Lake Of The Ozarks To Host High School Bass Tournament

    Osage Beach, Mo.—Missouri high school anglers will have the chance to fish for $28,000 in scholarship money during the Missouri High School Fall Classic Bass Tournament Oct. 26 at the Lake of the Ozarks.

    The event is sanctioned by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) which is administering bass fishing as an “emerging” activity for high schools throughout the state. MSHSAA is allowing all Missouri high school students (whether or not their schools are signed up with the MSHSAA bass fishing program) to compete in the tournament as a way to introduce more schools to its emerging bass fishing activity.

    The tournament features the following scholarship payout of $25,000 (donated by a host of sponsors) for the Top 10 finishing teams: First place, $5,000; second, $4,000; third, $3,500; fourth, $3,000; fifth, $2,500; sixth, $2,000; seventh, $1,500; eighth, $1,300; ninth; $1,200; 10th, $1,000.  Lew’s tackle company will award $1,500 for three big bass awards and BassingBob.com will offer three draw prize scholarships to teams that fall short of the Top 10.  Sponsors for the event include Ranger Boats, Lew’s, Academy Sports and Outdoors, BassingBob.com, Anglers in Action, University of Missouri Bass Club, Fitz Fishing, Missouri Division of Tourism, P-Line, Creme Lures, Vicious Fishing, Midwest Fishing Tackle and Pin Oak Specialties, LLC.

    There is no entry fee for the tournament.  Each high school team will consist of two eligible high school contestants and an adult boat captain.  Rules and regulations, scholarship payouts and an online entry form for the tournament are available at www.bassslammertackle.com under the “More” heading.  For more information on MSHSAA’s bass fishing safety rules/guidelines for contestants and boat captains visit http://www.mshsaa.org/Activities/Info/BassFishing.aspx and click on Proposed Insurance Guidelines for Bass Fishing.

    The tournament waters will be off limits from Oct. 20 to 23 and the official practice days for the event will be Oct. 24 and 25.  A final registration meeting and banquet for the contenders and boat captains will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 25th (location to be announced later).   Tournament hours on Oct. 26 will be from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.