Day One of TBF Central Division Championship

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.

Lewis and Clark Reservoir to host TBF Central Divisional

23.May.2008

YANKTON, S.D. — The Bass Federation 2008 Central Divisional Championship will be held on Lewis and Clark Reservoir in Yankton, S.D., June 4-6. As many as 96 competitors representing eight Central Division states – Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri – are expected to compete in the tournament.

The public is invited to the Springfield Recreation Area located in Springfield, S.D., to watch the takeoffs and weigh-ins at 6 a.m. and 2:30 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.

TBF National Championship anglers will compete for a share of more than $200,000 in cash and merchandise, including a $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package with use of a wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and paid entry fees into the Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions at the National Championship will receive a berth into the $1 million BFL All-American presented by Chevy, where boaters compete for a top award of $140,000 and co-anglers cast for a top award of $70,000. The winning boater and co-angler at the TBF National Championship will also advance to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol, where pros compete for a top award of $1 million and co-anglers fish for a top award of $50,000.

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.

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 Central Divisional Championship begins at daylight June 1 and continues through 2 p.m. June 3.

Delaware TBF Teaches Kids about Fishing

May 21, 2008

The Delaware TBF Bass Federation in conjunction with other demonstrators took part in a school field trip event at Trap Pond State Park in Laurel, Delaware as part of a Nemours 3-2-1 Almost None Program. The event took place on May 21, 2008 from 9:00 am till 1:30pm, where 930 students mostly 4th graders from various Eastern Shore schools participated.

Students were able to visit different stations to learn and par take in the activities. Delaware Federation TBF Youth Director, Fabian Rodriguez, set up a Delaware TBF Federation station with the “Reel Kids” casting target, where Lydia Newberry demonstrated three different styles of casting as Fabian explained each style and their application on the water. Fabian spoke about their youth program in the Federation which would advance two junior anglers to the National Guard Junior World Championship.

Fabian also talked about a new program (DVD) that the National Federation is currently working on about an after school fishing club or program. The DVD host is Mark Gintert, National Youth Director for the TBF Federation, Mark explained how education classes like math, science and language arts, are some of the very important tools used to be successful in any career, in this case, in the fishing industry and the career opportunities there are in this field.

.After the casting demonstration Ralph Newberry, Delaware TBF Federation president, talked about conservation and how our Federation is involved. Ralph talked about the oxygen study we are currently doing in the different bodies of water we fish, from checking the river to checking the livewells in the boats and holding tanks where we weigh in our days catch at the local tournaments and how we practice catch and release. We caught a few fish just minutes before the event started and kept them for show and tell in Fabian’s Ranger boat, a new Z 20 model.

After Nathan Newberry showed the bass and blue gills, he would put them back in the livewell water where an additive , Rejuvinade, was dissolved in the water to keep the fish live and well. Then students got a chance to touch the fish if they had never done so before and we answered many of their questions. The teachers were handed a fishing magazine and handouts about who to contact in the TBF and how to get started cards, also each students was given a color worksheet on local wildlife for them to identify, some of the teachers offered extra credit points for those who turned them in correctly. In all each presentation took about 25 minutes and we were able to complete about 9 sessions and everyone had fun as the students and teachers learned and experienced something new!

Publics Right To Access US Waters To Boat and Fish Taken To The US Supreme Court

Ponca City, Oklahoma – May 20, 2008

The Bass Federation, Inc. (TBF) announced today that together with the “Restore Our Water Access, Inc.” a Louisiana fishing organization known as ROWA, that a comprehensive Amicus Brief has been filed a with the U. S. Supreme Court in support of the public’s right to fish and boat on the navigable waters of America, including the Mississippi River. Over 40 other national and statewide fishing and boating organizations have joined together with ROWA and TBF in support of the brief.

Mr. Artie Nevels, President of ROWA, stated, “In 1873, in The Slaughterhouse Cases, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the public’s right to boat and fish on navigable waters was a common right of all U.S. citizens. The arrest of the five Louisiana fishermen fishing the Mississippi River violated those men’s rights of citizenship. The Amicus brief filed in this matter re-affirms our rights of citizenship. This is a national crusade to re-affirm the public’s right to fish, hunt and boat on America’s navigable waters. ROWA is proud to be the national leader in restoring America’s access to public waters from California to Maine.”

The five Louisiana fishermen arrested while fishing on the Mississippi River, filed their application for another appeal to the United States Supreme Court on April 15, 2008. On May 15, 2008, the coalition of 40 national and state-wide conservation and fishing groups. In this case, groups from twenty-five of the states, including all the states that border on the Mississippi River, have joined in the fight to re-affirm under federal law the public’s right to use the navigable rivers of America up to normal high water. Also joining the Amicus are groups from Wisconsin, Connecticut, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Maine, Minnesota and Oregon. The group is led by ROWA and supported by such prominent groups as The Bass Federation (TBF), Planning and Conservation League, FLW Outdoors, Oklahoma Anglers Unlimited, Association of Northwest Steelheaders, Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and many others who have signed on to the brief in support of the Louisiana Fishermen in their defense of fishing on navigable waters.

The Amicus brief is a pleading used by persons who have a vital interest in the matter before the Court, and desire to support one side of the argument. The group which is made up of fishing, boating and conservation groups hired Emory Law School Professor, David Bedermen, to prepare the amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court. Professor Bedermen is an experienced appellate attorney, and legal expert on national water rights.

According to Robert Cartlidge, President of TBF, “ROWA, is the leading Louisiana advocacy group that supports recreational use of all of Louisiana’s public waters, and they are the moving force in organizing the national support for the Louisiana fishermen in this case. TBF has many members up and down the Mississippi river basin and access to public waters, as well as public waters being held for private use to the exclusion of America’s citizens is a growing concern for TBF and our membership nationwide not just in Louisiana. TBF is proud to be partnered with ROWA on this endeavor. We urge all boaters, hunters and anglers to get behind this group and lend your support. If we do not do it today it may be in your back yard next time and “to late”.”

Mr. Artie Nevels, President of ROWA, stated that “With the joining of these national fishing and conservation groups in common support of public recreational use of America’s navigable waters, the legal stage has been set at the Supreme Court to re-affirm the public’s right to use navigable waters of America.

**At its 2007 annual meeting the National Wildlife Federal passed a resolution supporting public recreational use of navigable waters up to normal high water. In May 2008, the Louisiana Recreational Freshwater Fishing Taskforce under the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department, also passed a resolution in support of public fishing in navigable waters. Public access to navigable waters for fishing and boating is a national movement”

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Artie Nevels, President of ROWA velnev@aol.com or Paul Hurd at paul@paulhurdlawoffice.com