PHOTOS: High school students go bass fishing for championship

Sports

PHOTOS: High school students go bass fishing for championship

Sure, everyone's familiar with football, baseball and basketball in high school sports, but what about bass fishing? In Georgia, students meet at Lake Sinclair before dawn to compete for the GHSA Bass Fishing State Championships in May.

Contestants arrive early in the morning at Lake Sinclair for the Georgia High School Association’s 2026 Bass Fishing State Championship at Dennis Station boat ramp on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Eatonton. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Contestants wait on the Lake Sinclair for the start of the GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship at Dennis Station Boat Ramp on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Eatonton. The 2026 GHSA Bass Fishing State Championship at Lake Sinclair features a field of 113 boats. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Student anglers and their coaches head out early in the morning on Lake Sinclair. The 2026 GHSA Bass Fishing State Championship features a smaller field of 113 boats and presents a tougher challenge because of the lake’s size, shallow depth and difficult early May fishing conditions. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Boat floats are ready to be handed out before students and their coaches take their spots on Lake Sinclair for the GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

James Hines hands out boat floats as student anglers and their coaches head out on Lake Sinclair during the GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship on May 9, 2026. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

The 2026 GHSA Bass Fishing State Championship at Lake Sinclair features a smaller field of 113 boats and presents a tougher challenge because of the lake’s size, shallow depth and fishing conditions. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Student anglers Robert Ray and Sam Murfree of Fellowship Christian pick a spot out of the sun to see how many fish they can catch. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Students Leelyn Spruill and Ian Rivers of Mount Zion also compete in the championship at Lake Sinclair on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Milledgeville. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

STC Morey and Blake Mueller represent Lee County at the GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship at Lake Sinclair on Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Prince Avenue's Luke Milner and John Casto reel one in at the GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

The sun starts to rise as student anglers and their coaches head out on the Lake Sinclair during the GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship on Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

The 2026 GHSA Bass Fishing State Championship at Lake Sinclair features a smaller field of 113 boats. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Contestants wait on the Lake Sinclair for the start of the GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Eatonton. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Contestants recite the Pledge of Allegiance from their boats before the start of the championship. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

Contestants arrive early in the morning at Lake Sinclair for the Georgia High School Association’s 2026 Bass Fishing State Championship at Dennis Station boat ramp on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Eatonton. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Today's Gallery Headlines

GHSA State Bass Fishing Championship

PHOTOS: High school students go bass fishing for championship

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