The third and final day of Eastern Divisional competition kicks off Friday morning with a 7 o’clock takeoff from Northville State Boat Launch in Northville. Tomorrow’s weigh-in will also be held there beginning at 3 p.m.

JOHNSTOWN, N.Y. – Competition on day two of The Bass Federation Eastern Divisional championship on Great Lake Sacandaga was so tight it made yesterday’s crowded leaderboard look wide open in comparison. Currently, two state leaders are tied for the overall lead, with a third state leader just 2 ounces behind them. 

Standing side by side atop the overall weight list are yesterday’s overall leader Jim Gildea of Weston, Mass., and Thomas Derocher of Bridgewater, Mass., with two-day catches of 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 3 ounces. Their catches are strikingly similar, as Derocher caught 11-8 yesterday and 12-11 today while Gildea caught 12-10 yesterday and 11-9 today. If the tournament ended today, Derocher would win the $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer because he currently boasts the heaviest one-day catch of the pair, but for now, the race remains all tied up.

However, Derocher’s lead atop the Rhode Island state team and Gildea’s Massachusetts state lead are of higher importance. This week’s Eastern Divisional features 72 anglers on six state teams, and the No. 1 angler from each state team at the conclusion of this week’s event will advance to the 2008 TBF National Championship as a boater. Each state’s runner-up will advance to the championship as a co-angler. The six states competing in the Eastern Divisional are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

In the state standings Vermont is in command working toward back to back Eastern Divisional champion titles, Massachusetts sets in second 10 pounds back.

For the detailed story and who the top anglers are from each state that are vying for the Championship slots in the 2008 TBF Federation National Championship, written by FLW's onsite editor Jennfier Simmons, Click Here 

For compete final standings, click here.

Eastern Division Championship Final Report

2007 TBF Eastern Division Championship is in the books. All week limit of fish after limit of fish were brought to the scales......most of them about 10 pounds. Everyone knew it would be a close call right to the end. The fish in Lake Great Sacendga did not disappoint.

Vermont led the team standings the first two days, however Massachusetts made a significant run at them today on the final day. It was not until the final Vermont angler weighed in did they secure their second division championship title in as many years. Only 3 pounds separated the two when it was all done.

In the individual overall again it was the very last angler who weighed in who upset the standing when Maine’s Bryan Mooney weighed in the weeks biggest limit of 15.00 including two very nice largemouth. It was what he needed to take over the top spot in Maine as well as win the 2007 Eastern Division Castrol Maximum Performer award.

For full details on which 12 anglers are on their way to next April's $235,000.00 TBF Federation National Championship written by FLW's onsite editor Jennfier Simmons Click Here

For compete final standings, Click Here

For Immediate Release

Mike Hoffman VP/Media Director

For Immediate Release

The Bass Federation, (TBF) announces its new TBF Web Services! TBF has now made it easier than ever for new clubs to join or for existing clubs to submit and update your club rosters both with your home state and with TBF, it is one stop shopping!

It is very easy!

Go online to www.bassfederation.com then to "member stuff" on the main menu bar There you will find a link to TBF’s new “online roster management system” simply click the link to go to the new and completely secure www.tbfwebservices.com site where you can submit new rosters for new clubs, update existing rosters, and maintain your clubs roster! All by a click of your mouse.

TBF understands the need to keep your information confidential and protected, so the www.tbfwebservices.com site is secure. No need to worry about your information getting loose. Only the club administrator that YOU determine and your home state federation administrator will be able to see or access it.

State and club administrators can now readily see membership data at a real-time mode and make changes instantly. Email address’s, and all other contact information for clubs and members can be maintained and updated all year long!

New member clubs can also join TBF online by clicking on the "Join today" logo on our website as well!
For all clubs, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. Click any link on www.bassfederation.com that says “TBF Online Roster management”, or log on directly towww.tbfwebservices.com
2. Fill out the club registration information on the home page.
3. TBF verifies and approves the account and will send you back your password.
That’s it!
If you were a TBF club in 2007 your club roster is already there online waiting for you! You simply edit and update!
If your a new TBF club just joining simply log back on with your new password and enter your club data, then follow it with a check for your dues, a copy of your invoice and your all set!
Your administrator should be the individual responsible for updating rosters and should have a viable email address with access to the internet. Once the club registration form is filled out TBF receives a notice that a club has requested to set up an account with our system. For security reasons TBF will then verify the individual and information associated with the club and activate the account. Approval time can take 2-3 days but it is usually very quick, within 24 hours.
Log-on now and get your roster update started. Today is a great time since all the rosters for 2008 need to be in by the end of the year - so do it TODAY!

The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 30 years. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call 580-765-9031.

TBF Living The Dream Angler Brian Travis – A TBF “Dream Come True”

Photo by Brett Carlson

The date was April 26, 2008. Brian Travis, a TBF angler from Conover, NC. And the North Carolina TBF Bass Federation had just finished weigh-in in at the 2008 Federation National Championship. Travis had just won the event, the $100,000.00 prize package; The cash, and TBF Living the Dream package that goes with it.
    Every sports fan and human being for that matter has had a dream at one time or the other. Everyone should “dream” of a goal to achieve, fame and fortune, to be the best at whatever you do, is something that everyone should strive for. Travis set himself upon that path last April. By winning that event, Travis will not only fish as a full time, fully sponsored, Pro on the FLW Tour in 2009, but secured a spot in this years $2 million dollar Forrest Wood Cup.
That’s where we are at now, here in Columbia, South Carolina, among thousands of fishing fans, watching a TBF angler. Travis is a guy just like you, who loves to fish as much as he can, who has a family and a full time job, who fished his way through his local club and his state, and earned the right to live his dream. The dream of tens of thousands of grassroots anglers nationwide.
Travis, is fishing well, very well, and has made the top ten final cut, he is on Lake Murray fishing right now, competing in the first of two final days, for a very real shot at THE title in all of bass fishing. The title of “2008 Forrest Wood Cup Champion”, and his share of the richest tournament payout in fishing history that goes with it.  
Call it a “Cinderella story”, “rags to riches”, call it whatever you want. Brian Travis has put himself into a position to win it all……and if he does not catch another fish, (which he will), he is living his dream, and the dreams of thousands just like him.
Whatever it is, live your dreams.


    You can follow Brian live today and tomorrow starting at 5pm by watching the weigh-in on flwoutdoors.com or FLWLIVE.com
    If you are anywhere near Columbia, SC. The best advice is, get here, dreams are coming true.

Michigan's Mike Modrak, 

from China Township, MI, weighed-in a impressive sack of smallmouth today that tipped the scales at 22-4 to take the day 1 lead in the TBF Northern Division Championship. Modrak's sack not only anchored his state team and placed Michigan solidly into the lead over the other northern division states that are competing in the St. Clair\Detroit river contest, it also contained the days big bass, a 6-3 giant. (Pictured above).

Modrak, a local Ranger boat rep who qualifed through the Michigan TBF Federation for the event, staked out a solid day bag but he was very aware that a 23 pound bag could come in at anytime to unseat him. It did not happen today. Closest angler to him was Wisconsin's Nickolas Smyers who brought 21-11 to the scales.

There were 5 bags over 20 pounds that crossed the scales today with only 7 anglers in the field not able to post a weight today. All fish were released alive back into the lake.

State Team standings shaped up like this: 

Michigan is leading with 160-6, which is nearly a 35 pound over second place Indiana and the reigning Division champs. 35 pounds sounds like a lot but late in the weighin Michigan held a 60 pound lead and Indiana was able to close the gap......two more days to go.

Sitting in third palce is the team from Ohio at 102-13, fourth is Wisconsin with 98-9. Minnesota and Illinois are fifth and six  with 94-14 and 89-12 respectively.

For a full story by our partners website at flwoutdoors.com Click here

For complete standings  Click here.

Day 2 weigh in begins tomorrow, Thursday, at the Selfridge DNR ramp. It is free to the public.

Cummings Wins!

Friday September 12, 2008 - Clinton Township, Michigan
 

After three full days of official practice and the first two tournament days with clear skies and Lake St Clair’s expansive waters as flat as a sheet of glass, Mother Nature sent a reminder to the Northern Division Championship anglers today that she was still in full control. Wind and rain greeted the anglers on today’s final day and forced many of them to scramble in order to perform at their maximum.

 The “Maximum Performer” proved to be Michigan’s Derek Cummings.  Cummings had a taste of the TBF National Championship in 2007 and he was committed and focused on making a return trip in 2009. As the division champion he not only earned a spot in the championship he also earned the CASTROL Maximum Performer $500.00 cash bonus award.

 Cummings weighed in 19-00 today, his smallest bag this week, but it was enough to keep him in the top spot in the race for the individual Division Champions title. His overall weight was 63-01 for the event.  Finishing in second place was Indiana’s Todd Kuhn. Kuhn, on the other hand weighed in his biggest bag of the week that tipped the scales at 22-15, it propelled him into the second place spot in the individual overall.

 The top two anglers from each of the six TBF northern division states qualify for the March 2009 TBF National Championship on Bull Shoals lake Missouri. The top angler will fish the event as the boater and the second place angler as a co-angler.

 In the state standings, the Michigan 12-man team put on a clinic by taking the lead on day 1 and never looking back, expanding their lead every day, to finish with 473-07.  Indiana, the reigning champions challenged them briefly on day 1 but had to give up the Division Champions Cup Michigan to hold for the year, finishing a distant second with 387-12.

 There was also quite a gap between second and third, nearly 100 pounds. As Wisconsin pushed hard but wound up third with 295-14, Ohio finished fourth with 294-01, Illinois settled in at fifth with 283-03 and Minnesota finished sixth with 263 even.

For a full story on the event written on our partner’s website at flwoutdoors.com  Click here

For full standings, including the top two from each state that qualified for the 2009 TBF Federation National Championship  Click here

Lake Winnipesaukee to host TBF Eastern Divisional

Seven state teams to compete Sept. 17-19

Local angler Diaco assumes TBF Eastern Divisional lead

By Jennifer Simmons - 18.Sep.2008

GILFORD, N.H. – The wind blew a little harder today on Lake Winnipesaukee for day two of The Bass Federation Eastern Divisional, and competitors couldn’t adjust enough to best local angler John Diaco of Rochester, N.H., who took the lead with a two-day catch of 27 pounds, 14 ounces.

Diaco’s catch helped push the New Hampshire team further ahead in the race among the states, as New Hampshire’s 12 team members have caught 232 pounds, 1 ounce of bass over two days to continue their lead in that all-important contest. TBF awards cash prizes to the state teams based on total caught over the tournament’s three days. New Hampshire’s day-two performance put them ahead of current No. 2 Massachusetts by 26 pounds, 9 ounces.

Seven 12-man teams are competing in this week’s Eastern Divisional, representing not only New Hampshire and Massachusetts but also Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Each state team’s winner after tomorrow’s final weigh-in will advance to the 2009 TBF National Championship as a boater, while each team’s runner-up will advance to the nationals as a co-angler.

Diaco puts local knowledge to the test

This week’s overall winner will earn a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer, and Diaco’s day-two catch of 15 pounds, 12 ounces put him ahead in that race by a 1-pound, 6-ounce margin. He leads the New Hampshire team by 3 pounds, 13 ounces.

“I got blown off my smallmouth today,” Diaco said. “At 11 o’clock I had two 12-inch fish, but then I went to a new area for largemouths and within an hour and a half had a limit.”

