South Dakota high schoolers fishing in national tournament

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KELO) — Two lifelong friends are traveling from South Dakota to South Carolina to compete in a national fishing tournament.

Max Flatten and Sam Spies are both from Watertown and played on the same baseball team as children. However, Spies’ family moved to Sioux Falls when they were in the second grade.

“Our moms stayed in touch and found out he likes bass fishing,” Flatten said. “So we entered in one tournament in 2021, and then last year we started fishing some of the high school opens.” .

The duo went on to win state championships in 2023 and 24.

“First one was the masters, high school state tournament and Lake Sharp. Uh, that wasn’t quite as large of a tournament, but we still qualified for the Bassmaster High School National Championship and State and Tennessee and like Chickamauga,” Flatten said. “And then two weeks ago, we won on Lake Kampeska.”

Now, the two teenagers will head down south to compete in the Student Angler Federation High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship.

“There will be about 400 boats,” Spies said. “And both of our pretty big deals have people from all around the country and then the Bass Nation. One is a lake to come out later this summer. And that one people from all around the world, including like last year, people from Zimbabwe and those people from Canada.”

Both are heading into their senior year of high school, and say they plan to continue fishing after they graduate.

“Ultimately, I’d say my goal isn’t to go pro, but I’d like to see where it takes me,” Spies said. “Obviously it depends how college goes. And yeah, going pro would be of course one of my dreams. But that’s of course the final goal.”

“I plan on attending to school down south and fishing through college,” Flatten said. “Then after high school I’ll try to go all in on the Bassmasters opens.”

But for now, the two will focus on the national tournament.

Flatten and Spies will be representing the state in South Carolina June 19 through June 22

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