By Juanice Gray
High school anglers Slade Sanders and Nick Chapman of Natchitoches are at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala., to compete in the High School Fishing National Finals. They fish Wednesday-Thursday, June 19-20 and if they finish high enough in the standings, they will qualify to compete in the World Finals Friday-Saturday, June 21-22.
The Student Angler Federation, (SAF) announced student anglers will compete for a share of the record $2.7 million prize purse June 19-22 in the World Finals. Comprised of college scholarships, cash scholarships and an array of other prizes, the purse is the richest in high school fishing history. The world tournament is expected to draw nearly 400 two-person teams.
Sanders, Chapman and their boat captain, Roger Longino of Coushatta, got to know the lake and practiced Sunday and Monday.
The team qualified for Nationals with their sixth place finish in the North LA High School Fishing League State Tournament May 4 on Toledo Bend Lake.
They are members of the NCHS fishing team.
Photos by Roger Longino