The BBZ JC Big Bass Zone Junior Championship History

Exhibit table at the Big Bass Zone Junior Championship World Finals displaying fishing gear and equipment from brands like Lowrance, Mercury, and MotorGuide, with a large banner overhead and various prizes and products arranged around the table.
Group of young racers and adults in a large room with a wooden wall background, standing in front of a banner that reads "Big Bass Zone Junior Championship" and "Bassmaster," posing for a photo, many wearing colorful race jerseys and masks.
Group of young people, mostly teenagers, on stage at a junior championship bass fishing event, some wearing fishing jerseys and caps, with a large banner in the background displaying event logos and sponsors.

The Big Bass Zone Junior Championship: Building Champions, One Cast at a Time

The Dream That Changed Youth Fishing Forever

In 2019, legendary angler and Freshwater Fishing Hall of Famer Bill Siemantel had a vision that would revolutionize youth bass fishing. As a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department and a tournament champion with over 500 bass over 10 pounds to his name, Siemantel understood that the future of the sport depended on creating opportunities for the next generation. The Big Bass Zone Junior Championship (BBZJC) was born not as another elite tournament, but as a true grassroots movement that would democratize competitive fishing for young anglers across America.

"I just wanted it to be all about our future, the youth," Bill reflected. "My goal was to do something special and try to give back to the next generation of anglers and their families"

2019: The Inaugural Event That Started It All

On October 18-19, 2019, 46 of the finest high school and college anglers from 44 states gathered at The Willows Club in Priest River, Idaho for the inaugural Big Bass Zone Junior Championship presented by Bassmaster

The event represented an unprecedented approach to youth tournament fishing—an online qualification system that allowed any young angler with a fishing rod, camera, and email address to compete.

The format was revolutionary: anglers ages 13-19 could fish their home waters from January through August, submitting photos of their catches to a virtual leaderboard. The angler with the heaviest bass in each state earned a spot in the national championship. As Bill explained, "They can qualify by fishing from the bank, from a kayak or from a bass boat in every sort of fishery you can imagine"

The true victory went far beyond the weigh-in scales. The event had amassed over $350,000 in prizes, including $140,000 in scholarships to Bethel University and a fully rigged Bass Cat Margay boat package valued at over $35,000

What made the event truly special was its family-centered approach.

"The BBZ JC is a family event, where cherished life-long memories are made!" Bill noted

The tournament recognized that behind every young angler stood dedicated parents, grandparents, and mentors who made their fishing dreams possible.

2020: Growing Stronger Through Adversity

Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, the 2020 BBZJC returned even stronger. Fifty-two anglers from 47 states converged on Idaho's Pend Oreille River on October 2-3, proving that passion for fishing couldn't be quarantined.

Carter Doren, a 16-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, captured the championship with a 4.35-pound largemouth, redeeming himself from a fishless performance the previous year

"I am in shock," the young angler gasped when he realized he won, nearly falling to his knees on the weigh-in stage

The 2020 event showcased the tournament's growing prestige. Doren's victory was one of four tournaments he won that season, and he would go on to be named to the prestigious Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team

The prize package exceeded $350,000, featuring the Bass Cat Margay boat, Mercury outboard, and scholarships from Bethel University

Brock Wadkins, a Kansas freshman who finished sixth, perfectly captured the event's impact: "My experience... was absolutely amazing. From getting to meet new people, meeting my sponsor, all the new friends I have made and traveling to new places. The energy that was not only put in by everyone but the positive energy that everyone put off. This tournament left such a positive impact on me and many others"

2021: The Culmination of a Vision

The 2021 championship represented the pinnacle of Bill Siemantel's dream. Fifty-four elite young anglers from across the country qualified for the world finals held October 30 on Missouri's Lake Taneycomo

The field included 11 anglers who had competed in the Bassmaster High School National Championship and seven members of the Bassmaster High School All-State Team

Evan Cox, a senior from Windsor High School in Colorado, topped the talented field to claim the final championship title

His victory earned him a grand prize package worth $65,000+, including the fully loaded 2021 BassCat Margay and a treasure trove of gear, scholarships, and fishing trips

The tournament had become a proven pathway to success. Carter Doren returned as a previous champion and All-American. Trey McKinney from Illinois, who had competed in the 2019 event, was now establishing himself as one of the most decorated young anglers in the country. Banks Shaw from Tennessee, another 2019 participant, had won the 2021 Bassmaster High School National Championship and was building his collegiate fishing career at the University of North Alabama.

