Brandon Curl of Ellabell is in the field for the 2008 National Guard Junior World Championship, the Bass Federation announced earlier this week.
The tournament will be held on Lake Monticello in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 15-16 and in in conjunction with the $2million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol - the world’s mostlucrative bass-fishing championship, according to a press release.
The National Guard Junior World Championship will feature youth anglers representing 39 TBF state federations fishing for $30,000 in scholarships plus $12,000 youth-program grants for their states. Each participatingstate will be represented by two junior anglers: one in the 11- to 14-year-old bracket and another in the 15- to 18-year-old bracket.
Curl represents Georgia in the 15-to 18-year-old bracket.
"These junior competitors are much more than great anglers," said TBF President Robert Cartlidge. "They are positive examples for their peers,and they represent the future of our sport. Learning to fish through theirstate TBF clubs provides these children with an outlet for clean family fun. It’s a great activity that they will enjoy for a lifetime."
The junior anglers will each be paired with an FLW Outdoors pro forcompetition on Lake Monticello. There will be three anglers to a boat: ajunior angler from each age group plus an FLW Outdoors pro who will assist the junior anglers but will not fish. The two junior anglers will share control of the boat for the day but will compete in their respective agegroups. The full field of junior anglers will compete Aug. 15 then be cutto the top angler in each age bracket from each of the TBF’s six geographic divisions. Weights will be zeroed Aug. 16 as six anglers in each bracket continue competition, with the winners determined by the heaviest catchfrom that day.
If you go: Takeoff will be held at Lake Monticello Park located at Hwy 99 BoatRamp in Jenkinsville, S.C., beginning at 6:55 each morning and the weigh-ins will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 15 and 3:30 p.m. Aug. 16 on the main Forrest Wood Cup stage in the Colonial Center located at 801 Lincoln Streetin Columbia. Lake Monticello will be off-limits to competitors Aug. 11-15.
Designed to highlight the best up-and-coming bass-fishing talent in the country, the National Guard Junior World Championship also provides national recognition for the positive activities pursued by America’s youth.
"We really want to thank the pro anglers who serve as mentors duringthe tournament," said FLW/TBF Programs Manager David Simmons. "Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work and support of TBF youth directors and parents nationwide as well."
First-place finishers in each age bracket will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Second-place finishers will receive a $3,000 scholarship.
Third- place finishers will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Fourth-place finishers will receive a $2,000 scholarship. Fifth-place finishers will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Sixth-place finishers will receive a $1,000 scholarship.