LAKE HARTWELL, S.C. (WSPA) – Lake Hartwell is getting a lot of attention this week as more than 400 teams compete in the High School Fishing Tournament at Green Pond Landing Events Center.
“We have three teams from Zimbabwe and we have people from as far away as California, Maine, the Dakotas and Washington state. This event reaches far and wide,” Neil Paul said.
The Sanders family came all the way from Arkansas to support their son and his team.
“We’re anxious, we’re nervous, we’re all confused. We want them to do well. We don’t know what they’re capable of until they come to the weigh-in,” said Shana and Nathan Sanders.
Organizers said $3 million in scholarships and other prizes are on offer.
“It really gives our anglers a great opportunity to go wherever they want, to college and beyond, and as a parent, it’s a blessing,” Sanders said. “That’s why we have a lot of international teams come here to compete – it’s a chance to earn a scholarship to a university in the U.S.”
Neil Paul with Anderson Tourism said these tournaments boost the county’s economy.
“We had survey data and information from past events, the average angler spends an average of $250 a day in our community, and that’s lodging, food, etc. You add it all together and you add to that the number of people that are here and the number of days they’re staying, because for most people this is a vacation,” Paul said.
Paul said this wasn’t just a fishing tournament.
“It’s an opportunity to come out here and socialise and the opportunities for young people in the fishing industry right now are really endless,” Paul said.
Saturday, June 22nd is the final day of the tournament.
Tomorrow the top 20 teams from the World Championships and the top 10 teams from the National Championships will fish for the championship.
