March 11, 2026 — On an early Saturday morning in Appling, Georgia, the waters of Clarks Hill Lake took on 226 boats carrying high school Bass Fishing teams from across the state. It was the official “Qualifier #3” tournament for the Georgia High School Association (GHSA). Cobb Schools had five boats from three high schools in the competition, trying to earn entry into the State Championship set for early May.
“It's very exciting for the team when they're able to snag a big one on tournament day,” Harrison Bass Fishing Coach Braeden Langford said. “One fish can make a huge difference in the tournament standings.”
For those unfamiliar with bass fishing tournaments, it’s worth breaking down the basics of GHSA-sanctioned tournament weekends. Cobb Schools teams begin with a travel day on Friday. The closest competition is about 80 miles away, but most require more than a two-hour drive. Unfortunately, Allatoona Lake has not yet been scheduled as a tournament location. Upon arrival, the teams hit the host lake for an early practice, putting some lines in the water and scouting ideal locations for the Saturday competition.
Tournament Saturdays begin in the wee hours of the morning, with takeoff times around 7:00 a.m., so boats need to be launched even earlier. Upon takeoff, teams of two high school anglers, joined by an adult boat captain, speed out to the various nooks and coves of the lake they identified during their practice session. Then, as any fisherman knows, it’s time to cast and wait. Reel and wait. Recast and wait some more. While patience is key, the lure is paramount to entice the big catch, and the goal is multiple big catches. The teams have a maximum catch limit of five fish.
At the conclusion of the competition, each team’s haul is weighed. The number of fish is less important than the total weight. The tournament typically ends between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. That’s a long day on the lake, but it’s worth it if a team’s total weight finishes in the top 27, earning a berth into the state tournament.
Kennesaw Mountain High School, led by Coach Chris Crosby, put three boats in the water for this tournament and enjoyed the most success among Cobb Schools. The team of Ramsay Bailey and Cody McAnulty pulled in five bass weighing a total of 9.9 pounds. This was just a few pounds outside of the top 27. Cody, speaking for the team, commented that the highlight of the day was, “Just catching fish and being out on the lake.” That’s a feeling the other Mustangs teams— Caleb Caldwell with Ethan Young (three fish, 4.5 pounds) and William Husted with Travis Resudek (one fish, 3.8 pounds)—surely share.
Harrison’s team of Will Adkison and Anderson Paul snagged two bass with a total weight of 3.15 pounds.
“As a coach, it’s exciting when your team hooks a big bass,” Hoyas’ Coach Langford commented, “because you know how much time and effort those students have put in and the passion they have for fishing.”
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South Cobb’s Bass Fishing Coach, Jason Smith, noted that sometimes the fish decide not to take the bait. The angler is only part of the equation. The bass must bite. On this weekend, the Eagles’ team hooked two big bass during Friday’s practice. Asher Amar caught a five-pounder, and Alan Rojo pulled a 3.5-pound fish. The South Cobb team, which included DeMario Gammage (teams can swap out anglers during the competition), found no cooperative fish on Saturday.
The GHSA has sanctioned bass fishing as a sport since 2021. Coach Crosby, Coach Langford, and Coach Smith each launched their school’s fishing teams in the 2023-24 season. To this point, in a sport that is dominated by lake community districts, a Cobb team has never qualified for the state tournament. This year, our teams have one more competition to make history and become the first-ever State qualifier from our district in a growing sport.
h/t non-branded photos provided by Coach Crosby, Coach Langford, and Coach Smith
