8th Annual Iowa High School Bass Team Championship

Ethan and Ty- 2026 Champions

 Eight years has passed since the idea of having an "open" youth tournament crossed my mind.  It doesn't seem possible that it was that long ago.  Since then, I have crowned these schools champions; 2019- Washington HS, 2020- Marion HS, 2021- Washington HS, 2022- ADM HS,  2023- Cedar Falls HS, 2024- Independence HS, 2025- CR Prairie HS, 2026- CR Prairie HS.  This tournament creates a buzz each year and has helped anglers participate and try tournaments even though their school or surrounding area doesn't have a bass club.  I was so proud back in 2019 when we topped 20 boats, ending up with 28 boats that year, now, the past three years we have topped 50 boats in each event.  This year, in 2026 we will be the largest the Youth Bass Tournament in the state of Iowa...thank you all for finding this event and getting your kids involved in the outdoors, especially my life-long passion, BASS FISHING!

Ty & Warner BIG BASS TIE

SCHEELS of Cedar Falls was once again the Title Sponsor.  They supplied all kids with baits and fishing gear, many of the Top 15 boat prizes were SCHEELS sponsored as well.  Them, as well as Lew's Fishing and Strike King Lures, I was able to give away over $5,000 worth of prizes and fishing gear.  Truly amazing!  I also want to add that my friends, Chad O'Brien and Drew O'Brien made this event go smooth for all involved...thanks guys!

Onto the most exciting event of the history of this tournament.  I have ran/organized/fished in 100's tournaments in my life, never, ever have the numbers worked out like they did at this event.  First, Lake MacBride showed why this event made its return, the bass were biting and the kids were having fun, isn't that what it is all about?  Of the57 boats, (114 kids) 44 of them brought bass to the weigh-in.  A huge feat for the anglers and the population of bass in the lake.  The top team from Cedar Falls, Ty and Ethan brought 14.81 pounds to the scales, including a 4.34 pound big bass.  In second place was the team from CR Prairie of Nolan and Max, they had 13.01 pounds.  In third was Justice and Warner from CR Prairie, they had 10.48 with a 4.34 pound big bass.  Yes, that is right a TIE for the big bass to the one-hundreth of a pound.  Crazy, the crowd of over 300 people was amazed too.  The full standings can
be found HERE on the tournament website.  Now, I have seen one or two times in my life where there was a tie for big bass, typically they split the prize.  Not here though, both anglers received the BIG BASS Trophy and Strike King Gear Pack.  Now, for the absolute, never in my life even thought about it result from this tournament.  When calculating the "TEAM SCORES", the total of the top 2 boats from each school, there was another tie.  Cedar Falls and CR Prairie had the exact same weight, 23.49 pounds.  No problem, the Big Bass was the tiebreaker...oh year, both schools TIED FOR BIG BASS too!  So onto the 3rd tie-breaker, add in a third boat to the team total. When calculated, CR Prairie was crowned the 2026 Iowa High School Bass Team Championship.  To think, 10 bass from Cedar Falls and 10 bass from CR Prairie weighing the exact same amount...never in my life.  You just never know in the world of bass fishing.  Nolan/Max/Justice/Warner from CR Prairie helped their school take home the Championship rings, while Ethan/Ty/Jack/Madek got the Runner-up for Cedar Falls.  In third place was West Delaware HS, forth place was Independence HS, and in fifth was Wilton HS.

CHAMPIONSHIP  RINGS

                

A beautiful spring day on Lake MacBride will hold so many memories for these kids and captains.  I am glad I can work with so many sponsors and friends to bring this event to the youth of Iowa.  This year, we had a record number of schools represented, 24 schools from across Iowa.  We are 12 months away from the 2027 event...but planning is already in the works.  ;)

 

Pictures from the event can be found on our Facebook page, again, thank you all for making this event the BEST in the state!