Bryce Balentine and Dalton Loos of the Central Florida Youth Anglers have won the 2022 Bassmaster High School Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with 25 pounds, 6 ounces.

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

January 23, 2022

LEESBURG, Fla. — Bryce Balentine and Dalton Loos of the Central Florida Youth Anglers employed a balanced game plan based on quantity and quality to win the Bassmaster High School Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with a limit catch of 25 pounds, 6 ounces.

Edging the second-place Sale Creek Anglers team of BJ Collins and Banks Shaw by a margin of 2-7, Balentine and Loos earned $770 each and a spot in the 2022 Bassmaster High School Series National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. (Dates and location TBA). Shaw and former partner Gage King won the 2021 National Championship.

The winners spent their day in Lake Griffin and fished a 100-yard area of offshore grass in 9 to 10 feet. They chose their spot based on its seclusion and familiarity.

“We just wanted to get away from the crowd,” Loos said. “We’ve had history out there, so we went ahead and ran it.”

Balentine and Loos started their day fishing 1/2-ounce black/blue Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammers with green pumpkin swimbait trailers. Later in the day, they switched to a slow dragging presentation with Zoom Old Monster worms in the redbug and junebug colors Texas rigged on 5/0 hooks with 1/8-ounce weights.

The ChatterBaits earned Balentine and Loos a limit by midday. Then when the emerging sun warmed the lake, those big worms allowed them to make significant upgrades.

“When those fish are all lock-jawed, you put that big bait in front of them, they can’t resist it,” Balentine said.

Balentine, who placed third at last year’s event with Carson Russell, said it felt good to close out the win by fishing the same way he did in 2021.

“I just stuck with my gut and did what I know,” he said. “This is the biggest tournament I’ve won. It means a lot. It’s awesome. I have jitters, I’m still shaking.”

Loos said their win was especially meaningful, following a very difficult practice. “I fished a whole day and caught no fish.”

Collins and Shaw also targeted Lake Griffin’s offshore grass and boated a limit of 22-15. They caught all of their fish on 3/4-ounce white and chartreuse Strike King spinnerbaits with large willow-leaf blades.

“We stuck with a spinnerbait all day because we knew we could get five of the right bites doing that,” Shaw said. “We actually ended up catching a lot of fish. We didn’t lose any fish, we didn’t miss any fish, we caught everything that bit.”

Collins said he and Shaw had fished their area in previous visits to the Harris Chain, so they felt comfortable that they knew how the fish would position. Shaw noted they consistently caught better fish by monitoring their Humminbird 360 to detect key features.

“It was definitely the grass that was a little bit higher,” Shaw said. “The grass could be 4 feet high right here and 5 feet high right there. We just used 360 and Garmin LiveScope to find those sweet spots that nobody else saw.”

Peyton Sorrow of the Eagle Eye Anglers fished alone and finished third with 16-11.

Seventh-place Benjamin Hester and Mason Caldwell of Rhea County High School won the big fish award for their 9-7.

