TOP PHOTO:  Chris Weiss (right) and Jarrett Ellison (left) won second place in the high school division in the weekend’s fishing tournament held on Norris Lake  in Campbell County.

 Gabe St. John (right) and Mason Dople (left) won second place in the junior division of the weekend fishing tournament.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Several local middle school and high school students won in the Tennessee Bass Federation FLW High School and Junior Tournament held over the weekend on Norris Lake.  Winners took home rods, reels, bait, gift cards, trophies, scholarships and cash in prizes.In the high school division, Jarrett Ellison and Chris Weiss took second place with over six pounds of fish. They attend Campbell County High School.

Kaden Owens and Storm Hoskins won third place in the high school division. 

Third place was won by Storm Hoskins and Kaden Owens.  Storm is a junior at Campbell County High School and has been fishing tournaments since he was a freshman. Hoskins said he grew up fishing around here and that it’s “all about getting out and practicing.” He said he plans to fish in this year’s state tournament.

Anthony Malone, right, and Ayden Malone, left, took first place in the junior division of the tournament held on Saturday.

In the 15 and under youth division, cousins Anthony and Ayden Malone won first place with a weight of 12.72.  They attend 5th grade at Jacksboro Elementary School and have been competing in tournaments for about a year. This is their first big win. Boat captain and Anthony’s dad Chris Malone said he was “super proud” of the boys and all the other teams as well. Ayden said his favorite part was catching the big fish and that he couldn’t wait for the next tournament. “These boys are all really good fishermen; a grown man can’t hardly go out and catch that much,” Chris Malone said. Chris taught his son to fish, but said Anthony could probably out fish him. “It’s a great thing for our kids to get involved with and we are so appreciative of all the sponsors that make the tournament possible,” Chris Malone said. ” It feels really good to win; it was a great experience,” said Anthony Malone. His team caught five Large Mouth Bass in the tournament. His biggest two that he caught weighed 3.30 pounds and 3.15 pounds. Anthony said he and his cousin plan to compete in the state tournament as well. “They were in the right place at the right time and it was their time to shine,” Chris Malone said.

Second place in the juniors division was won by Gabe St. John and Mason Dople with a weight of 8.90 and a big fish weight of 3.67. Gabe is in sixth grade at LaFollette Middle School and Mason is in seventh grade at Jellico Christian Academy. The pair have been fishing together since second and third grade and were last year’s winner of the state tournament and placed 14th in the Nationals. “Fishing is just something I’ve always loved, it always feels good to fish in a tournament,” Mason Dople said. He and Gabe plan to fish in the next tournament in March as well as the state tournament. “I grew up fishing with my dad and my uncle and always loved it,” said Gabe St. John. His big fishing tip for the win is the “jig and crank bait.”

Third place juniors division was won by Mac Fritts and Reid Chapman. Reid attends school at Jacksboro Middle School and Mac goes to Norris Middle School. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/26/2020-6AM)

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