“What an incredible day at the Christian Catfish Hole in Lithia Springs, GA! The Atlanta Tightlines Bass Club was proud to host our Kids Fishing Derby, and we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout or better memories.

A huge thank you to the owners of Christian Catfish Hole for welcoming us and providing such a beautiful space for the kids to enjoy. The excitement on the faces of the children—and even a few adults-who caught their very first fish was priceless! It was a day full of laughter, learning, and new experiences that families will remember for years to come.

We also want to extend a special thank you to the @Lawrenceville-Duluth Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for your support and involvement. Your presence made the event even more impactful.
Thank you to all the parents, volunteers, and smiling young anglers who made this day so special. Tight lines and see you at the next one!”

Michael Wilder, Central Georgia Bass Club, Grabs Clarks Hill Lake Win

The Georgia Bass Federation (GBF) spent the week of 19-23 March, 2025 on Clarks Hill Lake, Appling, GA. in order to determine who would walk away with the title of Georgia Bass Federation 2025 State Champion. All three practice days were almost perfect. Mornings started out to be a bit chilly, but they warmed up as the day progressed. One day called for rainy conditions, but thankfully there were more clouds than actual rain. Water conditions were dependent upon which direction you went. Crystal clear conditions were found, but you could also find cloudy/stained water. Water temperatures ranged from the mid-50’s to 60 degree water as it got later in the afternoon. Day 1 proved to be a great day. Out of the fifty (50) teams participating, there were thirty-two (32) five (5) fish limits on the boater’s side and twenty-six (26) three (3) fish limits on the co-angler’s side. Top boater was Michael Wilder from the Central Georgia Bass Club with five (5) bass weighing 18-07 pounds and the top co-angler was Bijon Blazeski from the Roswell Bass Club with three (3) bass weighing 9-12 pounds.

Day 2 proved to be a bit tougher than day 1. There were twenty-six (26) five (5) fish limits and twenty-two three (3) fish limits were weighed in. Michael Wilder weighed in a second five (5) bass limit totaling 14 pounds 5 ounces to go along with his day 1 finish of 18 pounds 7 ounces to capture the overall first place honors and winning the honor of the Geogia Bass Federation 2025 State Champion. Bijon Blazeski had another solid day with three bass totaling 8 pounds 7 ounces winning him the honor of the Georgia Bass Federation 2025 State Champion on the Co-Angler’s side.

Overall Big Fish for the event on the Boater’s side was Aaron Conatser from Backlash Bass Club with 6 pounds 10 ounces and overall big fish on the Co-Angler’s side was Bijon Blazeski from Roswell Bass Club with 4 pounds 8 ounces.

All in all it was a great experience for all involved. The Butts Bass Club took home the Club Pride Trophy honors with a total weight of 83 pounds 3 ounces.

Many, many thanks go out to the GBF volunteers for the planning and execution of this event. Accommodations provided by the staff at Wildwood Park made our GBF anglers feel right at home. All members of their staff were courteous and helpful throughout the entire event.

The 2025 Georgia Bass Federation (GBF) State Championship is underway on Clarks Hill Lake, Appling, GA. The event kicked off on Friday evening with the President of the GBF, Quinnen Peavy, providing a detailed rules and safety brief. Fifty (50) teams are participating in this two-day event with the final weigh-in starting at 2:00 pm on Sunday, 23 March, at Wildwood Park, Appling, GA. The top Boater and Co-Angler will automatically win a berth in the Bass Federation (TBF) Federation National Championship in 2026. The top ten (10) Boaters and Co-Anglers will automatically advance to the District 1 GA-FL National Semi Finals in September on Lake Blackshear, Cordele, GA.

The Bass Federation (TBF) held its National Semi Finals Championship this past weekend, November 16-17 on the St. John’s River, Palatka, Florida, just barely six weeks after Hurricane Helene swept through Florida, Georgia and others parts of the Southeast, leaving destruction of epic proportion in its path. Bass Fisherman from Georgia and Florida didn’t let the destruction from Hurricane Helene dampen their charge to advance to and competed in the Championship.

Three days of practice started on Wednesday, November 13.   Practice for the competitors proved to be challenging with sunny weather and 10-20 mph winds varying from the South to the NNE.

Anglers from both states blasted off from the Palatka City Ramp with weigh-in starting at 3:00 p.m. both days. Weather conditions on the first day of the event showed a huge improvement over the practice days. There was a light breeze on the river and schooling fish were located on several of the shell beds.

Day 1 results had Michael Deen of the Georgia’s Okefenokee Bass Anglers leading on the Boaters side with five (5) bass weighing 21.81 pounds.  Larry Atkins of the Augusta Bass Club lead the Co-Anglers with five (5) bass weighing 13.30 pounds.  Florida’s Boater, Jesse Tacoronte lead with five (5) bass weighing 16.5 pounds and Florida’s Co-Angler, Josh Williams lead with five (5) bass weighing 10.15 pounds.   Patrick Brown of the Georgia’s Bulloch Bass Club caught Big Fish weighing 5.13 pounds.

Day 2 results had Boater Michael Deen of the Georgia’s Okefenokee Bass Anglers coming in with five (5) bass weighing 14.69 pounds and Co-Angler Danny Rawlings from the Georgia’s Lowndes County Bass Masters weighing in four (4) bass totaling 7.78 pounds.  For Florida, Boater Doug White had five (5) bass weighing 17.17 pounds and Co-Angler Josh Williams had five (5) bass weighing 16.68 pounds.   Florida’s Doug White caught Big Fish for Day 2 weighing 5.35 pounds.

Overall winners for the 2024 District 1 TBF FL-GA National Semi Finals were Georgia’s Boater Michael Deen with 36.50 pounds and Florida’s Boater, Doug White with 29.98 pounds.  Larry Atkins was Georgia’s leading Co-Angler with 13.30 pounds and Josh Williams Florida’s leading Co-Angler with 26.83 pounds.  Florida’s Doug White captured Big Fish for the tournament weighing in at 5.35 pounds.

A total of 188 bass were weighed in with a combined weight of 447.93 pounds.

The top Boater and Co-Angler from each state advances to The Bass Federation National Championship in 2025, where they will test their skills by competing against the winners of the other forty-eight states.  Date and location of the 2025 The Bass Federation (TBF) National Championship TBA.