Diaco grabbed the lead today pitching a jig with a Sweet Beaver trailer in 5 feet of water. Despite his day-two success, he’s hoping Mother Nature deals a little more kindly tomorrow.

“I’d like the wind to lay down a little tomorrow so I can try to catch a limit of smallmouths early,” he said.

This is Diaco’s second appearance in divisional competition, and should he finish first or second in New Hampshire tomorrow and thus advance to the TBF National Championship, it would be a dream come true.

“I’d love it,” he said. “I put a lot of work into this one by prefishing all-new water, looking for largemouths. This is my home lake.”

Gildea holds on to Massachusetts lead

In second place overall and first in Massachusetts is Jim Gildea of Weston, Mass. Gildea held on to his Massachusetts lead with a day-two catch of 13 pounds, 8 ounces that brought his two-day total to 26-8. That puts him ahead on his state team by a healthy 5 pounds, 2 ounces.

Gildea’s continued success didn’t seem inevitable as he started the day.

“At 11 o’clock, I had two decent fish and two rats,” he said. “I started to think, ‘Maybe today it isn’t going to happen.’ Then I went to a pocket and saw a large arch on my Lowrance. I dropped on it, and it was almost in slow motion. My line went to the side, and I pulled up and felt good head shakes. It was the 3-2, which was my biggest bass.”

Hogue still on top in Maine

The leader of the Maine team remained unchanged a second day, as Laurence Hogue of Kennebunk, Maine, continues to lead thanks to a two-day catch of 24 pounds, 4 ounces that has him in third place overall. He leads his state team by a 3-pound, 3-ounce margin.

“Today was a lot slower but I was able to get out of the wind,” Hogue said. “I caught seven keepers and stayed with the drop-shot.”

Hogue has his doubts about his hot spots but remains fairly optimistic about his final-day chances.

“It seems like my fish are getting dry, but hopefully I’ll be able to catch them again on the same spots tomorrow,” he said.

Gagner catches them in spite of the wind

Retaining his lead on the Vermont team is Gilbert Gagner of Highgate Springs, Vt. His 11-pound, 4-ounce day-two catch brought his two-day total to 23 pounds, 10 ounces, which leads Vermont by 2 pounds, 2 ounces.

“The fishing picked up a bit on the spinnerbait today, and I caught eight fish on it early, but then I culled all of them on a drop-shot,” Gagner said. “I couldn’t fish my traditional topwater pattern because of the wind, so I went to backup water with the spinnerbait and drop-shot.”

Although those presentations served him well today, Gagner is hoping to return tomorrow to his trusty topwater.

“I am going back to my original plan with the topwater bait with the goal of catching 12 pounds,” he said.

Rest of the best

Sitting in the eighth spot overall and first on the Rhode Island squad is Mike Mantha of Charlton, Mass., with a two-day catch of 22 pounds, 6 ounces.

Taking the lead on the Connecticut team is Christopher Blanc of Cos Cob, Conn. His two-day catch of 16 pounds, 14 ounces leads his team by 10 ounces.

Rob Lamoy of Chazy, N.Y., continues to lead the New York team with a two-day catch of 13 pounds, 6 ounces. His day-two catch of 4 pounds, 13 ounces was only enough to secure him a 2-ounce lead heading into the final day.

Competitors will take off at 7 a.m. EST tomorrow from the Silver Sands Marina located in Gilford. The final weigh-in, followed by a check and trophy presentation, will also take place tomorrow at Silver Sands beginning at 3 p.m.

Diaco wins TBF Eastern on his home lake

New Hampshire team wins race among the states

By Jennifer Simmons - 19.Sep.2008

TBF Mid-Atlantic Divisional set for Lake Erie

Best young anglers in the world set to compete.

For Immediate Release – August 14, 2008
Columbia, SC.

The top two anglers from each of the TBF’s State Federations Junior Angler program converged on Columbia, SC today to vie for the title of “Junior World Champions” and their share of over $40,000.00 in scholarship money and youth program grants.  
    Anglers from two age group, 11-14 and 15-18 will make up the field of 78 TBF Junior state champions that competed locally in their home state, finished as the top anglers there and earned a spot in the worlds most prestigious youth outdoors event, the National Guard Junior World Championship.  
It is hard to tell who is more nervous, the TBF Junior anglers or their parents, but after a full day today, they are all ready to start fishing.
    The contender’s day started out with a sponsor welcome where TBF sponsors “loaded up” the junior anglers with a small mountain of goodies for them to take home. Then it was off to a group of seminars for the kids. At a luncheon today the Junior anglers met their FLW Tour Pro angler partners, attended the FLW Family Fun Zone with them and set their game plans for Fridays competition day on nearby Lake Monticello.  The juniors will weigh-in Friday at Columbia’s downtown Colonial Center Arena, on the Forrest Wood Cup main stage. You can catch the action live on the internet at 2:30pm EST by logging on to www.flwoutdoors.com and click on FLW LIVE.

    If you are in the surrounding Columbia, SC area, come out and cheer the TBF Juniors anglers on in person at the Colonial Center Arena. Admission to all activities, including the FLW Family Fun Zone, the National Guard Junior Anglers World Championship, and the Forrest Wood Cup weigh-ins are free to the public each day.

Win their age group in the 2009 National Guard TBF Junior World Championship

TBF Northern Division Day 1

TBF Northern Division Day 1 story.

 Fort Madison, Iowa rolls out the red carpet for TBF Northern Division Anglers.

Ohio’s Tony Waugh leads individual overall standings, while defending Northern Division Champions from Michigan lead the state standings to show they are serious about keeping the Division Cup in the “Great Lakes State”.

 Day 1 weigh-in started out looking like Indiana would lead day 1 as they were on top for much of the first half of the weigh-in, but Michigan and the rest of the northern division states would have none of it.   There were only 5 limits of fish weighed in on a tough day 1 of the TBF Northern Division Championship. And Michigan weighed in 3 of them, Wisconsin weighed one of them and Ohio the other….and there you have the top three teams. Michigan leads with 69 pounds 14ounces, Wisconsin sits in Second at 48-06 and Ohio with a late flight push holds down the third place slot with 46-13. The rest of the field is stacked in there fairly close. The host state of Illinois has 44-03 good enough for fourth, 41-09 is fifth place and that was Minnesota, Indiana went from 1 to sixth in the blink of a flight so to speak and winds up in sixth place with 30-08. The good or bad news I guess depending on what place your in is that the fishing on the Mississippi is a little “off” right now, the river is as low as it has been in some time and there are two more days left, so it is still anyone’s game, although it would appear that it is Michigan’s game to lose as they have a decent lead on their way to back to back division Championship titles.

Five bass limits were few and far between, as stated above there were only five of them total among the 72 championship anglers. The day’s biggest limit belonged to a bag containing four smallmouth and one largemouth brought to the scales by Ohio angler Tony Waugh, his limit locked the scales in at 12-12 and placed Waugh into the individual overall lead which he carries into day two.

The first limit of the day showed up to the stage when Michigan angler Tommy Robinson, brought up his 12-05  bag, good enough anchor him solidly in the team lead for Michigan.  Michigan teammate Derek Cummings had one of the day’s limits and he sits in third place behind Robinson. Right behind Cummings is another Michigan teammate who is in the fourth place spot with limit number four of the day that weighed 9-03 and it belonged to Leo Reiter.  Minnesota team captain Lanny Isensee managed four fish today but it was enough to land him in fifth leading the Minnesota team with 8-14. “Home lake” is not all it is cracked up to be and the mighty Mississippi was tough on many of the host state anglers, but Lee Lewis from Peoria, Illinois figured something out and weighed 4 fish for 8-06 to secure his state lead and the sixth place overall spot.   The fifth and final limit of the day was weighed in by Wisconsin angler James Tomsovic, which of course put him into his state’s leading spot and seventh overall with 8-04. Two more days to go!

Check out the full standings on our standings page by clicking here.

Weigh-in’s begin each day this week at 3pm CST at Captains Kirks Marina, they are free to the public.

Seventy anglers representing 35 states fishing for a share of $42,000 in scholarships and grants

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (August 5, 2007) – Shane Lehew, 18, of Charlotte, N.C., and Dylan Peppers, 13, of Good Hope, Ga., are the National Guard Junior World Champions after two days of competition on Lake Hamilton. Held in conjunction with the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup on nearby Lake Ouachita, the National Guard Junior World Championship will award $42,000 in scholarships and youth-program grants to the top six competitors in the 11 to 14 age bracket and top six competitors in the 15 to 18 age bracket.

Lehew, from The Bass Federation’s Southern division, won the 15 to 18 age group with four bass weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces. He fished Sunday with Team National Guard pro Derek Jones of Chicago, Ill.

“This is a dream come true,” Lehew said. “It’s just an awesome feeling. I did the exact same thing I did yesterday.  Early in the morning I used topwater baits. Later in the day we fished shallow water near docks.

“Derek gave me a lot of great tips to better my fishing,” Lehew continued. “I can’t wait for what the future holds.” 

Rounding out the top six anglers in the 15 to 18 age group are Tyler Towers of Star City, Ark. (one fish, 1-9); Joseph Morse of Woodbury Heights, N.J. (zero fish); Sterling Pfundheller of Phoenix, Ariz. (zero fish); Cody Harris of Grand Blanc, Mich. (zero fish); and Nick Sampson of Gorham, Maine (zero fish).

Peppers, who also represents the TBF’s Southern division, won the 11 to 14 age bracket with three bass weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces.

“Today fishing with Lehew made me change the way I fish,” Peppers said. Yesterday I fished in shallow water near grass and today I fished near docks. I used a Zoom Horny Toad today to catch my bass. I hope to be back next year. What a great accomplishment.”

Rounding out the top six anglers in the 11 to 14 age group are Robert Ramasci of Wakefield, Maine (two bass, 2-12) Daniel Ruedi of Champaign, Ill. (one fish, 1-10); Ryan Taylor of Canyon Lake, Ca. (one fish, 1-10); Zach Whitten of Oceana W.V. (zero fish) and Connor Mendenhall of Omaha, Neb. (zero fish).

The junior anglers were paired with an FLW Tour pro for competition on Lake Hamilton. There are three anglers to a boat: a junior angler from each age group plus an FLW Tour pro who assists the junior anglers but does not fish. The two junior anglers shared control of the boat for the day but compete in their respective age groups on Saturday. Weights zero on Sunday and the top six anglers in the 11 to 14 age bracket and the top six anglers in the 15 to 18 age bracket continue competition, with the winners determined by the heaviest catch from that day.

Designed to highlight the best up-and-coming bass fishing talent in the country, the National Guard Junior World Championship also provides national recognition for the positive activities pursued by America’s youth.

First-place finishers in each age bracket receive a $5,000 scholarship in addition to a sponsor merchandise package. Second-place finishers receive $3,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Third-place finishers receive $2,500 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Fourth-place finishers receive $2,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Fifth-place finishers receive $1,500 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Sixth-place finishers receive $1,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages.

Additionally, FLW Outdoors, on behalf of the National Guard, awards $1,000 to each of the state TBF chapters represented by the six finalists in each age bracket. This money, totaling $12,000, benefits each chapter’s youth program.

For the detailed story and who the top division champions were and for compete final standings,<a href="http://tbf.flwoutdoors.com/tournamentTBF.cfm"> Click Here</a>

Gildea Leads Close Day One Eastern Divisional

Vermont leads team by 3 pounds 9 ounces over Massachusetts

 Jim Gildea from MA with 12-10 leads after day one by 2 ounces over Vic Bacon of Maine with 12-8. There were 60 limits on day one.