2022 Bassmaster High School at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 1/23-1/23
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Bryce Balentine – Dalton Loos Central Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 25-06 Total: 5 25-06
2. BJ Collins – Banks Shaw Sale Creek Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 22-15 Total: 5 22-15
3. Peyton Sorrow – The Eagle Eye Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 16-11 Total: 5 16-11
4. Kody Glass – Merrick Diaz Strawberry Crest High School 0
Day 1: 5 16-00 Total: 5 16-00
5. Mason Snider – Dalton Benson Mount Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
6. Hunter Daniels – Joshua King Okeechobee High School 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Total: 5 14-15
7. Benjamin Hester – Mason Caldwell Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
8. Kane Weekley – Trent Handley LaBelle High School 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
9. Aaron Yavorsky – Jett Stanley Tampa Bay Junior High School 0
Day 1: 4 14-07 Total: 4 14-07
10. Chance Bryars – Noah Bryars Baldwin County High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Total: 5 13-14
11. Kasen Pemberton – Samuel Godwin Sneads High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
12. Kaden Snavely – Logan Cardwell Central Florida Youth Anglers (3 0
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
13. Landon Rollison – Michael Hackle dixie county high school 0
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
14. Presley Lannom – Morgan Lannom Mt Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
15. Anna Swisher – Ty Jackson Columbia High School 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
16. Brennan Starr – Jace Lacoss Nassau Christian Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
17. Konner West – Aiden Howard upstate high school anglers 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
18. Cody Morgan – Brant Langley Marion County junior bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 11-11 Total: 4 11-11
19. Easton Drennon – Aaron Lane Mt. Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
20. Tucker Cook – Cooper Wilson Mount juliet 0
Day 1: 4 11-07 Total: 4 11-07
21. Logan Mcmasters – Colton Mcpeak Okeechobee High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06
22. Alexander Tyler – Briley West McKeel Junior Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
23. Dawson Ettinger – Camren Teuton Clay County High School BassMast 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
24. Jeremy Monda – Will Boyd Jr Quincy Jr. Bassmasters (308) 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
25. Kayden Waller – Luke Malik Mt. Juliet high school 0
Day 1: 3 10-05 Total: 3 10-05
26. Drew Pitts – Luke Romesburg Steinbrenner High 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
27. Clayburn Reed – Gabe Richardson Pasco High School 0
Day 1: 3 10-00 Total: 3 10-00
28. Braylan Tyler – Dakota Jones Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
29. Miles Smith – Casen Rogers Central Lafourche High School 0
Day 1: 4 09-15 Total: 4 09-15
30. Drew Bradstreet – Kamden Bradstreet Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
31. Brett Mouw – Danny Schlenbecker The Hill Toppers 0
Day 1: 4 09-12 Total: 4 09-12
32. William Cothran – Taedem Ashworth Mt. Pleasant High School 0
Day 1: 2 09-12 Total: 2 09-12
33. Lainie Holbert – Sarah Swindle Riverside Bass Team 0
Day 1: 4 09-04 Total: 4 09-04
34. Braxton Johnson – Braxton Williams Columbia High School (439) 0
Day 1: 3 09-04 Total: 3 09-04
35. Joe Vaulton – Walker LaRue Alcoa High School (644) 0
Day 1: 5 09-01 Total: 5 09-01
36. Tanner Seabolt – Emmett Sumner Okeechobee Brahmans 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
37. Makenzie Bailey – Dalton Bailey Winter Springs High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
38. Levi Thibodaux – Jace Andras Lafourche Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 3 08-13 Total: 3 08-13
39. Nathan Reynolds – Backwoods Bassin 0
Day 1: 4 08-11 Total: 4 08-11
40. Hudson Choquette – Cal McInnis Headland High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
41. Mateo Gaylord – Kayden DePeal Tavares HS 0
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
41. Andon Goins – Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
43. Remington Potter – Caden Branch LC Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 08-04 Total: 4 08-04
44. Derek Davis – Connor Jaco Mt.Pleasant Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
45. Dylan Holcomb – Grayson Faircloth Liberty County Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 07-14 Total: 3 07-14
46. Conner Frederick – Timothy Finley Nassau Christian Bass Club 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
47. Luke Lowery – Connor Rumohr Howell High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
48. Chase Bryan – Wyatt Bryan Saraland High School 0
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
49. Jake Ellis – Tyler Goethals Central Florida Youth Anglers Hi 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
50. Brodie Stuart – Brock Johnson Oak Grove High School 0
Day 1: 3 07-00 Total: 3 07-00
51. Annie Lassiter – Jameson Pursley warren county pioneer anglers 0
Day 1: 5 06-13 Total: 5 06-13
51. Brendin Simich – Sam Dameron Oak Mountain High School 0
Day 1: 5 06-13 Total: 5 06-13
53. Will Hughes – Corbin Olsson East Grand Rapids 0
Day 1: 5 06-12 Total: 5 06-12
54. Carter Nutt – John Nutt Sale Creek 0
Day 1: 5 06-10 Total: 5 06-10
55. Asher Peters – James Quinlivan Headland High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
56. Thomas Wright – Carter Burdette Seminole Junior High School Angl 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Total: 3 06-09
57. Evan Newell – Michael Teate Mid Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 06-08 Total: 5 06-08
58. Kai Barnett – Justin Straate Shelby County High School 0
Day 1: 5 06-06 Total: 5 06-06
59. Colton Walker – Declan Hurst Capital City Basshunters 0
Day 1: 4 06-04 Total: 4 06-04
60. Charles Tillberg – Tyger Whitman steinbrenner 0
Day 1: 4 06-03 Total: 4 06-03
61. Sailor Whitehead – Luke Bramhall Rileys. Catch 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
62. Logan Withrow – Braden Crumley Chilhowee Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 05-13 Total: 2 05-13
63. Carson Aarup – Kyle Smith Downeast Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 05-11 Total: 5 05-11
64. Trey Woliver – Brandon Ward Heritage High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
65. Carson Falk – Eli Mcdaniel Capital City Bass Hunters 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
66. Cole Edwards – Seth Stubblefield DAR High School 0
Day 1: 5 05-09 Total: 5 05-09
67. Jack Hay – Jakob Stamper howell high school 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Total: 3 05-06
68. Laindree Richardson – Gannon Stork Benton High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
69. Drew Walters – Jacob Gilliard Apopka High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Total: 3 05-05
70. Cooper Hughes – Raymond Sanderfer West port high school 0
