Temple and Schnell come from behind to win Bassmaster Junior Championship on Lake Hartwell

Kale Temple and Luke Schnell of Georgia’s Hart County Junior Anglers have won the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Lake Hartwell with a two-day total of 21 pounds, 12 ounces.

Photo by Logan Crumley/B.A.S.S.

July 22, 2023

Temple and Schnell come from behind to win Bassmaster Junior Championship on Lake Hartwell

ANDERSON, S.C. — Kale Temple and Luke Schnell were only 4 ounces out of the Day 1 lead at the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship, so they knew a good finish on Lake Hartwell might lock up the tournament title for them.

It did.

Temple and Schnell, who compete for the Hart County Junior Anglers just across the state line in Georgia, closed the gap with authority on Saturday, catching a three-bass limit of 10 pounds, 15 ounces. Coupled with their 10-13 limit on Friday, the boys posted a two-day total of 21-12, which was nearly 4 pounds more than their closest competitors.

The duo topped 123 teams from 32 states for the win on Lake Hartwell. They earned $2,000 in scholarship money, as well.

Being on their home water didn’t hurt their chances, but Temple and Schnell had to work from behind to win the derby. Their early bites on Saturday weren’t exactly the best, either.

“The water levels today were about 2 feet low,” Temple said. “We knew the shallow bite wouldn’t work, so we went offshore all day. Still, we only had about 5 pounds until about 11:30 or 12 o’clock. That’s when the fish started schooling and we were able to get a 4-pounder and a couple of 3-pounders.”

The boys said a bright and busy Saturday brought additional boat traffic to Hartwell, which actually helped their cause.

“There was a poker run today with about 400 pontoon boats,” Temple said. “All the boats stirred the bait up and the bass started coming up.”

Temple and Schnell, both 14, fished in anywhere from 10 to 35 feet of water, but the sweet spot was between 20 to 30 feet on Saturday. They threw Zoom Fluke worms (smoke/blue and disco ball) to boat their best bass.

“We’d fished this spot before,” Schnell said. “There’s a lot of shallow timber and the fish were in the tops of the trees … It’s amazing to win because we didn’t think we’d accomplish it with what we had at 11 o’clock.”

Isaac Temple, Kale’s dad and the duo’s boat captain for the tournament, said the teens put the work in to win the national title.

“They fished nonstop, including all the weekends that weren’t off limits,” he said. “They won Junior Anglers of the Year for the state of Georgia, so being on their home lake, I knew they’d be contenders.”

Colton Hembree and Tyson Browning of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Junior Bassmasters finished second with 18-2 and won $1,000 in scholarship money.

Tristan Stewart and DJ Johnson III, in first place after Day 1, wound up third with 17-10 and collected $500 in scholarship money. The duo is part of the Mt. Pleasant (Tenn.) Junior Bass Team.

Anderson Mesplay and Kelby Conrady, of the Mid-Kansas Kastmasters, also caught 17-10 and placed fourth after tiebreakers. The boys earned $400 for their showing and also split the $200 Big Bass Award for the 6-7 largemouth they caught on Saturday. That whopper easily topped Hembree and Browning’s 4-14 which led the Day 1 Big Bass standings.

Teams qualified for the championship through state competitions and four different Junior Opens held earlier this year on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lay Lake, Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake and the Red River in Louisiana.

Visit Anderson hosted the Bassmaster Junior National Championship. 

2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship 7/21-7/22Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.(BOATER) Standings Day 2