Vermont leads the team side with 121-1, Massachusetts is second with 117-7, Maine third with 112-14, New Hampsire is fourth wit 109-12, Conneticut is fifth with 106-4 and Rhode Island is sixth with 102-10. As you can see its anyones tournament to win.

Leaders by State
MA Jim Gildea 12-10
CT Steve Bender 11-14
ME Victor Bacon 12-8
NH Alan Denise 11-8
RI Tom Derosier 11-8
VT Tim Austin 11-8

For the detailed story and who the top anglers are from each state that are vying for the Championship slots in the 2008 TBF Federation National Championship, written by FLW's onsite editor Jennfier Simmons, Click here

For complete results click here

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

TBF Western Division Day 2

The defending Western Division Champs, the TBF state team from Washington, sent a clear message today that they intend to hold onto the Western Division Champions CUP, if the other western states want it and the first place cash that goes with it, they will have to step up on tomorrow’s final day and “take” it.

The Washington Team leads with a two day total of 259 pounds and 7 ounces, extended their lead in the team standings to more than 40 pounds beyond the second place team of California who sits at 217-15. Forty pounds might seem like a lot…any it is but it is not insurmountable with 12 anglers on each state team. Idaho made a move today and jumped to third place with 201-13, Arizona now sits in fourth, 184-03. Right on their heels in fifth is the TBF team from Colorado, only 1-6 back at 182-13. Utah is in sixth with 171-03, Wyoming and Montana are next with 146-15 and 129-15 respectively.

In the individual standings,
Lambert Leads! Washington’s Chris Lambert jumped to the top of the standings today with the tournaments biggest bag so far, 16-6. Which pushed him solidly into the first place spot in the individual standings at 31-10 and a shot at the Castrol Maximum Performer award. Lambert has a teammate from Washington right over his shoulder,  David Kromm is in second with 26-12. California’s Troy Lindner is tied at third with Washington’s Andy Smith, they each have 25-03. That should give both Kromm and Lambert something to think about. Lindner is leading the California team with 25-03

CA's Troy Lindner, (of the Lindner family fishing fame,) leads the California Team. This is what can happen when you take a child fishing! Thanks, Al Lindner, looks like he learned well.......

For more details about how the Western Division anglers fared today and their outlook for tomorrows final day check out our partners website at www.flwoutdoors.com

For complete standings and which anglers are leading their state teams, vying for a spot in the TBF Federation National Championship Click Here    ………one more day to go.

Chris Lambert wins the individual race and the Castrol Maximum Preformer Award.

Flashback…2007 Washington was the host state for the 2007 Western Divisional Championship on Pot holes Lake, the held the division champions cup for a full year….and liked it…..they had no intentions of giving it up. Mission accomplished.
The TBF state team from Washington proved this year that they are tops in the west again with a total three-day weight of 353 pounds and 5 ounces. They accomplished the feat over 1400 miles away at Lake Havasu, AZ. About as far away from home as they can get in the western division.

“I and all the members of TBF in the state of Washington are so very proud of our team, stated Gary Morris, the Washington TBF state President, back to back division championship titles is a dream come true, there is a lot of great fishermen in the west, so I know that the guys worked hard to earn it.”  Morris went on to say this about the tournament Champion Chris Lambert from Olympia, Washington, “ Chris is a good guy, a long time federation member, always happy, never complains, he just a good guy and a great fisherman. He’s someone you never hear a complaint about and he is an angler that is definitely has the skills to move into the FLW tour’s pro ranks someday.”

Lambert who won the individual standings and the Castrol Maximum Performer cash award. Lead his team and will fish the 2009 Federation National Championship as a boater, second place angler for Washington who will go as a non-boater is David Kromm.

The Washington TBF Team

In the state team standings, finishing in second place forty pounds behind Washington with 313-02 was the team from California. Anchored by Los Angles angler Troy Lindner, and John Albidrez from Fresno who will both advance.

Colorado, in their first TBF divisional, had a slow start but moved up each day to finish strong in the third place spot with 265-04. Colorado TBF state President Steve Way had this to say about their first TBF divisional, “We are very excited to be able to send a State Team to the Western Divisional.  March of 2007 many of the anglers in Colorado made the decision to form a new partnership with FLW/TBF and we are glad that we did.  We are thrilled to have finished so well. I think that it is just starting to sink in that we are the first team to represent the State of Colorado with this new Partnership.  We all strongly feel that we have great support with FLW/TBF for the Federation level Angler, something that many of us have not felt for a long time.  This past year for Colorado TBF has seen some test and failures but we feel that we are putting together a strong organization.  If we continue to grow at our current rate, we could easily double the membership this year that we had at the end of last year. The great finish by our anglers can only help.”

Rounding out the State team standings were; The host state team from Arizona finished in fourth with 263-05, Idaho and Utah wound up tied in the fifth spot with 261-02, Seventh place was the team from Wyoming and finishing in eight was the new TBF Montana team, who fished two angler down all week with only ten team members at 176-09.

“The members of Montana's first TBF Divisional team had a great time at Lake Havasu, we did compete with only ten anglers instead of the twelve allowed but our guys fished hard.” Said Montana TBF state President George Riedel. “We are already looking forward to competing next year with a full team against the other states in the Western Division. We want to prove that there are more than trout fishermen in Montana (but the trout do eat well). We would like to invite any and all our neighbors to join us this summer for some world class smallmouth fishing here in Montana--see out website for our tournament schedule -- www.montanatbf.com

Under the TBF format, not one, but two anglers from each TBF state advance to the 2009 TBF Federation National Championship, Presented by the National Guard. From Washington will be Lambert and Kromm, Lindner and Albidrez from California. Colorado will send Sam Heckman, Fountian, CO., and Matt Massey, Lakewood, CO. Idaho anglers advancing are Brandon Palanuk (Rathdrum, ID) and Brandon Craner, (Filer, ID). Top Utah anglers were Joe Debrucque who lives just across the line in Grand Junction, CO. and Robert Knight from Salt Lake City. Wyoming anglers advancing are two state presidents. Past Wyoming state president Mike Bozner, Rock Springs, WY and current state president Eric Lippincott, Daniel, WY. Montana anglers earning their spots are Sean Andrachick, Marion, MT and Don Collins, Kalispell, MT.

TBF would like to send out a special thanks to members of the Arizona Bass Federation of TBF, Dave and Brenda Hagan and all the crew who hosted this event. The Arizona "team" done a great job, the Federation is thankful for people like you.

For more details about how the Western Division anglers fared today and their outlook for tomorrows final day check out our partners website at www.flwoutdoors.com

For complete final standings Click Here.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 14, 2008) -- The best of the nation's TBF club anglers are headed to Lake Wylie near Charlotte, N.C., for The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard April 24-26, where they will complete for berths into two of the sport’s most coveted events -- the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup and the $1 million BFL All-American.

The winning boater and co-angler at the TBF National Championship will automatically be entered into the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 where they will compete for as much as $1 million in the Boater Division and $50,000 in the Co-angler Division. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each TBF division will also be given a berth into the 2008 All-American presented by Chevy on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., May 29-31. With top awards of $140,000 in the Boater Division and $70,000 in the Co-angler Division, the All-American has served as a launching pad for many professional fishing careers.

In addition to incredibly lucrative championship berths, the TBF National Championship will also award $10,000 and a “Living the Dream” prize package to the first-place boater. The package includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered either by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the winner’s choice of either the 2009 Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series to compete against the world’s top bass anglers.

Anglers from six nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2007 and qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National Championship.

“Being named the TBF Champion is a culmination of many years of dreams and hard work,” said David Simmons, FLW Outdoors and TBF programs manager. “It means you are the top club angler in the country. TBF Championship anglers are not only fishing for personal pride and rewards, they are also representing their respective states and divisions. We are looking forward to an incredible tournament.”

The TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard begins Wednesday, April 23, with an official practice day, and competition begins Thursday at 6:30 a.m. with takeoff from Copperhead Island Park located at 15200 Soldier Road in Charlotte. Copperhead Island Park will also host takeoff Friday at 6:30 a.m. and Saturday at 6:25 a.m. Anglers will weigh in Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center located at 501 S. College St. in Charlotte. Saturday’s weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center followed by the Wal-Mart FLW Tour National Guard Open weigh-in at 4 p.m. FLW Tour anglers will return to the convention center Sunday for their final weigh-in at 4 p.m.

Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors® and the TBF will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Charlotte Convention Center from noon to 6 p.m. each day. The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their favorite TBF and FLW Tour anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Saturday and Sunday children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone will also receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. On Sunday, April 27 during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in, one lucky member of the audience will win a new Ranger boat. Admission is free and you must be present to win.

The entire field of 40 TBF boaters and 40 co-anglers will compete Thursday and Friday for an accumulated two-day weight. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions will advance to Saturday’s competition, where they will continue fishing, carrying their weight from the first round into the final round. The winners will be determined Saturday by the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF CONTENDERS click here

Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on June 8 as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.

Visit the FLW Outdoors Media Center at http://mc.flwoutdoors.com for additional information and photos.

Travis’ 14-14 limit leads TBF National Championship

David Hart

If there is such a thing as a home-water curse, you wouldn’t know it after Conover, N.C., angler Brian Travis brought his limit up to the scales on the first day of The Bass Federation National Championship on Lake Wylie.

Travis, a second-shift supervisor for a freight company, has the luxury of spending mornings on the waters around his home before he punches the clock in the afternoon. He takes full advantage of that free time. It showed Thursday with his five-bass limit that tipped the scales at 14 pounds, 14 ounces. Although he calls Lake Norman his home water, Travis placed first in a tournament on Wylie in early March, and he took second in a BFL event soon after that.

“It’s my favorite lake. I know places that very few other anglers fish, and I never really did have to compete with other boats for the bass I was targeting today,” he said.

Travis, fishing in the Southern Division, put forth an exhaustive effort, hitting an estimated 200 different spots on the first day alone. He was sight-fishing for bedded bass, something many other anglers did on the first day. Travis figured he caught 10 bass total and didn’t bother to cast to dozens more. His only concern is that a limit of the fish he left behind won’t add up to the weight he brought in today. Still, Travis feels good about Friday, but he’s not so sure about Saturday, if he makes it that far.

“Everything can change on Saturday when the local anglers come out. I’m not the only one who knows about these fish, but if they don’t get worked over real hard, I feel pretty confident,” he added. “I just have to make it to the third day.”

Erickson second

Ironically, the second-place angler after day one has never been on Wylie until the official practice day, just one day prior to the start of the tournament. Jeff Erickson, a member of Phoenix-based Saguaro Bassmasters, felt at home on Wylie just the same thanks to clear water and bedding bass.

“I’m used to sight-fishing for bass in real clear water, so I was very comfortable fishing on Wylie. I was able to fish to my strengths,” he said. “But these fish were definitely harder to catch than the bass I sight-fish for back home.”

Erickson, representing the Western Division, brought a 14-pound, 8-ounce limit to the scales today and he feels good about his ability to catch another limit, although many of the bass he targeted with finesse baits never did bite. In some cases, he spent 45 minutes or more on a single fish before giving up and moving on to another.

Hoskinson third

The third-place angler Greg Hoskinson is 14 ounces behind Travis, but he is also in the Southern Division. If he doesn’t move up he won’t fish on Saturday, even if he brings a heavy sack to the scales on Friday. Only the top anglers in each regional division advance to the final day of competition.

