It was a cloudy, cold and tough day at Summersville today for the 2023 BASS Nation of West Virginia State Championship.
But that was no match for Alex Goff from Clendenin, West Virginia who weighed a two day total of 13.43 pounds to take home the 2023 BASS Nation of West Virginia State Championship.
“This is an achievement I have been working towards for a long time, and I’m so grateful that I had to opportunity to fish today,” said the new State Champion. “It means so much that I’m able to get out there with my son and wife always cheering me on as well as my parents who never stopped supporting my goal.”
Goff who is also a Bassmaster Junior World Champion claims it wasn’t easy out there on the Summersville impoundment as he only weighed in nine fish over two days but it was enough to take the win.
“My key pattern was fishing wind blown points. I knew the cold front would make Day 2 tough, so I locked a few key baits in my hand to grind through the day.
“I had a lot of momentum coming into the day at fourth place,” Goff said. “My pattern held up early and I had four fish in the box by 11:00 A.M. I lost a big bite that would’ve gave me a limit then struggled to get anything else going the rest of the day.”
But 13.43 pounds was enough to win the Championship and he punched his ticket to the 2024 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in which he’ll compete for a Bassmaster Classic berth and potentially an Bassmaster Elite Series bid.
“This is an opportunity I have dreamed about after watching fellow West Virginia fishermen and family move on to Nationals,” said the Clendenin native. “I am excited that it’s finally my time to compete for a chance to make the Bassmaster Classic. I’d like to thank BASS Nation of West Virginia for putting on such a great tournament.”
Top 12 finishers below will advance to the 2024 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
1. Alex Goff – 13.43
2. Tony Keller – 12.63
3. Josh Milam – 12.14
4. Josh Workman – 11.97
5. Tyler Webb – 11.40
6. Marty McClanahan – 10.62
7. Caleb Harper – 10.22
8. John Paul Peters – 10.21
9. Ben Nowalk – 10.10
10. Billy Payne – 9.90
11. Mark Moran – 9.49
12. Michael Batten – 8.88
