National high school fishing championship coming to Grand Lake with $3.8M at stake

Thousands of student anglers from across the country and around the world are headed to Grand Lake for the 16th annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship. The event, hosted June 25-27 at Wolf Creek Park, is expected to draw an estimated 3,000 people to Grove.

Teams from nearly every U.S. state and several foreign countries will compete for more than $3.8 million in scholarships and prizes, marking the largest payout in high school bass fishing history, according to The Bass Federation (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF).

Major Tournament With Big Impact

Each boat in the tournament includes two high school anglers and one adult boat captain or coach. The event combines two premier tournaments: the open-entry World Finals and the invite-only National Championship for top-ranked teams from SAF-sanctioned events.

Qualified teams will compete in both contests simultaneously on a dual stage, increasing their chances at scholarship money and fishing gear.

The top finishers in the National Championship will also earn a spot in the 2025 MLF Toyota Series Championship, held Nov. 6-8, with a shot at winning a Phoenix 518 Pro boat.

"To host a world-class championship of this caliber with student anglers from around the world is an honor," said Brent Malone, director of the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau. "Our town is super excited...when you get to showcase our lake and community to families from all over the country, you get excited to roll out the red carpet."

Event Details And Fan Access

Student anglers will launch at 5:30 a.m. CT (or at first safe light) each day from Wolf Creek Park at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove. Daily weigh-ins begin at 1:30 p.m., and fans are welcome to attend or follow live online at HighSchoolFishing.org.

For tournament updates, follow High School Fishing and MLF5 on social media.

FROM APRIL:

1. Historic end to Berryhill Fishing Team's high school career