Rest of the best

Osage Beach, Mo., angler Brian Maloney is first in the Central Division and fourth overall with a five-bass limit that weighed 13 pounds, 14 ounces. Jim Gildea of Weston, Mass., leads the Eastern Division with 10 pounds, 7 ounces, and Washington, D.C., resident Robert Williams is on top of the Mid-Atlantic Division with a 13-pound, 3-ounce limit. Terry McWilliams of Indiana is in first place in the Northern Division with five bass that weighed 11 pounds, 14 ounces.

Shawver leads co-anglers

Jerry Shawver is in first place in the co-angler division with a 12-pound, 3-ounce limit. He credits his boat partner for his heavy sack.

“My last fish came within the last five minutes of the day after my partner pointed it out to me. I wouldn’t have caught it if it wasn’t for him,” said Shawver of St. Augustine, Fla.

At stake

The stakes are high for the 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers taking part in this year’s TBF Championship. The winner from each of the Federation’s six regions in the boater and co-angler division earns a berth in the $1 million BFL All-American, and the top boater and co-angler overall wins a slot in the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup. The winner of the boater division also wins the TBF Living The Dream Package, which includes $10,000 in cash, sponsor merchandise, the use of a wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat, entry fees for either the FLW Tour or Series and travel expense money.

Anglers launch from Copperhead Island Park at 6:30 Friday and Saturday. Friday’s weigh-in takes place at 4 at the Charlotte Convention Center and the final weigh-in starts at 3 and is held in conjunction with the National Guard Open, also at the Charlotte Convention Center.

North Carolina native nets top spot on Lake Wylie

By David Hart - 25.Apr.2008 - EDITORS NOTE: Statement added by TBF PresidnetCEO Robert Cartlidge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - One of the top two anglers after the second day of TBF Championship competition traveled across the country. The other practically stepped out his front door. Brian Travis, of Conover, N.C., knows Lake Wylie as well as he knows his own living room, a fact he credits for his first-place standing after Friday’s weigh-in. The other, Ron Hobbs, Jr., of Orting, Wash., spent seven hours in airplanes and airports to get to a lake he had never seen until the official practice day on Wednesday.

Travis, the hometown favorite, brought in another heavy sack of fish to stay in the lead after the second day of The Bass Federation Championship. He continued his pattern of running from one spot to another, racking up a five-bass limit that weighed a respectable 16 pounds, 6 ounces for a two-day total of 31 pounds, 4 ounces. He credits his strong showing to his intimate knowledge of the lake. He placed second in a tournament on the lake in early March and won a BFL a few weeks after that.

“I think I can catch 10 or 12 pounds tomorrow. That might be enough to win,” said Travis, a shift supervisor for a freight company. “I have plenty of places left that still have fish, and I’m not too worried about weekend boat traffic.”

Milkman delivers

Travis is nearly 4 pounds in front of Hobbs, a milkman who makes door-to-door deliveries. He never saw Lake Wylie until the official practice day on Wednesday, the day before the start of the tournament. What he saw on that single day of practice, however, gave him a big boost to his confidence.

“I saw a fish on a bed, and then another and then a couple more as I was trying to figure out where to start. I think I’m a pretty decent sight-fisherman because that’s what I do back home, so I felt pretty good,” he said.

Hobbs, a member of Evergreen Bass Club, brought a limit to the stage of the Charlotte Convention Center that weighed 13 pounds, 11 ounces on the first day. On Friday, he did even better with a 13-pound, 15-ounce limit for a two-day total of 27-10. Like Travis, he feels good about catching a heavy bag on the final day, but he knows he has plenty of ground to make up. Still, he left plenty of quality fish in the water and he knows of at least three big bass on beds.

Washington, D.C. angler Bobby Williams caught five bass on the second day that weighed 12-3 for a two-day total of 25 pounds, 6 ounces. That resulted in a tie with Hollidaysburg, Pa., angler Tom Belinda.

Federation officials originally announced Williams as the winner from the Mid-Atlantic Division, but a review of the rules later in the evening determined that Belinda, not Williams, should advance to the final day. TBF championship tournament director Robert Cartlidge explained that in the event of a tie after the second day, the angler with the heaviest bag overall moves on to the final day. Belinda brought 13 pounds, 15 ounces to the scales on Friday.

“I understand the rules and I accept the final decision,” said Williams. “I’m disappointed, but I strongly believe in the integrity of the TBF and I don’t want to do anything to harm the organization’s reputation. I also don’t want anyone to think I was disqualified for any reason, because that’s not the case. I simply agreed to step down based on the rules.”

A similar tie among co-anglers also resulted in a change in the final day’s line-up for the co-angler division.

Belinda has a half-pound lead over fourth-place angler Robert Crino of South Royalton, Vermont, who is representing the Eastern Division. He has a two-day weight of 24-14. Don Owens, of Ponca City, Okla., is in fifth with 23-14, and Greenfield, IN angler Terry McWilliams is in sixth with 20-15.
Here Comes The Judge

Bill Roberts, who represents the Mid-Atlantic Division as a co-angler, brought a limit to the stage both days and is paired with Travis on the final day. His two-day total weight is 21-11. Despite the pairing, he’s not entirely confident about his ability to pull out a win.

“He’s going to be sight-fishing, so there might be a lot of down time while he tries to catch a bedded bass. There’s not a lot I can do about it, but I’ll just do what I’ve been doing and I hope I can put another limit in the boat,” said Roberts, a federal judge from Fairfax, Virginia. He qualified for the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup through the Ranger Owner’s Tournament held on Kerr Reservoir last year. “I didn’t do so well, so I would really like another chance.”

Ben Gross of Kingman, AZ, is in second place in the co-angler division with 21-8; Mayflower, AR angler Hoyt Akins has a two-day total of 20-11 and is in third; the fourth-place angler is Craig Fredrychowski of Lexington, KY with 19-4; Big Bend, WI angler Jim Jones, who was originally announced as the fifth-place co-angler, was replaced by Brian Belke, of New Lenox, IL after it was determined that Belke’s 11-7 sack on the second day put him ahead of Jones. Tim Austin, the Vermont Bass Federation youth director, is in sixth.

All 12 of the anglers fishing the final day advance to the $1 million BFL All-American, held on Arkansas’ Lake Hamilton in May. The stakes are somewhat higher for the first place anglers, however. The winners of the boater and co-angler division advance to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup, held on Lake Murray August 14 through 17. The winner of the TBF Championship boater division also wins the TBF Living the Dream Package, which includes $10,000 in cash, sponsor merchandise, entry fees for either the Wal Mart FLW Tour or the Wal Mart FLW Series, the use of a wrapped Chevy tow vehicle and a wrapped boat, and expense money.

The top 12 anglers will launch from Copperhead Island Park at 6:25 for the final day of competition. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center and will be held in conjunction with the National Guard Open.

EDITORS NOTE: Statement to the membership by TBF President Robert Cartlidge

“Errors” sometimes happen in anything we do in life. No one dislikes them more than I do.

Due to a slight difference between our written championship rules and the coding in the TBF tournament software, two anglers were inaccurately announced as progressing.

Obviously corrections had to be made, official standings published and the correct anglers placed.

Our anglers did nothing wrong. In fact, both of the displaced anglers told me personally that they felt the written rules must be followed, even though they knew it would keep them from advancing. Bobby Williams and Jim Jones, (the displaced anglers) gained an admirer today for the way they handled themselves. Federation members nationwide should be proud that they have these two anglers in their ranks. Honesty, integrity and doing the “right” thing, are traits that these two TBF members plainly possess. I deeply apologize for any embarrassment that this issue may have caused them.

I was certainly dismayed over it myself. However, written tournament rules are in place to guide, shield and protect all of our anglers, including those due to rightly advance under the rules. To work properly for everyone they must be adhered to. The title of tournament director carries with it a responsibility. For this event, I serve in that role, it is my job to make sure EVERY aspect of the program functions the way it should and in this case it did, the rules were followed to the letter.

Robert L. Cartlidge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 26, 2008) – Brian Travis of  Conover, N.C., a 30-year-old supervisor for Southeastern Freight Line, is now “Living the Dream” after catching five bass weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces on the final day of The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard Saturday on Lake Wylie. He captured the TBF National Championship title with a three-day total catch of 15 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces.

For his victory Travis received a $100,000 prize package that includes automatic entry into the $1 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American presented by Chevy on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., May 29-31 and automatic entry into the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17, where the top pro can pocket as much as $1 million – the biggest award in bass fishing.

“This is an unbelievable feeling, a dream come true,” said Travis, who represents the Southern Division and fishes Lake Wylie on a regular basis. “I look forward to the future and my fishing career with FLW Outdoors.

Travis started his fishing Saturday near Seven Oaks Creek on a spot that he had not fished in two years. He estimates that he had three fish in the boat, including his biggest, by 9:30 a.m. He used an array of lures, including 4-inch green-pumpkin lizards, Yum crawfish and Shooter jigs, while sight-fishing and covering a lot of water.

“This is the best executed tournament that I have ever fished,” he said. “I had a good feeling that this was my time to win.”

In addition to incredibly lucrative championship berths, Travis also received $10,000 and a “prize package that includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the 2009 Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series to compete against the world’s top bass anglers.

Anglers from six nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2007 and qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National Championship.

“I think everyone should join the TBF,” Travis said. “It has so much to offer, and look where it got me.”

Travis started the tournament Thursday in first place with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces. He retained his lead Friday with a five-bass catch weighing 16-06 that bumped his two-day total to 31-04 going into the final day of competition.

Rounding out the boater field were Ronald Hobbs Jr. of Graham, Wash. (Western Division, 15 bass, 38-11, $5,000); Tom Belinda of Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Mid-Atlantic Division, 15 bass, 36-07, $2,500); Robert Crino of South Royalton, Vt. (Eastern Division, 14 bass, 33-12, $2,500); Terry McWilliams of Greenfield, Ind. (Northern Division, 15 bass, 30-01, $2,500); and Don Owens of Ponca City, Okla. (Central Division, 11 bass, 25-11, $2,500). Each of these boaters will also advance to the All-American.

Overall there were 25 bass weighing 56 pounds, 4 ounces caught by six boaters. The catch included four five-bass limits.

Hobbs also won a 519VX Ranger Comanche powered by Yamaha as the highest finishing Ranger Cup participant.

Bill Roberts of Fairfax, Va., entered the final round of co-angler competition with a 3-ounce lead but fell to third after catching just one bass weighing 1-pound, 10 ounces. The Mid-Atlantic Division angler earned $1,000 for the finish with a total of 11 bass weighing 23-05. His stumble opened the door for Craig Fredrychowski of Lexington, S.C., representing the Southern Division.

Fredrychowski overcame a 2-pound, 7-ounce deficit on the final day thanks to a five-bass limit weighing 7-07 that boosted his three-day total to 14 bass weighing 26-11, good for a $10,000 prize package that includes co-angler entry into the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup for a chance to fish for as much as $50,000. He also earned a berth into the All-American along with the top co-angler from each TBF division for a chance to fish for as much as $70,000.

“I can’t believe that I am qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup,” Fredrychowski said. “This is a dream come true for me. It absolutely means the world to me. This is just the start of something good.

“This week I had great partners, and I owe everything to them. They taught me a lot this week and allowed me to catch some good fish.”

