The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society hosted a huge weekend in Decatur, Alabama with the sixth annual Skeeter Boats Bassmaster High School Combine, first annual Alabama B.A.S.S. Fest, and first annual Bassmaster Back to School Invitational on Wheeler Lake.

It was two teens who showed out to claim victory in the Back to School Invitational despite some very high temperatures with very little wind. Parker Smith and Cooper Anderson of Scotts Hill Student Anglers were able to win by hauling in a bass which weighed a staggering 14 pounds, 6 ounces.

“At 10:30 our two fish in the box only went for about 4 pounds total, so we knew we had to change things up,” said Smith. “We kept our heads down because we knew our largemouth pattern was going to get better later in the day and thankfully it did…We started out on some brushpiles in the 15- to 20-foot range, but as the day progressed, we figured out that the shallower brushpiles in the 6- to 9-foot range were holding the bigger fish.”

The win qualified Smith and Anderson to fish the 2027 Bassmaster High School Classic Exhibition in Greenville, S.C., which will be held in conjunction with the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

“It means a lot to get to qualify for this tournament,” said Anderson. “I got the opportunity to fish the event this year, and it was an awesome experience.”