Junior Bassmaster Program
Latest News
Maine Junior Bassmaster Championship Dates Announced
This years Maine Junior Bassmaster Championship will be held on July 19 at Highland Lake Bridgton, ME. The winners of the two age groups will advance to the Eastern Regional on Lake Winni in NH. on Sept 19-20, 2008. Two regional winners from this tournament will advance to the Jr Bassmaster National Championship Nov 8, 2008 at Lake Milford, near Junction City, Kansas.
The 2009 state championship will be held on Maranacook Lake early in October of 2008. The special date is to give the winners a chance to get the needed paperwork to advance to Ontario, Cannada in July 2009.
All About Junior Bassmasters
One of the most dynamic and exciting opportunities BASS has created for Junior anglers is the Junior Bassmaster World 
Championship! Just like Mom or Dad competing in the BASS Federation Nation club competitions, this program allows Junior members to compete in a club level, ultimately qualifying for their Junior Bassmaster State Championship.
The competition program mirrors the BASS Federation Nation tournament structure. Junior Bassmasters compete on a state level for the chance to advance to their respective Divisional competitions. Central to the enhancements is the exposure of youth anglers to all levels of Federation Nation competition. Youth competitors will be mentored by Federation Nation anglers and will learn the elements that are central to the passionate Federation Nation membership.
The qualifying ladder for the JWC, which will mirror the Federation Nation structure, will provide youth with a firsthand look at competition venues they can pursue when they reach adult competition age. The junior competitor who emerges as the top-performing angler in his or her state will advance to one of six Federation Nation divisional, based on geographic criteria.
The first BASS Federation Nation divisional of the year typically takes place in March or April with the remaining five Divisional competitions taking place throughout the spring and summer. The top-performing anglers from each of six divisional will then qualify for the JWC Championship, to be held in conjunction with the BASS Federation Nation Championship, typically each November. The championship contenders will fish for $23,000 in scholarship money, with the winners earning the distinction as the top youth anglers in the sport in their respective division.
In addition to the seminars, BASS will encourage its Elite Series pros to serve in varying capacities at the Junior Bassmaster World Championship held at the BASS Federation Nation Championship.
Junior clubs are sponsored by adult Federation Nation Clubs with members of the adult clubs acting as mentors and educators for these young anglers. Junior members gain skills from how-to clinics, educational workshops based on conservation, good fishing ethics, catch and release and habitat restoration. Junior members also get involved with youth tournaments, adopt waterways, Bassmaster CastingKids programs and community service projects.
Youth Membership & Master Angler Program (MAP)
At BASS, we want to provide the tools to help make any young angler's education a complete experience. This is possible with the Youth Membership and Master Angler Program (MAP). The youth membership is an exclusive membership aimed at making the young angler a Master Angler, good enough to teach mom or dad a thing or two. It is is designed to educate young anglers through self-paced home and internet-based training modules.
The Master Angler Program is aimed at the youngest of BASS members, but will benefit anglers at any age. The $15 membership includes a personalized certificate, decals and an instruction booklet that covers several skills. As the skills are completed, the member places the decals over the corresponding symbol on the certificate to track progress. Once the first three skills are completed, the member completes an included form and sends it to BASS officials, who then send out instruction for the next set of skills. A member earns a Master Angler decal once all of the skills are completed.
Many important skills are taught, including knot tying, casting, soft plastic baits, hard baits, topwater baits, bass behavior, landing bass, conservation and pattern fishing. Youth members will receive a BASS patch and decal, official membership card, two issues of Junior Bassmaster Magazine and are eligible for the Junior Lunker Club and prize drawings.
Please call 1-877-BASS-USA for more information.