Fredrychowski caught his fish throwing a shaky head and covering a lot of water on Lake Wylie.

Rounding out the co-angler field were Ben Gross of Kingman, Ariz. (Western Division, 11 bass, 23-11, $2,500); Hoyt Akins of Mayflower, Ark. (Central Division, 11 bass, 22-8, $1,000); Brian Belke of New Lenox, Ill. (Northern Division, 10 bass, 22-05, $1,000) and Tim Austin of Williston, Vt. (Eastern Division, nine bass, 20-05, $1,000).

Overall there were 12 bass weighing 21 pounds, 10 ounces caught by six co-anglers. The catch included one five-bass limit.
For complete list of final standings: Click Here

The entire field of 40 TBF boaters and 40 co-anglers fished Thursday and Friday for an accumulated two-day weight. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions advanced to Saturday’s final round, where the winners were determined by the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on June 8 as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.

Tournament anglers aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing^™, FLW Outdoors^® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour^® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.

The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 30 years. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call (580) 765-9031.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

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Zach King Dominates the field with catches like these during the two day tournament.  He had over 26 pounds the first day and backed that up with an even more impressive 27.74 pounds on day two.  He won the event by over 22 pounds more than 2nd place.

 

Lewis and Clark Reservoir to host TBF Central Divisional

23.May.2008

TBF staff

Yankton, South Dakota, - June 5, 2008

The second day of the TBF Central Division Championship was extremely different than the first.  The day began with calm skies and a light breeze, but quickly turned to thunderstorms terrorizing southeastern S. Dakota.  Golf ball size hail, tornado watches, and 100 mile winds plagued the area.  Although the conditions were tougher, and the amount of bass caught was a lot less, the anglers rose above their circumstances and kept fighting for a place at the top.
        Robert Cartlidge, the TBF President, stepped into that position today.  He brought in 8 lbs. 4 ounces of bass, making his total 17 lbs. 13 ounces.  Robert is also leading his home state of Oklahoma.  But, only 3 lbs. separate him and angler Stewart Ryan from the top Oklahoma spot.  “I traveled about the same distance down the lake today as I did yesterday; the biggest difference was the weather as a severe storm blew in mid-morning.  We had to stop for 30 minutes and seek shelter under a barge walkway during the hail storm.  Other than that, the bite was non-existent before 9:00 this morning; the fish just would not cooperate. Around 9:00 am I was finally able to figure them out, and was culling by 10:30.  Although the conditions were not exactly favorable, my partner and I caught some great smallmouth bass,” Robert said.
        Marion Halbersma from Missouri, the 2^nd place individual finisher from yesterday, was also 2^nd today.  Fighting to close the gap, Marion brought in 7 lbs. 13 ounces of bass; only one ounce now separates him from the first place spot overall.  “I was affected a little by the conditions today, but I started to get a hold on a different style of fishing and managed to catch a limit by noon.  In the end, even with the horrible weather, I was happy to know I was able to hold on to the 2^nd place standing,” Marion said. 

  Close behind Marion is Jason Baird from Kansas and Mark Hensiek from Arkansas.  Both anglers are tied for 3^rd place overall with a total weight of 16 lbs. 1 ounce.  Jason caught a limit of bass weighing 7 lbs. 1 ounce today, and he is leading the state of Kansas.  Mark Hensiek also caught a limit today, which weighed 7 lbs. 3 ounces, and he is leading the state team of Arkansas.         
        In the state standings, leading the pack for the second day in a row, the state team of Oklahoma increased their lead to today from 8 ounce, to 3 lbs. 14 ounces.  The Oklahoma President had nothing but great things to say about his team.  “Our state member’s first focus is working well as a team, and this has proven to be a great fishery for them to really do that.  Tonight we will focus on the things that we need to work on for the final day, so we can return tomorrow and finish what we have came here to do,” Gary Gunter said.   

Bob Walla is leading the hosting state of Nebraska with a total weight of 14 lbs. 2 ounces.  He caught a limit of five fish today despite his tough conditions.  “Today was the second worst boating experience I have ever had, second only to when the rain was so bad my Ranger boat ended up full of water.  However, I did catch a limit by 12:30, and I culled three times, so, in the end it worked out in my favor,” Bob said.  
        The top two leaders from each state will advance to the Federation National Championship in 2009.  There they will compete for the largest purse in over 30 years of federation fishing. 

Day 3 of this two day event will get under way tomorrow, with weigh-in at 3:30 at Prairie Dog bay Ramp, in Northville state park. Weigh-ins are free to the public.

Lake Norman site of TBF Southern Divisional

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Bass Federation 2008 Southern Divisional Championship will be held on Lake Norman in Charlotte, N.C., June 11-13. As many as 84 competitors representing seven Southern Division states – Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina – are expected to compete in the tournament.

The public is invited to Blythe Landing located at 15901 Highway 73 in Huntersville, N.C., to watch the takeoffs and weigh-ins at 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Admission is free.

Anglers will compete both individually and as state teams in an effort to qualify for the prestigious TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard. The top three state teams will be awarded trophies and cash prizes. The angler with the heaviest three-day weight will also earn a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer.

Each state team is made up of 12 anglers, and the top-finishing angler from each team will advance to the 2009 TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard as a boater. The No. 2 competitor from each state team will advance to the National Championship as a co-angler.


In TBF Divisional Championship competition, anglers are randomly paired each day and share control of the boat throughout the day.

Official practice for the TBF Southern Divisional Championship begins at daylight June 8 and continues through 2 p.m. June 10.

TBF staff

 Yankton, South Dakota, - June 4, 2008

 Today was a great day for fishing!  Over 65% of the anglers caught a limit here on Day one of the TBF Central Division Championship in Yankton, S. Dakota.  96 fishermen from 8 states brought in nearly 400 fish today, totaling just over 563 lbs.  All fish were released alive, and every angler caught at least one.  In other words, there were a lot of smiling fishermen.  Two days ago this might not have been the case for some.  Due to water levels too low to navigate, as well as, safety issues, the tournament that was originally scheduled to be held at the Lewis and Clark Reservoir, had to be moved to Lake Francis Case.  It happened at the last moment when the lake authority notified TBF officials on Monday that water levels would drop even farther.  So, not only do these fishermen get solely one day to practice, but, most of them are driving 30 minutes more than planned every day.  However, their work and dedication has definitely paid off, and the results have proved it. 

The Oklahoma team is leading the pack with a combined weight of 85 lbs. 10 ounces.  “Our team works really great together.  Our strategy was to go out there for one day and pre-fish, then, pull in all the information from what every member had ran into.  Each day we meet together, share and strategize so we can be successful as a team, and I think we’ve proved that today,” Oklahoma team captain, Don Linder, said. 

The rest of the field is fairly tight; Arkansas is a mere 8 ounces behind Oklahoma with 85 lbs. 2 ounces.  Missouri is third at 73 lbs. 12 ounces. So, it will be exciting to see what team is on top after tomorrows weigh-in. For the rest of the state standings click here.

Kelly Box from Arkansas came out on top overall in the individual standings with 10 lbs. 7 ounces.  “Actually, this is not the kind of fishing I was prepared for, but I have made it work, and I’m loving fishing for smallmouth bass. Fishing as a co-angler can be a little harder, but I’m thankful to have had a great partner.  We fished in one area close to the ramp, and even though today was tougher because of the sun, I caught what was needed to be at the top,” Kelly said.     

Following close behind, is Marion Halbersma from Missouri.  Marion also caught a 4 lb. smallmouth, making him the big bass winner for the day. 

The TBF President, Robert Cartlidge, is leading his home state of Oklahoma with a 9 lbs 9 ounce limit.  “It’s a pleasant surprise to be leading because I’m a power fishermen; muddy water, heavy line is where I feel at home, visibility at this lake is 15 ft. in places.  While others were down sizing lines and baits, I stuck with what I knew; I caught every fish on either Berkley Vanish 20# Floruocarbon, or Trilene 15# Big Game on 7 12 foot flipping sticks.” Cartlidge said.  For full individual standings, and which two anglers are currently leading their respective states, click here.

 The top two leaders from each state will advance to the Federation National Championship in 2009.  There they will compete for the largest purse in over 30 years of federation.

Day 2 of this 3 day event will get under way tomorrow, with weigh-in at 3:30 at Prairie Dog bay Ramp, in Northville state park. Weigh-ins are free to the public.

TBF Staff

Yankton, South Dakota, - June 6, 2008
            It was a tough day in Yankton, S. Dakota as the TBF Central Division Championship came to a conclusion.  The boats pulled off the ramp one by one, just as the sun was coming over the horizon.  The anglers were all eager to find a limit of keepers, and hopeful to be pronounced the winner of their respective states.  However, once again the weather proved to be their number one obstacle.  The wind blew so hard it was causing anywhere from 5 to 7 ft. waves, making some of the boats hard to maneuver.  But, the anglers still managed to catch some great smallmouth bass, as the final day of the tournament rolled on.                  
        Jason Baird from Gypsum, Kansas was the Central Division Champion and the Castrol Maximum Performer.  Jason caught four fish today that weighed 5lbs. 15 ounces, which made him able to rise from his 3^rd place finish yesterday and become the tournament champion.  He caught a total weight of 22 lbs, which was also enough to make him the leader of his state team and a qualifier for the TBF National Championship.  “I found lots of fish the practice day, and fished from those same 20 spots the first two days of the tournament.  But, today was a lot different.  I fished at one spot right outside the cove all day; I literally used no gas.  To catch all of my fish I used 3/16 ounce smallie beaver, and I an 8 ounce seaguar flurocarbon. I had four bites and I caught four fish, and I am so glad that it was enough to qualify me for nationals.  This will be my fourth time to go, and I can’t wait,” Jason said. 
            Finishing in 2^nd place in the individual standing was Zachary King from Clarksville, Arkansas.  He caught three fish today that weighed 5 lbs. 4 ounces, making his total weight 20 lbs.1 ounce and making a qualifier for the TBF National Championship.  “I fished in 10 to 15 ft water today using an original shaky head football jig.  I actually lost a big one this morning, but I stayed in the cove all day and did bed fishing.  It’s a great opportunity to be representing the state of Arkansas at the TBF National Championship, it will be my second time and I’m really looking forward to it,” Zachary said. 
            Also from Arkansas, state team member Jim Towers finished 3^rd and will be representing the state of Arkansas at the 2009 TBF National Championship as their non-boater.  He caught three fish today, making his total weight 19 lbs. 4 ounces.  “I did get 3 miles up the lake today.  But, I ended up fishing mostly in the cove using Carolina rigs.  I had three bites, and I caught three keepers,” Jim said.
        In 4^th place was Bryan Fox from Hot Springs, Arkansas with a total weight of 19 lbs. 1 ounce, and rounding out the top 5 was Marion Halbersma from Ozark, Missouri.  For more individual standings, click here.
            The fisherman responsible for catching the biggest fish today was Chris Scherbring from Abilene, Kansas.  He was awarded the big bass cash, with a fish that weighed 4 lbs. 9 ounces.  “I fished really slow today, dragging a 5 inch finesse worm on a spot remover jig, along the bottom of the water,” Chris said. 
            The 2008 State Division Champion was the state of Arkansas.  With three of the top five individual qualifiers, the state of Arkansas came out on top catching 107 total fish that weighed 156 lbs. 12 ounces.
            Oklahoma came in 2^nd with 104 total fish that weighed 153 lbs. 13 ounces, and rounding out the top three was Texas with 101 total fish that weighed 146 lbs. 2 ounces.  For more state team standings, click here.
        The TBF National Championship will be held in 2009, and the location will be announced soon.  Then, the top two winners from all 46 state federations will compete to decide who will be the TBF National Champion and the winner of the largest pay-out in 30 years of federation fishing. 