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Kale Temple – Luke Schnell                   Hart County Jr Anglers – GA           0  Day 1: 3   10-13     Day 2: 3   10-15   Total:   6  21-122.  Colton Hembree – Tyson Browning              Bluegrass Junior Bassmasters – KY     0  Day 1: 3   10-07     Day 2: 3   07-11   Total:   6  18-023.  Tristan Stewart – DJ Johnson III             Mt. Pleasant Junior Bass Team – TN    0  Day 1: 3   11-01     Day 2: 3   06-09   Total:   6  17-104.  Anderson Mesplay – Kelby Conrady             Mid-Kansas Kastmasters – KS           0  Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 3   10-11   Total:   6  17-105.  Hank Riley – Ty Montgomery                   Lone Star Jr Bassmasters – TX         0  Day 1: 3   08-06     Day 2: 3   08-05   Total:   6  16-116.  Jake Paradis – Nolan Savage                  L/A Junior Bassmasters – ME           0  Day 1: 3   08-09     Day 2: 3   08-01   Total:   6  16-107.  Zac Arnold – Ross Clark                      Good Hope Fishing Team – AL           0  Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 3   07-00   Total:   6  16-068.  Jaxen White – Christopher Trobaugh           Clay County Anglers – TN              0  Day 1: 3   07-13     Day 2: 3   07-11   Total:   6  15-089.  Tyler Nelson – Seth Harrell                  Bandys High School – NC               0  Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 3   08-09   Total:   6  14-1210. Caleb Toubia – Isaac Toubia                  Kickback High School – KS             0  Day 1: 3   10-07     Day 2: 3   03-15   Total:   6  14-0611. Cody Carboni – William Reynolds              Live Oak Junior High School – LA      0  Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 2   03-11   Total:   5  14-0512. Eli Ledbetter – Collin Ledbetter             Jr Southwest Bassmasters-Denham       0  Day 1: 3   08-00     Day 2: 3   06-03   Total:   6  14-0313. Ryder Milam – Colton Milam                   Mecklenburg High School Junior A      0  Day 1: 3   08-01     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   6  13-0814. Parker Terrell – Cameron Terrell             Port City Jr. Bassmasters – NY        0  Day 1: 3   06-00     Day 2: 3   07-08   Total:   6  13-0815. Caden Hall – Kaleb Wilson                    Russell County Middle School – K      0  Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 3   03-14   Total:   6  13-0416. Jack Kennedy – Brentley West                 Mid Florida Youth Anglers – FL        0  Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 3   08-04   Total:   6  13-0317. Grayson Goodwin – Colton Baker               Renegades Perry County Jr Angler      0  Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 3   06-08   Total:   6  13-0218. Wyatt North – Wylie North                    Marion County High School Bassma      0  Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 3   06-11   Total:   6  12-1419. Lucas Gerlach – Brayden Nickless             Denver Jr. Bassmasters – CO           0  Day 1: 3   07-03     Day 2: 3   04-12   Total:   6  11-1520. Kingston Bartley – Wade Clemmensen           Denver Jr. Bassmasters – CO           0  Day 1: 3   05-15     Day 2: 3   05-15   Total:   6  11-1421. Jack Naas – JT Cross                         L/A Junior Bassmasters – ME           0  Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 3   04-07   Total:   6  11-1322. Daniel Ingram – Morgan Carden                Shelby County Jr Anglers – AL         0  Day 1: 2   02-09     Day 2: 3   09-01   Total:   5  11-1023. Conley Tyler – Tripp Martin                  Arkansas Youth Anglers – AR           0  Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 2   04-04   Total:   5  11-0924. Brennon Davidson – Hagen Barnes              Brandon High School – MS              0  Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 3   05-04   Total:   6  11-0725. Luke Stewart – Austin Craze                  Southern WV Jr Bassmasters – WV       0  Day 1: 3   05-02     Day 2: 3   06-04   Total:   6  11-0626. Ty Magargle – Brady Gunkle                   Junior Wildcats – PA                  0  Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 3   04-05   Total:   6  11-0427. Vegas Iaconelli – Maxsim Hughen              NJ BASS Nation Juniors – NJ           0  Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 2   06-03   Total:   5  11-0228. Dawson Turner – Ruby Caldwell                Crescent High School Jr Anglers       0  Day 1: 3   05-10     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   6  11-0129. Landon Grabert –                             Houma Christian School – LA           0  Day 1: 3   05-14     Day 2: 3   05-00   Total:   6  10-1430. Nickolas Tinkle – Kaden Henderson            Arkansas Youth Anglers – AR           0  Day 1: 3   03-12     Day 2: 3   06-14   Total:   6  10-1031. Eli Herring – Hunter Lee                     Greene County Bassmasters – MS        0  Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  10-0932. Landon Horton – Eli Meckert                  Idaho Student Anglers – ID            0  Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 3   03-01   Total:   6  10-0733. Nash Parham – Jude Gibson                    Sumner County Jr Bass Team – TN       0  Day 1: 3   04-12     Day 2: 3   05-08   Total:   6  10-0434. Landon Moore – Trig Mchone                   Meigs Middle School – TN              0  Day 1: 3   05-05     Day 2: 2   04-12   Total:   5  10-0135. Colton Willging – Finn Boyle                 Dubuque Bass Club – IA                0  Day 1: 3   05-05     Day 2: 3   04-09   Total:   6  09-1436. Fisher Butler – Landon Reel                  Arkansas Youth Anglers – AR           0  Day 1: 3   05-02     Day 2: 2   04-12   Total:   5  09-1437. Mason Bush – Hayden Berryman                 Club Florida High School Bassmas      0  Day 1: 3   04-08     Day 2: 3   05-03   Total:   6  09-1138. Boone Baxter – Hunter Stewart                Buckeye State Student Anglers –       0  Day 1: 3   05-09     Day 2: 2   04-00   Total:   5  09-0939. Cullen Bearden – Chance White                Ark-La-Tex Junior Bassmasters –       0  Day 1: 2   03-03     Day 2: 3   06-05   Total:   5  09-0840. Kolsyn Sollars – Dylan Barnhart              Southside Junior Anglers – IN         0  Day 1: 3   05-00     Day 2: 3   04-06   Total:   6  09-0641. Jackson Ray – TJ Murray                      Rhea County Eagle Anglers – TN        0  Day 1: 3   06-04     Day 2: 2   03-01   Total:   5  09-0542. Eli Milam – Isaiah Crockett                  Southern WV Jr Bassmasters – WV       0  Day 1: 3   04-09     Day 2: 3   04-12   Total:   6  09-0543. Denver Leblanc – Jackson Gomez               Jr Southwest Bassmasters-Denham       0  Day 1: 3   05-08     Day 2: 3   03-12   Total:   6  09-0444. Zeb Ates – Cameron Barham                    North Louisiana Jr Bassmasters –      0  Day 1: 3   05-06     Day 2: 3   03-11   Total:   6  09-0145. Tatum Ceccorulli – Brayden Jenner            St. Martin Bassmasters – MS           0  Day 1: 3   04-07     Day 2: 3   04-10   Total:   6  09-0146. Walker Woodall – Mason Watkin                Harmony Grove – AR                    0  Day 1: 2   03-15     Day 2: 3   05-01   Total:   5  09-0047. Evan Bradshaw – Gabe Browning                Russell County Middle School – K      0  Day 1: 3   05-03     Day 2: 3   03-12   Total:   6  08-1548. Kort Roberts – Katera Roberts                Garfield County High School – OK      0  Day 1: 2   01-15     Day 2: 3   06-14   Total:   5  08-1349. Brayden Tisdale –                            Opp Middle School – AL                0  Day 1: 1   00-15     Day 2: 3   07-12   Total:   4  08-1150. Dominick Andux – Peyton Faber                Tampa Bay Junior Bass Club – FL       0  Day 1: 3   06-02     Day 2: 2   02-09   Total:   5  08-1151. Hudson Clark – Jackson Leath                 Sumner County Jr Bass Team – TN       0  Day 1: 3   05-07     Day 2: 3   03-04   Total:   6  08-1152. Dj Broome Jr. – Shepard Crumley              Tallulah Falls School Jr Team –       0  Day 1: 3   05-03     Day 2: 2   03-08   Total:   5  08-1153. Bentley Richardson – Blake Richardson        Southern Outcast Jr – NC              0  Day 1: 2   04-08     Day 2: 3   04-01   Total:   5  08-0954. Drake Walls – Hunter Shrader                 Mid Florida Youth Anglers – FL        0  Day 1: 3   04-02     Day 2: 3   04-07   Total:   6  08-0955. Landon Lynch – Colton Miller                 Brunswick Academy – VA                0  Day 1: 3   03-03     Day 2: 3   05-05   Total:   6  08-0856. Mack Hardee – Jackson Smalls                 Conway High Anglers – SC              0  Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 1   01-02   Total:   4  08-0757. Avery Schmitt – Maddox Hanson                Eastern Iowa Jr Bassmasters – IA      0  Day 1: 2   02-11     Day 2: 3   05-11   Total:   5  08-0658. Sawyer Knickerbocker – Conner Tate           Vermilion Junior Anglers – LA         0  Day 1: 1   01-08     Day 2: 3   06-10   Total:   4  08-0259. Harrison Hobbs – Cade Speligene              Franklin High School – TN             0  Day 1: 1   00-13     Day 2: 3   07-04   Total:   4  08-0160. Beau McQuade – Kahl Cordell                  Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters –       0  Day 1: 3   04-06     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  08-0061. Sam Keely – Bradyn Stubenrauch               Kickback High School – KS             0  Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 3   03-14   Total:   6  07-1462. Ethan McBrayer – Zachary King                Briarwood Christian School – AL       0  Day 1: 3   05-13     Day 2: 2   02-00   Total:   5  07-1363. Tom Shumowsky – Amira Glenn                  Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters – IL      0  Day 1: 3   03-04     Day 2: 2   04-09   Total:   5  07-1364. Bentley Gibson – Reese Carpenter             Junior Keystone Bassmasters – OK      0  Day 1: 1   02-00     Day 2: 3   05-12   Total:   4  07-1265. Landon Burke – Kolbey Burke                  Dixie Junior Bassmasters – FL         0  Day 1: 3   03-05     Day 2: 3   04-07   Total:   6  07-1266. Kasey Stamper – Chase Bennett                Howell Junior High School – MI        0  Day 1: 3   02-13     Day 2: 3   04-14   Total:   6  07-1167. Brayden Rivest – Andrew Crawford             Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters – IL      0  Day 1: 3   06-01     Day 2: 1   01-09   Total:   4  07-1068. Jesse Lancaster – Fisher Lancaster           Lancaster Academy – NC                0  Day 1: 3   05-13     Day 2: 2   01-09   Total:   5  07-0669. Piers Picou – Jaxon Plaisance                Central Catholic – LA                 0  Day 1: 3   03-10     Day 2: 3   03-11   Total:   6  07-0570. Fisher Williams – Cooper Kennedy             Bolivar Middle School – MO            0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   07-03   Total:   3  07-0371. Connor Magee – Corbin Goode                  Live Oak Junior High School – LA      0  Day 1: 1   03-05     Day 2: 3   03-14   Total:   4  07-0372. Bo Hollen – Ari Clark                        Mon Valley Junior Bassmasters –       0  Day 1: 2   01-11     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   5  07-0273. Coy Cassady –                                Wateree Anglers Club – SC             0  Day 1: 3   03-08     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  07-0274. Landry Scott – Caden Daniel                  Lone Star Jr Bassmasters – TX         0  Day 1: 2   02-07     Day 2: 3   04-10   Total:   5  07-0175. Tristan Topa – Parker Stevens                Port City Jr. Bassmasters  – NY       0  Day 1: 3   03-06     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  07-0076. Carson Stevens – Wesley Osuna                Franklin County Jr Bass Team – T      0  Day 1: 1   01-07     Day 2: 3   05-06   Total:   4  06-1377. Drew Mcclellan – Noah Hiott                  Indiana Jr Bassmasters – IN           0  Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 3   04-01   Total:   4  06-1278. Cale Compton – Adam Reed                     Moore HS Fishing Club – OK            0  Day 1: 3   03-15     Day 2: 2   02-13   Total:   5  06-1279. Sawyer Sheffield – Brody Holliman            Shelby County Jr Anglers – AL         0  Day 1: 2   06-10     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  06-1080. Zack Ramsey – Carson Buchanan                McDowell High School – NC             0  Day 1: 3   04-04     Day 2: 2   02-05   Total:   5  06-0981. Parker Bilbrey – Tyler Thompson              Livingston Academy – TN               0  Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 3   03-13   Total:   6  06-0882. Hollis Daigle – Vincent Vilcan-Soprano       Catholic High School New Iberia       0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   06-06   Total:   3  06-0683. Garrett Hestor – Easton Herman               Junior Wildcats – PA                  0  Day 1: 2   02-09     Day 2: 2   03-13   Total:   4  06-0684. Boston Werner –                              Northeast Wisconsin Bass – WI         0  Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 1   02-05   Total:   4  06-0585. Donovan Yang – Logan Xiong                   Anoka Ramsey Bassers    – MN             0  Day 1: 3   05-05     Day 2: 3   00-15   Total:   6  06-0486. Colton Howell – Cullen Howell                Mt. Pleasant Junior Bass Team –       0  Day 1: 2   02-04     Day 2: 2   03-07   Total:   4  05-1187. Reiston Ratchford – Ryland Ratchford         Headland Jr High School – AL          0  Day 1: 2   02-00     Day 2: 3   03-09   Total:   5  05-0988. Carter Shadinger – Aiden Ferguson            Curry High School – AL                0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-0788. Knox White – Grayson Sanford                 Mt. Juliet Fishing – TN               0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-0790. Ethan Martinez – Bryson Stewart              Hendry County Junior Bassmasters      0  Day 1: 1   01-10     Day 2: 3   03-12   Total:   4  05-0691. Chance Washington – Ashton Otto              Aggie Anglers – GA                    0  Day 1: 2   03-05     Day 2: 2   02-01   Total:   4  05-0692. Jackson Beatty – Gable Eddy                  Independence High School – IA         0  Day 1: 1   02-12     Day 2: 2   02-10   Total:   3  05-0693. Eben Whalen – Luke Whalen                    L/A Junior Bassmasters – ME           0  Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 2   02-10   Total:   5  05-0594. Wyatt Michaels – Austin Parsons              Morgan County