Two years ago Remington Wagner was asked to join the local Kansas BASS Federation Nation youth bass fishing club — the Puddle Jumpers.
Last Sunday, Wagner turned his “hobby” into a state championship. Wagner won the 2012 Kansas BASS Federation Nation Junior Division Youth State Championship, ages 11-14.
“It’s great,” Wagner told the Register. “I had been fishing since I was little bitty, then two years ago Melvin Smoot asked if I wanted to join the bass club.”
Wagner, who is 13 and an eighth-grader at Yates Center, won his state title at Banner Creek Lake near Holton. On a cool day on the lake, Wagner hooked five fish weighing in at 11.57 pounds.
Wagner also took the “big bass” award for the state tournament. He had one bass that weighed in at 4.44 pounds.
“I really don’t have any secrets to fishing. I used a plastic worm Sunday. I’ve had pretty good luck with plastic worms,” Wagner said.
Wagner competed in four tournaments this season and won three of them.
The 2012 KBFN Youth State Champion in the Senior Division was Nick Luna of Kick Back Club, Olathe. He had five fish weighing 11.65 pounds.
Wagner is qualified to compete in the BASS Federation Nation Central Divisional Tournament in Texas next summer.
If he does well there, he will advance to the Bassmaster Junior World Championship.
“I’m looking forward to competing with the state team in Texas next summer,” Wagner said. “It’s pretty cool.”
He is the son of Bryson and Shelly Wagner of Yates Center.