Day 2 TBF Southern Division Championship, Presented by All Pro Rods.

Lake Norman, North Carolina

Hokey Pokey was the name of the game today at Lake Norman as the state team standing were “shaking it all up” today.

Day 1 leader North Carolina was all the way down into 5th place more than half way through the weigh-in today but a late flight surge of good limits by North Carolina anglers propelled the host state back to the top of the State standings. They finished day 2 with a total team weight of 150 pounds and 13 ounces. Tennessee moved up 2 places to second with 135-9, South Carolina slid back to third with 134-3,Georgia moves up two places to fourth with their team weight of 132-8, Alabama hung on to the fifth spot at 126-7. The Kentucky squad dropped 3 places to finish sixth with 117-8 and Florida sits in seventh at 102-4.

After a shake up like today its anyone’s guess who will win the title of division champions and take home the All-Pro Rods Southern Division Cup. One thing is for sure…North Carolina has to feel good about its chances. No one knows how many years it’s been since North Carolina won a divisional title, many years to say the least. North Carolina can’t even remember it’s been so long. They are hungry for a win and are in position to lock it up, all they have to do tomorrow is …….win.

In the individual standings, it seems to be a battle of the Carolina’s. Day 1 leader Craig Fredrychowski had another solid day, although he was overtaken by North Carolina Joshua Queen whose two day total of 20 pounds 14 ounces was bolstered by a 11-5 sack today. Queen hold the top spot by a 11 ounce margin ahead of Fredrychowski.

For a detailed story by FLW Outdoors own Jennifer Simmons Click Here

For full standings Click Here.

Alabama will have to hurry to keep the cup for a third year.

Lake Norman, NC.

South Carolina's Craig Fredrychowski is the reining TBF Co-Angler National Champion, he is serving notice today at the TBF Southern Division Championship, Presented by  All-Pro Rods that he wants to go back to the Federation National Championship in 2009....as a boater.

North Carolina Leads the state competition:

Alabama has won the All Pro Rods Southern Division Cup and title of Southern Division champs the last two years in a row. If they want to make it three in a row they will have to get it in gear ......they are currently in fifth place, behind Tennessee and Kentucky who are in fourth and thrid respectively. Then they will need to look at both North AND South Carolina whose teams sit in the one and two spots only four ounces apart.

For the detailed story click here to check out the report filed by FLW Outdoor's Jennifer Simmons....... For complete standings.....Click here .

Blythe Landing - Lake Norman, North Carolina

The TBF Southern Division Championship Presented by All Pro Rods is in the books and the host state of North Carolina won its first Divisional Championship title in more than a decade! They bested the rest of the field by a 34 pounds 2 ounce margin of victory and a total team weight of 247-03.

Fishing a "home" lake is tough, seldom does a home lake angler win an event, its almost like a jinx. Today the 12 man team representing the North Carolina TBF Federation proved that they had what it took to take the All-Pro Rods cup away form the State of Alabama who has held it for the last two years in a row.

" I am so proud of our guys." Said North Carolina State President Phillip Sain, "We have been close before, and finished second at last years Southern Division Championship, so my guys were hungry for the win. They worked hard together to get the job done." 

Last year Tennessee finished 3rd right behind North Carolina 2nd place finish. This year they finished right behind North Carolina again....holding down the second place spot with 213.01. Georgia got off to a slow start on day 1, built momenteum on day 2, and made a serious push on day 3 to wind up in the third place spot finishing with 204-11. South Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Kentucky rounded out the standings.

In the individual standings it was Joshua Queen from Lincolnton, North Carolina who walked away with the Castrol Maximum Performer Award and the Division Champions title. He has earned his way to the 2009 TBF Federation National Championship, Presented by the National Guard with a three day total of 32-10. Queen will fish the event as a the boater from North Carolina.

Also today The North Carolina Junior State Championship followed the adults out and weighed in on the big stage. The kids had a super time ...it was all smiles around the weigh in as Don Willis and David Blanton earn thier slots in the August TBF National Guard Junior World Championship to be held Aug. 14-17 on South Carolina's Lake Montecello, in conjuction with the 2 million dollar Forrest Wood Cup.

For full story written by FLW Outdoors own Jennifer Simmons Click Here

For full Southern Division standings Click here

News Release

Michigan’s Cummings Leads The Bass Federation National Championship On Bull Shoals Lake

Harkness wins TBF National Championship on Bull Shoals

West Virginia angler nets $100,000 ‘Living the Dream’ prize package

14.Mar.2009

• I called FLW Outdoors and they said I had to join through TBF?  YES, FLW Outdoors will not sell a membership to a TBF member, (with a few exceptions) their system “talks” to our system and identifies TBF members as such. All TBF members now update through our online system, through their club roster.
• What if I’m already paid up and active with FLW Outdoors for multiple years or maybe I’m one of the few FLW life members? Our system will not charge you dues until the year they expire.
• My FLW Outdoors membership doesn’t expire until April 1, 2010 do I have to pay for a full year?   NO, our system will pro-rate what is left of your 2010 FLW Outdoors membership and only charge you for the months up to Dec 31, 2010, until you are on a calendar year like everyone else.
• I used to be able to buy a 2 or 3 year “discounted” FLW Outdoors membership? Can we still do that?  No, FLW Outdoors no longer sells a DISCOUNTED 2 or 3 year membership.
• If you have a problem, call the national office at 580.765.9031

TBF “No Entry Fee” Divisional Championship Series back in 2010

February 1, 2010

Ponca City, Okla. - The Bass Federation (TBF), the national leader in NO cost or low cost tournament fees, announced today the dates and locations of seven events in the 2010 TBF “No Entry Fee” Divisional Championship Series. The Division Championship Series is expanded this year to seven events due to the growth of TBF and the new structure of the current TBF Western division into the new Northwest and Southwest divisions. The seventh division will cut drive time in half for our western anglers.

 To qualify for their home State Team, TBF members only fish local state TBF federation qualifying tournaments.   “On a national average, TBF members pay less than $200 total per year in state entry fees, which includes full TBF and FLW Outdoors membership,” TBF President, Robert Cartlidge, stated.  “Earn a spot on the state team, and everything past the state level is a no entry fee event. TBF is the industry leader in no cost and low cost tournament fishing opportunities and we are proud of that fact.”

Starting at the TBF Divisional Championship Series, anglers compete with no entry fees and cash payouts.  Two anglers from every state progress to the TBF Federation National Championship, to fish for over $200,000 in cash and prizes, from there, 14 TBF anglers will move on to FLW Outdoor’s BFL All-American.  Also, the top two anglers from the TBF Federation Championship earn a berth in the Forrest Wood Cup, all for no tournament entry fees! The TBF National Champion also earns the “LIVING THE DREAM” prize package to include; cash prize, fully paid entry fees into the FLW tour, travel funds and use of a wrapped Ranger Boat and Chevrolet truck for the year!  

What does this mean to the average angler?  There is not a better cost effective place to fish than with TBF and FLW Outdoors. For a national average of less than $200 per year in total entry fees and membership, you can join TBF, fish close to home, and qualify for all the biggest events in fishing! TBF members just like YOU do it each year! 

It’s easy to get started and you don’t have to own a boat.  Simply contact your local state federation through the TBF website at www.bassfederation.com.  Or give us a call at 580.765.9031 to get your club joined up with TBF and FLW Outdoors or to find a TBF club near you.

2010 TBF Divisional Championship Series dates and locations

May 9-14, TBF Southwest Division Championship, California Delta, Bethel Island, CA.

May 30- June 4, TBF Northwest Division Championship, Yellow Tail Reservoir, Hardin Montana

June 6-11, TBF Southern Division Championship, Eufaula Lake, Eufaula, AL.

June 13-18, TBF Central Division Championship, Truman Lake, Warsaw, MO.

Sept., 5-10 TBF Northern Division Championship, Patoka Lake, Jasper, IN.

Sept., 12-17, TBF Eastern Division Championship, Lake Champlain, Plattsburg, NY

Sept., 19-24, TBF Mid-Atlantic Division Championship, Susquehanna Flats/Upper Chesapeake, Perryville, MD.  

The TBF Divisional Championship series will continue in 2011 with events slated to be hosted in, Oregon, Utah, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maine and Virginia.  

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing organization. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40years.  Visit bassfederation.com

New design promises more user friendly features

Sturtevant, Wis., March 9, 2010 – A new look for www.evinrude.com has been launched in an effort to draw additional traffic to the company’s website and provide consumers with more tools to make their purchase decision for an outboard engine.

Indiana TBF Member Wins FLW Fantasy Fishing’s TOP Prize!

Last week’s winner of the $5,000 top prize of FLW’s Fantasy Fishing at the Table Rock Tour event, was one of our own Federation members, Roy Marchant, of the Indiana Bass Federation!

Since the early 90’s, Marchant has been a longtime member of the Indiana Federation with the Heart City Bass Club in Elkhart, Indiana.  He signed up for FLW’s Fantasy Fishing last year at one of Indiana Bass Federation’s regional meetings after hearing about it from his club president.  It’s free to play, anyone can play right from their own computer, and he received Fantasy Fishing “Players Advantage” free with his paid dual TBF & FLW dues.  He signed up in the league TBF set up for each state federation, and played with other Indiana Bass Federation members!

Roy’s team pick for the Table Rock Lake FLW Tour Tournament was Brent Ehrler, Ron Shuffield, Bryan Thrift, Scott Martin, Andy Morgan, Clark Wendlandt, Dave Lefebre, Ott Defoe, Michael Bennett & Luke Clausen.  He had 3 of the 5 top finishers and 7 of the top 12. Pretty impressive. Picking Ehrler to win the tournament gained him 5,200 points, for a total of 12,730 points.  Second place was 856 points away. 

When asked, Roy said he spent about an hour and a half doing research online – looking mostly at how the anglers have done early in the seasons and how well they did on particular types of water, in the Southern region, like lakes and rivers. “That time spent has paid off, and I will definitely spend that time again, especially, if it means winning another $5k!”  Even though the research helped, modestly, Roy said it was “an educated guess, with a little luck.” After winning, he realized his chances to win seem better when it doesn’t cost anything to participate! Of course, after winning the first event he leads the Fantasy Fishing overall standings and the race for this year’s top prize of $50,000.

Roy already has his team set for the next stop of the FLW Tour at Lake Norman in North Carolina. He has his favorites picked……and he’s not sharing! Can’t blame him. 

Congratulations Roy! We would love to see YOU win the $50,000.  Keep up the good work, and we’re proud to have you as a TBF Member!

You or someone you know aren’t Fantasy Fishing? Get started now! It’s NOT too late.  It’s free to play; you can play in your state federations’ league or set one up for yourself or your club.  Active TBF members also get Players Advantage free, which includes all the inside stats and “scoop” to help you pick your team. Players Advantage members win 4 to 1 while playing Fantasy Fishing. So, get your team picked and locked in for the FLW Tour event on Lake Norman.  YOU could be the next winner of $5,000 or even $50,000!

