Honaker’s Josh Smith (left) and Landon Ray (right) hold up two of their biggest bass during the National/World High School Fishing Tournament in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in late June. (Submitted Photo)
Two local anglers captured the Virginia Bass Chapter Federation High School Fishing Tournament title.
The duo of Josh Smith and Landon Ray defeated 13 other teams to win the Virginia Bass Chapter Federation (VABCF) high school fishing tournament in early April at South Holston Lake in Bristol, after catching their limit of five fish weighing 15.60 pounds — more than a pound ahead of second-place Konnor Sweet and Blaine Miller (14.45 pounds).
Winning the VABCF tournament earned the team a spot in The National/World High School Fishing Tournament in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in late June. Smith and Ray held their own during the three-day national tournament against the top high school anglers in the world.
Smith and Ray placed in the bottom half of the 250-team field that featured the best high school anglers from all across the United States, Canada and Zimbabwe.
Smith, a rising sophomore from Honaker, is the son of Roy and Lizabeth Smith.
“Winning state was an accomplishment that I wanted to achieve in my high school fishing career, and I certainly hope it’s not the last time I will have the opportunity to do that,” Smith said. “Winning the state championship qualified us for the national/world tournament in Wisconsin to fish the Mississippi River. Competition at that level is unbelievable, and it was amazing just to be a part of it. My partner and I were able to weigh in fish every day, and that was our goal going into the competition.
“We hope to get better and better the more we fish and learn. We couldn’t have made it to nationals without the help of our parents, grandparents and sponsors. We would like to thank and recognize those that put their faith in us and helped us chase our dreams.”
Ray is a rising eighth-grader at Honaker and the son of Derek and Sara Ray.
“When I first started high school fishing at the age of 13, I never knew that I would even catch a fish, let alone be standing in front of a crowd of family and friends holding a state trophy,” Ray said. “That was a surreal moment.”
Ray said making it to nationals was truly amazing and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“I think that it was very challenging fishing on the Mississippi River, as this was one of the many firsts that I would experience while in Wisconsin,” Ray said. “I would like to thank everyone that helped me with this experience — especially my boat captain and his wife, Roy and Lizabeth Smith, my parents, my grandparents, Southwest Select fishing group and everyone that made a donation.”
Sponsors for the Smith and Ray team included Hurricane supervisor Tim Hess, Honaker Funeral Home, Tiger-X Pharmacy, Vern’s Sporting Goods, New People’s Bank, Noah Horn Well Drilling, Buchanan Oil Corporation, Southwest Sportsman’s Association, Dr. Brandon Buskill, DDS, Shad Skeens Trucking, Gas Station Supply, CJ’s Well Service, Skyline Contractors, K&K Construction and Denver Owen’s Bait.