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On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the Straughn Junior High Bass Team set out for their last tournament of the season, the Alabama Bass Nation High School State Championship held on Neely Henry Lake.  A total of 70 teams from across the state of Alabama came to compete in hopes of weighing in the biggest bags and taking home the State championship.

Neely Henry Lake is made up of 11,200 acres of rippling blue waters and 339 miles of shoreline and is known for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, as well as catfish. The lake runs North-South next to Gadsden, Alabama.  Neely Henry Lake was completed on June 2, 1966; the dam and reservoir were named for H. Neely Henry, a senior executive vice-president of Alabama Power.

The anglers had a long rainy day on the water, but two of the three teams managed to get fish in the boat for the weigh in.

Emma Copeland finished 19th with five fish weighing in at 7.63 pounds.

Lane Landon/Landon Nash finished 52nd with two fish weighing in at 2.31 pounds.

It is quite an accomplishment for any team to make it to the State Championship tournament. The school is proud of the junior high anglers and  want to congratulate them on qualifying for State this 2025 fishing season. 

The Junior high teams will resume their 2025-2026 tournament season in September. They are looking forward to what the next fishing season has in store for them.

The Straughn Junior High Bass Team wishes to thank all of their boat captains, parents, community and sponsors for supporting them throughout the year.