HIGH SCHOOL FISHING’S ULTIMATE EVENT TO BE HELD IN RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS

 HighSchoolFishing.org

The Bass Federation announced today it will conduct the inaugural High School Fishing World Finals in Russellville, Ark. on Lake Dardanelle, July 19-24, 2010. Anglers from more than 15 U.S. States and Canada are expected to attend this pinnacle event of TBF’s Student Anglers Federation and the rapidly expanding High School Fishing segment.  All Student Angler Federation affiliated high school fishing clubs are eligible to register and attend this inaugural event and there is plenty of time left to get any High School club signed up.

Russellville, Ark. and the state of Arkansas Fish and Game have pledged an active role and support in the event. “Russellville is excited to be the host site for the 2010 High School Fishing World Finals, we look forward to having these high school students and their families here for the week, which will bring great economic impact into our community, as well as, allow them to see what a great lake area we have,” Christie Graham, Executive Director of the Russellville Tourism said. 

According to TBF President, Robert Cartlidge, “The event will be centered on education, scholarships, catching fish and having fun; we intend to do all this with no entry fee to the event.  In the future, there will be a format for who attends the event. However, the first one will be the tournament that anglers years from now will look back on and say, “I fished the first one, in Russellville” and we want to include as many as we can. The Student Anglers Federation has grown rapidly and our team has put together a unique plan to handle as many High School Teams who wish to register and try their hand at becoming the first High School Fishing World Champion.”  Cartlidge continued, “If we have 100 boats or 1,000 boats this first year we’re ready for that, the more the better for the kids. Over time, we will grow; our plan is unlike anything the fishing industry has ever seen, and it will accommodate more boats at one event than there has ever been and do it in a fair and competitive format.”

The High School World Fishing Finals was designed around a very unique model never used in the fishing industry, but still incorporates items from sports longest running and most successful events. The event will settle into a “home” much like “March Madness” is with basketball. High School anglers and their families will know July is the time to vacation to the High School Fishing World Finals. The importance of education will be reinforced during the event with two simple written quizzes required of each contestant, one on boater safety & ethics and one on invasive species & conservation. The results will have an impact on the final weights and event outcome. As stated, the event field is virtually unlimited in size to be as inclusive as possible. TBF organizers want to grow the event to 1,000 or more boats competing and have a solid plan to properly manage those numbers. There will be no entry fees for the High School Teams. Each Student Angler Federation affiliated High School club can send as many two person teams they wish this first year. Each team secures its own boat to fish from and an adult non-fishing boat captain over 21 years old to drive the boat. The event’s “payout” will be in the form of thousands of dollars in post high school education scholarships, medals and trophies, and significant prizes for the anglers and for their High Schools. Students from all public and private schools that have graduated from the eighth grade, but have not started their freshman year of college are eligible to compete on a High School Fishing Team. Lake Dardanelle will go off-limits on Tuesday July 6 to all competitors until the start of the first practice day July 18. There will be multiple activities during the week culminating with official tournament days of July 22-24.  Full details, entry forms and rules can be found on the website at highschoolfishing.org.

“For High School fishing, this is the culmination of years of hard work by a lot of dedicated people.  All the state federations have supported young anglers since the very first federation was formed more than 40 years ago; youth is one of the federation’s cores values,” TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, stated. “Over the years, others have stepped forward as well to serve the next generation of anglers, people such as, Ron Duncan, who helped model the national initiative “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” and industry veteran Terry Brown, president of Wired2Fish.com who started a “labor of love” that took eight years to get high school fishing in the schools and approved as a varsity sport in his home state of Illinois.  The work done by Brown and director Dave Gannaway in Illinois is the “gold” standard in High School Fishing.”  Gintert goes on to say, “There are many others “out there” working hard to help young people.  They all deserve to share in the credit on getting things this far.  By all accounts, the next logical step is to bring them all together for a true High School Fishing World Finals.”

The High School World Fishing Finals will be centered on a low cost family vacation of fun and festivities in and around Russellville, Ark. With its central location right off I-40, Russellville has everything for a perfect event where the high school anglers will be the stars of the show and a first class fishery and state park will highlight Lake Dardanelle.

 HighSchoolFishing.org

  

The 2010 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard, and hosted by the Tennessee Valley Authority kicks off tomorrow on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn., with 94 TBF Champion anglers ready to face-off for the title  

Kingston, Tenn., April 21, 2010 Excitement and nerves built this morning amidst the heavy fog as 94 eager TBF anglers set out to run some water, find some fish and make their final preparations for the start of the 2010 Federation National Championship, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn., April 22-24. Tomorrow, these anglers will begin fishing to be crowned 2010 Federation National Champions. The TBF National Champion boater will also earn the prestigious $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package, including cash and prizes, fully paid entry fees into the FLW tour, travel funds and use of a wrapped Ranger Boat and Chevrolet truck for the year. Also, the 2010 National Champions, on the boater and non-boater side, will also be receiving entrance into the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup. The 2010 Federation National Championship on Watts Bar Lake is deemed one of the most anticipated TBF events of the year and is sure to shake the record books. 

The tournament field consists of the top two anglers from 45 states, the top two anglers representing the Canadian Bass Anglers Federation and the two BoatUS Collegiate National Champions, all of whom competed at local, state and regional qualifiers to advance to the national contest. For most, the road to nationals has been a two year process, and now they compete to make it all worthwhile.

The tournament will be the compilation of three days of fishing. The accumulative weight of the first two days will decide the 14 anglers, the top boater and non-boater from each of 7 divisions, who will advance to day three competition. These 14 anglers will not only be fishing for the championship titles, but also they will have secured a spot in the 2010 BFL-All American to be held this May.     

The third stop on the 2010 FLW tour is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes, where our 2009 Federation National Champion, Robert Harkness, will be “Living the Dream”, competing for his share in cash and prizes, proving just how much is on the line this week at the 2010 Federation National Championship. 

The final day of the Federation National Championship will be held in conjunction with the final weigh-in day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The TBF competitors will launch each day at 7am at Ladd Park, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm EST. You can watch the full weigh in LIVE on www.flwoutdoors.com starting at 3pm EST.

Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America. TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year, and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.

Fishing today was tougher for some, better for others as day two of the 2010 Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard comes to a close. 14 TBF anglers, the top boater and co-angler from each of the 7 TBF divisions will advance to find out who will be leaving here National Champions. Those 14 anglers have already proven their worth and displayed skill and diligence making it through the local, state, & divisional tournaments. Now, they’ve conquered the top of their respective divisions and earned a spot in the BFL All-American, to be held May 25-27in Hot Springs, Ark. For most it will be the first time they’ll get to compete at that level. However, right now the focus is on the championship titles at stake, and the final day of fishing to decide the 2010 Federation National Champions, and the champion boater who will be “Living the Dream” fishing the FLW Outdoors Pro tour next year. 

Today’s tournament leader on the boater side is, Jason Knapp, from Uniontown, Pa., representing the state of Michigan and the TBF Northern Division. He had a five bass limit today of 19lb 5 ounces making his tournament total 34lb 13 ounces. Knapp caught his fish site fishing and brought in quite the limit. He snatched up a range of bass including, one largemouth, one spotted, and three smallmouths. “I just want to thank Jeff Cox and the Michigan TBF,” Knapp said. Tomorrow is a new day of fishing so we’ll see if he can hold on to the top spot.

Less than a pound away in second place, Jay Keith, from Camden, S.C., representing the TBF Southern Division had a limit weighing 17lb 12 ounces making his total tournament weight 33lb 14 ounces. Keith came all the way from 9^th place and rattled the competition to take over the number two spot. Keith was using an All-Star 7 2 Frog Rod with a Pflueger Tron Reel and Berkley 20lb big game, flipping a gambler, “flappy daddy” on the back of an Ernest Langley Jig. “I think I burned them up today and now they’re moving. But, I think I know where they’re going, so, tomorrow I will be moving with the fish,” Keith said. “I just want to thank the TBF, the South Carolina TBF and FLW Outdoors; this tournament, the Z520 Comanche Ranger Boats, and all the equipment have run great.” 

Eric Guimond, from Standish, Maine, brought in a limit of bass weighing 16lb 9 ounces making his total tournament weight 30lb 2 ounces. Guimond is in the third place slot, representing the TBF Eastern Division. 

Holding the tournament’s fourth spot is Clint Farris, from Crowley, Texas, with a limit weighing 12lb 7 ounces making his total weight 28lb 11 ounces. He qualified for the tournament as a co-angler and a last minute family emergency hindered the boater from his state, pushing Farris up to the boater competition. So far, so good for Farris as his boat, Farris and his co-angler, have brought in about 30lb of bass each day. “I’m just going to keep on keeping on,” Farris said. “I think the fish will replenish again tomorrow.” We’ll see tomorrow if it will be enough to knock out the current tournament leaders. 

 (Eric Guimond)

Fishing for the second slot in the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, presented by BP and Castrol is our leader on the co-angler side, Adam Williamson, from Ridgeway, SC, representing the TBF Southern Division. He caught four keepers weighing 10lb 11 ounces making his tournament total 24lb 2 ounces. Williamson has already earned a spot in the BFL All-American being the top co-angler in his division. “My goal was to make it to the BFL All-American and I made the cut by 2 ounces; I’ve never made it this far before and I’m excited,” Williamson said. He plans to fish the same way he has all week, which has clearly worked so far. “Well, I had a great boater today in John Pritchett and I owe the whole catch to him. He let me go to my waters to fish and we both ended up with good bags.”

The competition is heating up and the anglers are focused on the prize; the final day of the 2010 Federation National Championship will highlight the TBF anglers who’ve rose above the pack and earned the right to be crowned TBF National Champions, and for one the opportunity to be “Living the Dream” fishing on the FLW tour.

The “Living the Dream” $100,000 cash and prize package will include, fully paid entry fees into the FLW tour, travel funds and use of a wrapped Ranger Boat and Chevrolet truck for the year. Also, the 2010 National Champions, on the boater and non-boater side, will be receiving entrance into the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol, Aug 5-8^th, in Atlanta, Ga.

The third stop on the 2010 FLW tour is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes, where our 2009 Federation National Champion, Robert Harkness, will be “Living the Dream”, competing for his share in cash and prizes, proving just how much is on the line this week at the 2010 Federation National Championship. 

The final day of the Federation National Championship will be held in conjunction with the final weigh-in day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The TBF competitors will launch each day at 7am at Ladd Park, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm.

Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The standings for the top 7 boaters advancing to the final day of the 2010 Federation National Championship are as follows; Jason Knapp, Uniontown, Pa.; Jay Keith, Camden, S.C.; Eric Guimond, Standish, Maine; Clint Farris, Crowley, Texas; Edward Loughran, Mechanicsville, Va.; Jason Rayls, Haskell, Texas; Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho. 

The standings for the top 7 co-anglers are as follows; Adam R Williamson, Ridgeway, S.C.; Randy Pierson, Oakdale, Calif.; Matthew Hartman, Fredricksburg, Pa.; Kevin Wells, South Shore, Ky.; Matt King, Olathe, Kan.; Gilbert Gagner, Highgate Springs, Vt.; Boyd Golightly, Preston, Idaho. 

Full results can be seen here

Sturtevant, Wis., May 5, 2010 – BRP and Evinrude announce the renewed partnership with The Bass Federation (TBF), the oldest and largest organized grass roots angling organization in the United States. TBF members are eligible for product rebates as well as contingency tournament funds through the expanded program.

The 2010 SouthWest Division Championship, Presented By RadBack Energy began today on the California Delta marking the beginning of the No Entry Fee 2010 TBF Division Championship Series. 