The Young Guns Making History

The true measure of the BBZJC's success lies in the achievements of its alumni. These weren't just tournament winners—they were future professional anglers whose careers launched from Bill Siemantel's vision:

Trey McKinney (Illinois): After competing in the 2019 BBZJC, Trey became the first angler to win both B.A.S.S. and FLW Junior Championships in the same year. He has since become a Bassmaster Elite champion, 2x Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, and multiple championship winner

“Trey McKinney and mentor Rick Cheatham crowned Bass Cat Classic champions" on the storied waters of Lake Chickamauga

Banks Shaw (Tennessee): The 2019 BBZJC participant grew up on the banks of Lake Chickamauga and went on to win the 2021 Bassmaster High School National Championship. Now a junior at the University of North Alabama, he's become a rising star in college fishing and Yamaha Power Pay beneficiary, winning "tens of thousands of dollars" through the program. His old-school approach and deep knowledge of his home waters exemplify the BBZJC spirit.

Carter Doren (Nevada): The 2020 BBZJC champion transformed his life with that 4.35-pound largemouth. He became a Bassmaster High School All-American, 2020 Co-Angler of the Year for Nevada Bass Anglers, and in 2024 won the MLF College National Championship

"Winning Bill Siemantel's 2020 Big Bass Zone Junior Championship holds a very special place in my heart," Carter reflected

Evan Cox (Colorado): The 2021 champion topped a field of 54 elite anglers from across the country, earning a $65,000+ prize package and cementing his place as one of the nation's top high school anglers

The Unprecedented Industry Impact

The BBZJC accomplished something unprecedented in the fishing industry: it brought together competing manufacturers in unified support of youth fishing. As Bill's team noted, "Competing manufacturers provided just over $400,000.00, another industry first"

Major sponsors included:

  • Bass Cat Boats and B.A.S.S. as presenting sponsors

  • Bethel University offering up to $140,000 in scholarships

  • Anglers Inn International providing championship venue and fishing trips

  • Mercury, Lowrance, MotorGuide, Power-Pole outfitting championship boats

  • St. Croix Rods, AFTCO, Daiwa, Humminbird, Minn Kota providing premium gear

The tournament removed traditional barriers that prevented many kids from competing. There was no need for expensive boats or equipment—just a fishing rod, phone camera, and passion for the sport. This leveled the playing field, allowing bank anglers and kayak fishermen to compete against those with high-performance bass boats

The Heart Behind the Championship

What made the BBZJC truly special was Bill Siemantel's personal commitment. As a firefighter at Station 114, Bill worked tirelessly day and night organizing the event, often with help from his LAFD Swift Rescue Team members who volunteered their time and boats

Captain Tim Foor, Captain Thomas Henzgen, Paramedic Geoffrey Balchowsky, and others served as the BBZJC Sentinels, ensuring safety while supporting the kids' dreams

"I just wanted it to be all about our future, the youth," Bill said. "My goal was to do something special and try to give back to the next generation of anglers and their families"

The event was built on 100% giveback to the kids and their families. Every dollar raised, every sponsor contribution, every volunteer hour went directly to creating opportunities for young anglers. This model, while incredibly impactful, also made the event unsustainable for anyone else to replicate.

The Bittersweet End of an Era

After the 2021 championship, Bill Siemantel faced serious health issues that made it impossible for him to continue the massive undertaking. The BBZJC wasn't just a tournament—it was a year-round commitment of organizing, fundraising, coordinating with sponsors, managing state qualifications, and producing a world-class championship experience.

Bill reached out to others in the industry, hoping someone would take up the mantle. But the scope was simply too massive. As he shared with those close to him, the project was "too big for even some of the biggest sponsors" because of his commitment to giving 100% back to the participants. Traditional tournament models couldn't match the BBZJC's structure without sacrificing its grassroots integrity.

In the end, Bill had to make the difficult decision to sunset the championship.

"Though I was unable to continue to change the world for all, I was able to change the world for a great few," he reflected. The bittersweet truth was that while the BBZJC couldn't continue indefinitely, its impact would resonate forever through the young lives it transformed.

A Legacy That Lives On

The Big Bass Zone Junior Championship may have run for only three short years, but its legacy is immeasurable. It created a model for true grassroots tournament fishing, proved that bank anglers could compete with boaters, and built a pipeline that launched the careers of tomorrow's professional anglers.

The event gave young anglers more than prizes—it gave them confidence, national exposure, college opportunities, and lifelong memories with their families. It showed the fishing industry what true collaboration could achieve when everyone rows in the same direction for the sake of the sport's future.

Today, Trey McKinney competes at the highest levels of professional bass fishing. Banks Shaw continues his rise through college fishing ranks. Carter Doren adds to his impressive resume of victories. And countless other BBZJC alumni carry forward the lessons, relationships, and passion they gained through Bill Siemantel's vision.

The BBZJC proved that one person's dream, backed by incredible sponsors and friends, could truly change the world—even if just for a great few. And sometimes, that's exactly how the biggest changes begin.

For more information about the Big Bass Zone Junior Championship legacy, visit www.thebbz.com or contact Bill Siemantel at bill@thebbz.com.