After a week of heavy rains Lake Travis would exceed its full pool status for the first time in five years creating some last minute changes to the launch and weigh in logistics for FAN Staff; however, the 64 student anglers and their captains were released to a beautiful cool spring morning with anticipation and excitement for a chance to be the 2016 FAN HS Champions.  This year FAN held a year end banquet directly after the weigh in, the teams would weigh their catch and results would be kept secret until the banquet. Anglers, captains and their family were treated to a Fajita meal catered by Shore Club at Volente Beach, and we were blessed with the talented performance of Abbi Gass from Lake Travis HS Bass Team. There were plenty of door prizes, a raffle and a silent auction offering prizes from local businesses.
Chase Hux and Matt Nicholas representing New Braunfels Christian Academy repeat victory with a back to back championship win bringing in a 5 bass limit, weighing 17.36 pounds including the Kistler big bass of the event at 7.04 pounds earning the first place $3000.00 Scholarship award. Captain Buck won the Academy Captain Incentive award of a $100 Academy Gift Card –
“Our tournament practice began at Lake Travis on Thursday evening. We found the conditions to be way different than we had anticipated. Clear water and 70 plus degree’s. We hit the bank and ran shallow for about 30 minutes. We saw a few empty beds and fry, leading us to believe the spawn was mostly over. We headed out to a few humps with sharp ledges we had found on our map. Switching to a deep water presentation with a football jig and carolina-rig we knew quickly we were in the right area and what our strategy would be for Saturday. Friday we ran new water and the same pattern and had the same results. Off the water at 2pm and ready. Saturday morning, we arrived to our spot and caught a fish the first cast. The third cast we landed the 7 pounder. We caught fish in flurries all day as the schools moved in and out. Around 30 fish total. We had a decent limit nearing the end of the day but felt it wasn’t enough to win. After a quick prayer everything changed. We moved onto a new hump and Matt caught three fish on three consecutive cast that culled what we had in the livewell. This put us over the edge. All the fish came on a football jig or a carolina-rig in 20′-30′ of water. We can’t thank FAN enough for having the opportunity to fish these high school tournaments. From our very first tournament to our last, every boat check to weigh in could not have been run any more professional. We have been very proud and feel truly blessed to have been a part of this organizationâ€. We will miss you guy’s stated Chase –
Earning second place and $2000.00 with 15.88 pounds with a 4.32 pound “kicker†fish was Clayton Harbison and Gavin Standard from Texas Bass Academy – with Captain Brook Harbison
 
“When I joined the original FAN bass fishing team I didn’t know anything about bass fishing except how to use a wacky rig senko. I got to where I am now by watching what my partners and captains used in tournaments and I would go home after a tournament to research and learn everything I could about techniques and different lures in different weather conditions and how I could use them. This is the 2nd time I have placed 2nd in the FAN series championship and I owe that to Scott, Jeff and FAN. I would also like to thank Lance Hale and Ray Langlois for helping me go further in tournaments and believing in meâ€. Clayton stated
Gavin wrote “I am so grateful for being able to be a part of Texas Bass Academy and high school fishing tournaments. I joined Texas Bass Academy 2 years ago. I wouldn’t have been able to place 2nd in this tournament without the help I have received since I joined the team. My first year of bass fishing I struggled a lot, there were times when I wanted to just give up fishing tournaments. I started out not knowing anything about bass fishing except for a t-rigged fluke. I have come so far with the help of Scott Anderson and Ray Langlois and the many other volunteers. Faith Angler Network has shown me that it’s not all about placing in tournament and catching fish. It’s about having a good time out on the water. I would like to thank Jeff Cook for putting in so much time to host these tournaments. I look forward to coming back next year and continuing to do what I loveâ€
Also repeating their third place finish from last season representing Magnolia West HS was the team of Cameron Carter and Zack Knowles with 10.33 pounds taking the $1000.00 Scholarship funds with Captain Barry Carter.
“It has been an honor to receive recognition and awards from an organization like Faith Angler Network, they have given me an opportunity to fish with anglers that are like minded and Christ centered, yet highly competitive and skilled fisherman. This organization is very unique in the fact that they desire to honor the Lord in all they do. The challenges I faced as an angler fishing unfamiliar waters has expanded my knowledge and techniques making me a more versatile angler. For example, during the Championship tournament we were fishing on points in 6-22 feet of water catching all different stages of fish in the spawn and post spawn periods, with a more “finesse” spin on Texas and Carolina Rigs. Considering the clarity of the water and the low-land reservoirs we normally fish, I most likely would not even consider this technique. To have received a championship honor once with FAN was pretty amazing but to receive it twice was over the top. I’m looking forward to the next season with new goals in sight, and as the president of the Magnolia West Anglers Club, our focus will be to mentor the younger class of anglers and to prepare them to take the stick and be as our mission statement states in Matthew 4:19, to be fishers of menâ€. Stated Cameron Carter
Zach Knowles also offer these comments; Fishing the Faith Angler Network Trail has been a huge blessing because the fact that I’m surrounded by God loving fisherman like myself makes the whole atmosphere of the tournament is very welcoming. At weigh in of each tournament you are usually asked questions about your day on the lake and how the fishing was. Having to speak in front of your peers and being asked questions helps with public speaking and I find value in that for sure. If I had to choose my favorite memory from this season fishing the Faith Angler Network tournament trail it would most definitely be The Championship. The fact that I had never fished Lake Travis before and wound up placing 3rd was a huge gift from God and I felt super blessed. It was also the first tournament that I’ve fished where the weather was absolutely perfect. The water was like glass in the morning, it was partly cloudy, and never got too hot. Overall it was just an awesome day and the banquet afterwards was a great end to the day. There was music, food, and great talks with friends.
Wrapping up the top 10 teams:
4 Nathan Wright -Zachary Washburn – Rouse HS                        9.97
5 Hattie Hale – Tyler Henry – Lake Travis HS                                9.90
6 Kristopher Green -James Mills – Rouse HS                                9.46
7 Tanner Wagner -Parker Wagner – Lake Travis HS                     9.15
8 Collin Lansdale – Sheldon Allamon – TxBA                                 8.41
9 Will Davenport – Cole Mooney – Round Rock HS                      8.32
10 Colt Anderson – Jonathan Gray – TxXBA                                  8.17
You can see all the results and photos in the tournament section here
Catch statistics:
Total Teams: 32
Total Fish: 91
Ave. Fish per Team: 2.
Ave. Weight per Team: 5.82
This event would not be possible without the volunteers and staff that put everything together, from helping check in, set up, cook hotdogs, launch boats, park trucks, merchandizing and getting it all back into the trailer. Thank you sincerely: Justin Rieger, Mary Anderson, Doug and Valerie Cruts, Jon Sigman, Stephanie Cook, Lance and Ruth Hale Linda Langlois and the many others that jumped in to assist.
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Captain Incentives and Awards
Captains are essential to the success of our High School Fishing program and we are honored to be able to recognize them with some great sponsor products and incentives.
Winning the Academy Sports and Outdoors Captain Drawing $100 gift card was Ander Miene
Winning the Berkley Captain Drawing for a Berkley Power Battery– $49.00 Value Chris Bratton
Winning the SuperNova Captain Drawing for a SuperNova Nav Kit - $89.00 Value was Bobby Breaden
We would like to thank all of our 2015/16 Sponsors and Supporters and ask that you give them a chance to earn your business when the opportunity arises.
Faith Angler Network is a 501©3 non-profit organization serving the Central Texas Area with Youth Fishing Events/ Charity Events/ Military Supported and Awareness Events/ Professional Run Bass Tournaments. For more information, please visit our Website or Facebook