 The overall tournament leader after day one is Phillip Garcia, from Yuba City, Calif., with a limit of bass weighing 18lb 9ounces. Garcia is representing the 2010 TBF California State Team, and representing well. “I got them all in the boat,” Garcia said, getting just five bites and catching five fish. During pre-fishing, he wasn’t hitting one area for long like he is now, but moving around to find the hot spots. “I’d never thought I’d catch these fish in this area. My co-angler finished fishing his spots and we were close so I thought I would give it a try,” Garcia said. He got his last bite at 12:30 fishing a 300 yard stretch about 10-14 feet deep. “It’s a good stretch of water, so, I haven’t burned them up yet; tomorrow, I’m just going to go out there again and wing it.”   

Ryan Voorhees crowned 2010 TBF Southwest Division Overall Champion; California State team closes a three day hot streak for the title of 2010 TBF Southwest Division State Team Champions

TBF anglers went out with a bang, stroking them on the Delta today, as the 2010 Southwest Division Championship wrapped up in Bethel Island, Calif., at Russo’s Marina.  Two anglers from each state will move on, the first place finisher as the boater and second as the co-angler.  10 TBF anglers will advance to the 2011 Federation National Championship to vie for nearly a quarter of a million in cash and prizes.  These anglers were all smiles today at becoming one step closer to “Living the Dream” and the opportunity to compete at the most prestigious tournaments available to anglers today.  Now, they look to the future contest, hoping they will be the ones taking home the largest piece of the pie.
Ryan Voorhees, from Fresno, Calif., came from third to snatch the top spot from the one and two day leader, Phillip Garcia, from Yuba City, Calif.  Voorhees brought in an impressive 19lb 2ounces sack making his tournament total 47lb 13ounces and earning him the 2010 TBF Southwest Division Champion's title. 

 This is Voorhees’s fifth state team and his first time to qualify for the national contest.  “The biggest thing for me was just to fish with my team.  I really enjoy the camaraderie and the team part of it.  Of course, it’s great to win,” Voorhees said.  He nabbed his catch actually finesse fishing on the Delta; Texas rigging 1/16 ounce worms fishing through the weeds hunting for post-spawning fish.  “I thought some might be guarding the fry, so I went in with a subtle presentation trying to imitate a blue gill weaving in and out.  A lot of guys came out power fishing and the fish don’t want to cooperate with that on top of these unstable weather conditions.”  Voorhees wanted to thank his family and friends traveling with him.  “This just wouldn’t be possible without family; it wouldn’t be the same without them.”  

From day one, Larry Hardy, from Tonto Basin, Ariz., kept a tight grip on second place.  This didn’t changed today as his persistency landed him the second place finish and advancement into next years Federation National Championship representing the state of Arizona as the boater.  “I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” Hardy said.  This will be his first time to qualify for nationals in over 20 years of federation fishing.  “I’ve been in second and third a lot, but now, I’m just really, really happy.”  Hardy caught all his fish except one on drop shot using 6-8lb line.  “When I first got to the Delta I told myself I’d never come back, but the more and more time I spend here the more I like it.”  He wished to thank the TBF Staff.  “They just know what they’re doing; these tournaments are run so well, so smooth, they’re just great people.”  
In the state team battle, coming out on top as the 2010 Southwest Division Champions was the state team from California. 

California anglers did not exactly use their home lake knowledge early on, but proved sometimes when thngs are tough every little bit helps. Although they lead all three days, today they sealed the deal bringing in over 119lb today, making their catch 140 bass with a tournament total of 343lb 14ounces. 

 
California team member, Steve Dollard, from Hughson, Calif., had nothing but great things to say about his California State team and everyone involved. “I just want to thank all the staff, volunteers and Russo’s Marina for making such a great event possible.”  The California team didn’t stick with a specific strategy during the course of competition, rather adjusted for the changes in the weather.  “We pointed each other to good spots and helped each other out avoiding not so good ones.  We really worked well together this week, and we’re all glad to have won this as a team.”
The rest of the state standings are as follows:  Arizona; 124 fish, 298lb 15ounces; -  Utah  105 fish, 232lb 12ounces;  -Colorado; 102 fish, 224lb 3ounes; Nevada; 74 fish, 137lb 11ounces
The top 10 anglers advancing are as follows:  Ryan Voorhees, Fresno, Calif., boater, Phillip Garcia, Yuba City, Calif., co-angler; California; Larry Hardy, Tonto Basin, Ariz., boater, Bill Peterson, Scottsdale, Ariz., co-angler; Arizona; Mike Isbell, South Jordan, Utah, boater, John Hill, Grand Junction, Co., co-angler; Utah; Greg Gizzi, Widefield, Co., boater, Mike Hubbard, Dacono, Co., co-angler; Colorado; Joe Raftery, Las Vegas, Nev., boater, Mitch Geyer, Elko, Nev., co-angler; Nevada

 
Full Results Are Here.

Quality not quantity proved to be the case today as the Delta released some large beauties, but still kept the bite tight, as day two of the 2010 Southwest Division Championship presented by Radback Energy came to a close.

It was apparent that fishing was tough again today for many anglers as they brought their days catch back into Russo’s Marina.  Now, these TBF anglers are looking to tomorrow’s weigh-in, the final day of competition, to see who will be crowned the 2010 Southwest Division Champions.  10 TBF anglers will advance to the 2011 Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard, where they will vie for the championship title and their share of nearly a quarter of a million in cash and prizes.  There’s a lot on the line for these anglers and the contest is tight, so they’re all eager to see what the Delta will look like for them tomorrow as the final day of the 2010 Southwest Division Championship will be underway. 

Big stick, Phillip Garcia, from Yuba City, Calif., is leading the pack again today bringing in a five bass limit weighing 13lb 6ounces making his tournament total 31lb 15ounces. 

“I did what I said I was going to do, just go out there and wing it,” Garcia said.  He caught his big fish, a 5lb bass in one little spot that was the first place he’d ever fished on this lake.  “I had one big one and other than that I pretty much have the same bag as everyone else.  All stuff from my local knowledge; I knew the bite was so tough so I couldn’t go to the same places.”  This would be Garcia’s first time to qualify for the national championship.  When told he was lucky he said, “number one rule in fishing, you’re not lucky, just fortunate.” 

Exactly one pound away from taking the top spot is, Larry Hardy, from Tonto Basin, Ariz., who brought in a limit of bass weighing 14lb 4ounces making his total tournament weight 30lb 15ounces. 

Hardy was in second yesterday trailing by less than two pounds; today, he’s closing the gap inching closer and closer to the SouthWest Division championship title.  Hardy has been a federation fisherman for 20 years and never qualified for a national contest, so, qualifying tomorrow would be an amazing accomplishment for him and his wife.  “I did the same thing as yesterday, and in almost the same place,” Hardy said.  “Only it took me about an hour longer to catch my limit.”  Yesterday, he had his limit by 7:45, and today it was around 8:45.  “I would have had it sooner but I decided to jerk one fish and it broke off.  Tomorrow, I just hope they’re there; I’m going to the same place, I saved many places to try and I’m not leaving there.” 

Colorado’s Ben Lind weighed in a personal best and tournament big stringer of 21lb 4ounces, including tournament big bass of 9lb 15ounces. 

Lind vaults into 7^th from his 44^th place standing yesterday and leads the Colorado team now.  He caught his big bass around 12:30. 

Lind had several people to thank.  He broke a shaft on his trolling motor, and Greg Gizzi, from Widefield, CO., lent him his spare.  “I’m so grateful for him and what he did for me,” Lind said.  “Also, without my travel partner, Brandon White, and his evil eyes spotting we wouldn’t have spotted those fish in practice.”  Lind also wanted to thank his partner today, his non-boater, James Spence, from Elko, Nev.  “He let me fish those big fish today.  He is awesome and just an all-around great guy.” 

Tomorrow, 10 TBF anglers will walk away with bragging rights and the opportunity to fish in the most prestigious federation tournament there is, the Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard, with the hopes of one day being able to “Live the Dream”.

Full Standings Are Here.

The final days take off begins tomorrow Friday at 6am, the final weigh-in begins at 2pm at Russo’s Marina, on Bethel Island, Calif.

It is all free to the public.   

FULL story will be posted later tonight, full results are here. 

Georgia state team made a statement today-they’re here to win it-but North Carolina proves they’re not a force to be discounted as they fought to close the gap as day two of the 2010 Southern Division Championship presented by Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce wrapped up in Eufaula, Ala., today. Only one day of tournament fishing left to decide who will walk away as 2010 Southern Division Champions.  

There’s a lot at stake as over $32,000 in tournament Prizes, 14 spots in the 2011 Federation National Championship are up for grabs. The anglers are ready to bring all they got, one last push to see who will be crowned champions as the final day of 2010 Southern Division Championship will decide.

In third, just an ounce away, is Gregory Hoskinson, from Louisville, Ky., with five fish weighing 19lb 3ounces making his tournament total 38lb 5ounces. Hoskinson is holding the top spot in the state of Kentucky with a six pound lead. He qualified for the 2009 Federation National Championship and this week he’s fishing hard with the drive to make a repeat, what he brings tomorrow will decide if this will be year two in a row for this champion angler.

Full Results are  HERE.   

Professional bass fishing’s premier championship to head back to Arkansas

25.May.2010

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — FLW Outdoors and the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau announced Tuesday Hot Springs would once again host the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, Aug. 11-14, 2011, on Lake Ouachita. The last time the Forrest Wood Cup, the sport’s premier event, was held in Hot Springs was 2007 and Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., made professional fishing history winning the first $1 million first-place cash prize.

"We couldn't be happier about returning to Hot Springs for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup," said Charlie Evans, President and CEO of FLW Outdoors. "The then-record attendance we had at the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup and FLW Outdoors Expo speaks volumes about the enthusiasm for bass fishing that fans have throughout the state and the entire region."

Hot Springs isn't a new venue for FLW Outdoors' championship tournaments. The 2005 Forrest Wood Cup and FLW Outdoors Expo was held on Lake Hamilton, a sister lake to Lake Ouachita, and drew a then-record crowd of 40,671 fans to the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena over the course of four days. Those same fans ultimately witnessed Hot Springs resident and bass-fishing legend George Cochran reel in $500,000. The Forrest Wood Cup returned to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita in 2007 where many of those same fans and more, 61,967 to be exact, saw Suggs make history.

“The 2007 Forrest Wood Cup was by far the largest and most successful event we’ve ever held in the Hot Springs Convention Center since the construction of Summit Arena in 2003," said Steve Arrison, executive director for the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Hot Springs is a bass-fishing town situated along some fantastic lakes and full of fishing fans. There's no better place to hold the most lucrative event in the history of the sport."

In addition to the tournament and the international media coverage it will receive, the FLW Outdoors Expo, which will feature hundreds of exhibits and activities, will be held at the convention center and the live weigh-ins will be held at Summit Arena. Visitors from around the globe will not only catch the world's best bass-fishing action, they'll also receive great buys on everything from crankbaits to bass boats at the outdoor show.

One hot summer day kicked off the 2010 TBF Southern Division Championship presented by Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce in Eufaula, Ala., today as 83 anglers from seven states vie for the championship titles both overall and for their respective state teams. 14 TBF anglers will advance to the 2011 Federation National Championship. There’s a lot on the line; you could see it on their faces as the first push was made on day one of the 2010 Southern Division Championship.