholarships.

All weights were zeroed going into the final day. The Renegade Junior Bassmasters team of Grayson Goodwin and Colton Baker brought in a 5 fish limit topping the scales at 15 pounds and 8 ounces Grayson and Colton not only bested the field for the win, but the 15-pound 8-ounce bag was the heaviest bag of the entire event. The Ohio team takes home the prestige title of the Junior World Champions plus a six thousand dollar scholarship for the team.

Pennsylvania Team of Ty Magargle and Quinten Bergey had the second heaviest weight of the entire event. The very impressive 5 fish limit weighed in at 12 pounds and 8 ounces. This would land the team in second place overall. Magargle and Bergey also went home with a 1k scholarship for the team.

Coming in at third place and also securing a 1k scholarship for the team was Kade Evers and Grady Vogele from Oklahoma. Kade and Grady weighed only 3 fish on the final day but with a 3 pound average and total bag weighing 9 pounds and 3 ounces.

Indiana team of Sam Elliott and Myles Motsinger took 4th place followed by Morgan Carden and Daniel Ingram from Alabama in 5th place. These teams also won a 1k scholarship per team. 

6^th place through 12^th place all won a $500.00 scholarship per team.

6th – Caston Carden and Kamden Kiker – Alabama

7th – Kingston Bartley and Nick Rusler – Colorado

8th – Brooks Higginbotham and Rigg McCrary – Mississippi

9th – Ashton Kuchar and Keaton Kuchar – Nebraska

10th – Evan Wager and Tristan McGregor – Ontario

11th – Landon Horton and Eli Meckert – Idaho

12th – Nate Sylvestri and Hinton Carroll – Louisiana

Congratulations to all of our 2023 Junior World Qualifiers and Top 12 finalist!

We want to thank OG&E for allowing us the privilege to use the facilities in hosting the event on Sooner Lake and all of our volunteers and staff. For full results and more photos CLICK HERE