Junior Bass Master      0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-03   Total:   3  05-0395. Gunner Tate –                                Coffee County Youth Bass Club –       0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-1496. Jonah Harbison – Thomas Benton               Hayden Jr High School – AL            0  Day 1: 3   02-02     Day 2: 3   02-12   Total:   6  04-1497. Joey Newman – Logan Robertson                Meigs Middle School – TN              0  Day 1: 3   04-06     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  04-0698. Dean Austin – Liam Holze                     Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters – IL      0  Day 1: 1   00-13     Day 2: 1   03-07   Total:   2  04-0499. Hunter Brakefield – Landon White             Mt. Juliet Fishing – TN               0  Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  04-03100. Blake Meiser – Liam Duncan                   Eureka Youth Club – MO                0  Day 1: 1   00-11     Day 2: 3   03-04   Total:   4  03-15101. Hunter Moore – Ashton Pogue                  Caledonia Bassmasters – MO            0  Day 1: 1   00-14     Day 2: 3   02-13   Total:   4  03-11102. Logan Eudy – Brody Clontz                    Stanly County Jr Bassmasters – N      0  Day 1: 3   02-09     Day 2: 1   01-02   Total:   4  03-11103. Brayden Marcum – Tyler Goble                 Cardinal Youth Fishing Team – KY      0  Day 1: 3   03-09     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  03-09104. Gunner Robbins – Carson Everley              Upperman High School – TN             0  Day 1: 3   03-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  03-07105. Landon Verbit – Brody McCoy                  Muddyrun Bassmaster Jr – PA           0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   03-06   Total:   3  03-06106. Presley Jo Cook – Brody Baber                Ark-La-Tex Junior Bassmasters –       0  Day 1: 2   02-04     Day 2: 1   01-01   Total:   3  03-05107. Mitchell Boles –                             Clay County Anglers – TN              0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   03-02   Total:   2  03-02108. Jake Jaracy – Jack Jaracy                    CT BASS Thunder – CT                  0  Day 1: 3   02-14     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  02-14109. James Barkley – Nikolas Foster               NH Junior Bassmasters – NH            0  Day 1: 2   02-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  02-13109. Daniel Coley – Elijah Ambrose                Junior Potomac River Bassmasters      0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   02-13   Total:   2  02-13111. Eastin Gilliland – Gunnar Freeman            Lone Star Jr Bassmasters – TX         0  Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  02-11112. Jaxson Pierce – Tucker Larrance              Jefferson County Patriot Anglers      0  Day 1: 2   02-04     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  02-04113. Jason Perkins – Tyler Perkins                Port City Jr. Bassmasters – NY        0  Day 1: 1   02-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  02-03114. Bradie Talaski – Carter Osantowski           Bad Axe High School – MI              0  Day 1: 2   01-14     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  01-14115. Cash Holloway – Ava Lowery                   East Clarendon Wolverines – SC        0  Day 1: 2   01-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  01-13116. Dalton Adkins – David Potts                  Skyline High School – AL              0  Day 1: 1   00-14     Day 2: 1   00-12   Total:   2  01-10117. Owen Williams – Jase Quattlebaum             Rehobeth Junior Bass Team – AL        0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   01-09   Total:   2  01-09118. Ty Landry – Brant Cavalier                   Central Catholic – LA                 0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   01-07   Total:   1  01-07119. Jace Hickman –                               Teays Valley Toads – OH               0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14120. Beckett Kraft – Sullivan Kraft               Port City Jr. Bassmasters – NY        0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13121. John Parker Deal – Hayes Henderson           Headland Jr High School – AL          0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00121. Liam Jeddry – Luke Laudenklos                Team Outcast Juniors – MD             0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00121. Mason Samson – Luke Adasczik                 NH Junior Bassmasters – NH            0  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight 1        74       274       496-07 2        76       282       492-14———————————-         150       556       989-05

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