Day 1: 2 05-04 Total: 2 05-04
71. Jace Akers – Cody Mullis Palatka High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
72. Kaitlyn Johnson – Amber Rourks Columbia High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Total: 2 05-03
73. Austin Young – Jared Bullock Highlands County Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 05-02 Total: 3 05-02
74. Caleb Hammock – Carter Herndon Stalvey plant city bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 05-00 Total: 4 05-00
75. Jacob Hodge – Henry Garett Greenbrier Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
76. Nick Claussen – Central Florida Youth Anglers Hi 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
76. Langston Martin – Coleman Mezick Lee County Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
78. Carter Pjesky – JD McBroom Kaneland High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
79. Cayman Scott – Cooper Shaffett Central High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
80. Tyson Verkaik – Claude Loftin Marion County High School Bassma 0
Day 1: 1 04-06 Total: 1 04-06
81. Chase Woodham – Carson Deloney Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-03 Total: 3 04-03
82. Owen Hershberger – Wyatt Giddens Sebring High School 0
Day 1: 3 03-15 Total: 3 03-15
83. Jacob Anderson – Zander Marroquin Hendry County Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Total: 2 03-12
84. Hunter Turner – Felix Flores LaBelle High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-10 Total: 2 03-10
85. Cayden Redd – Jack Helms Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 3 03-08 Total: 3 03-08
86. Charlie Mathis – Sheltin Varnon Dixie county high school 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
86. Cassie Mcnutt – Mason Melton Mt Juliet High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
88. Jaxon Melancon – Fletcher Brasington Headland High School 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Total: 1 03-05
89. Talan Leith – Bryson Glover Chapman High School 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
90. Brody Shepherd – Parker Myers Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Total: 2 02-15
90. Braden Watson – Logan Deloney Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Total: 2 02-15
92. Austin Mairena – Dylan Quilatan Seminole County High School Angl 0
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
93. Brantley Tate – Tyler Covington Walker High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
94. Will Travis – Colton Teffer Rhea County High 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
95. Wayland Adkisson – Clayton George BGA High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Total: 2 02-10
96. Drake Middleton – Riverside high school 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
97. Barrett Choquette – Hayden Buchanan Headland High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
98. Jabe Herring – Zibe McKenzie Dixie County High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-03 Total: 2 02-03
99. Austin Benson – Brendan Brown Mount Juliet 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
100. Evan Powell – Kolby Angell Iowa youth fishing league 0
Day 1: 2 01-10 Total: 2 01-10
101. Max Himmel – Tyler Morris Catholic High School of Baton Ro 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
101. Cade Walock – Brady Smith Central High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
103. Briar Dodson – Chris Fallon Gardendale High 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
104. Nathan Bennett – Johnathan Clark Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
104. Ben Puckett – Jesse Klutts Henry County High School (236) 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
106. Brentlea Rodgers – Logan Evans Soddy Daisy High School (552) 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Total: 1 00-13
107. Kyle Beasley – George Jenkins HS 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Tyler Boston – Devin Gonzalez Columbia High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Bryce Dimauro – Justin Lawrence Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Wyatt Drawdy – Tyson Griffin plant city bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Latt Durrance – Zack Zainitzer Okeechobee High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Rylan Green – Alex Bradley Chapman High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Mason Grose – Sailor McKinney Nicholas County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Bryson Hatcher – Harlyn Nelson Wb 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jason Haynes – Isaac Dorland Marion County Youth Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Nolan Holloway – Jackson Fanning Morgan county high school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Eddie Hook – Evan Naile South Lake High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Ben Howard – Jason Burchfield Southwestern High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Caleb Jackson – Evrett Hunter Nassau Christian Bass Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Mo Katz – Conner Fair Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Ryder Krueger – Carson Yero parrish community high school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Tyler Loudon – Dylan Kreps Johnston High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jack Myers – Joseph Cotromano Nassau Christian 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Riley North – Karson Peterman Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jace Patton – Spencer White Rhea Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jack Peeler – Cole Davis Tampa Bay Junior Bass Club (338) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Bracky Pfeuffer – Logan Tennant Tampa Bay Highschool 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Ryan Quinn – Gary Ray Auburndale High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Cole Rountree – Cooper Bishman Central Florida Youth Anglers (6 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Gabriel Sanders – Colby Sloan Chilhowee Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Chance Shelby – Live Oak High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Houston Snell – Logan Kirkland Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Parker Stalvey – Jacob Deel Clay High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Conner Swindle – Max Lofton Clewiston High school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Lane Vitelli – Quentin Silas Plant City High School (495) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Robert Warwick – Honor Parker Flanders Palatka High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Cambre Webb – Dakota Skipper Silliman Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Tanner Wolf – Kyle Grieshaber Central Florida youth anglers (4 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Aaron Woodard – Levi Reynolds Auburndale High school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Benjamin Hester Spring City, TN 09-07 $0.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 39 364 803-14