Anglers Struggle to Find Keepers on Day One at Table Rock Lake; Brodnicki and Pardue Lead the Pack

Day one of the 2017 Federation National Championship is in the books.  Anglers are finding fish but several struggled to reach that 15 inch mark.  Others managed to land them and look forward to what tomorrow brings as day two rolls out on Table Rock Lake in Kimberling City, Mo.

Brad Brodnicki from New York brought in one of the five bass limits, which weighed 15 pounds 8 ounces to pull ahead of the 204 boat field.  “My practice didn’t go as well, I’d catch one here and there but ending up running around looking for spots.  Today, I basically stopped fishing around 11 o’clock, then laid off my spots,” Brodnicki said.  “Figured if I had enough weight I’d kinda hold off until tomorrow. On multi-day tournaments you’ve got to manage your fish; that’s key.

Although the wind seemed to hold steady, the weather out there today couldn’t make up its mind.  The sun peaked out one minute just to rain the next.  “I don’t think the weather pattern affected my fishing at all.  I do hear the fish change daily here though so we’ll see.  I don’t have much experience fishing south, especially here; but, I do have a lot of confidence in my pattern.”

Leading on the co-angler side is Grey Pardue from North Carolina with a five fish limit weighing 12 pounds 11 ounces.  “I didn’t realize I was in the lead; I had no idea,” Pardue said.  “It had a lot to do with my boater.  I picked up one rod and that’s what I threw all day; I did miss a lot of fish, so I’m just very fortunate to get those in the boat.”

Pardue owns a roofing company in North Carolina and his employees and daughter text him after seeing him walk across the stage on TBF’s live stream.  “Yes, my daughter and my co-workers kept texting me after the weigh-in; apparently, I got to hurry up and win so I can get back and get them to work,” Pardue laughed.

Both the national champion boater and co-angler are vying for increased cash payouts and prize packages fishing on the Pro circuit level, so there’s a lot on the line this week.  Tomorrow, the field will be cut advancing the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the 49 states represented.  Those anglers will then get the opportunity to fish out of brand new, fully rigged Ranger Boats on Wednesday.

The fish are out there, some proved that today.  It will all boil down to who can grind it out on an unpredictable, yet promising Table Rock Lake as the 2017 Federation National Championship continues.

Tune into www.bassfederation.com for LIVE streaming of the event tomorrow at 3pm CST.  All updated and pictures of the event will also be shared on TBF’s Facebook page.

FULL RESULTS

FULL RESULTS BY STATE

 

2017 Federation National Championship is one for the Record Books

 204 TBF State Champion and National Semi-Final Qualifiers Travel to Table Rock to Make History

The Bass Federation club and state federations across the nation are growing in response to the new National Semi-Final tournament format and this week that excitement culminates on Table Rock Lake in Kimberling City, Mo., as the first of its kind, 2017 Federation National Championship kicks off.   The largest payout, a 204 angler field, huge prize giveaways and free swag are just to name of a few of the added perks to the new format.

Last night, registration kicked off with a walk through of freebies, including a goodie bag from the Table Rock Chamber of Commerce, Ranger, Lowrance and Evinrude hats, Federation National Champion rods and qualifier fleece jackets, Cabela’s gift cards, 100% polarized Solar Bat sunglasses, TBF decals and Berkley baits.  On top of that, four lucky anglers were drawn to receive a Minn Kota 80lb thrust trolling motor, a Lowrance HDS 9, an Evinrude prop and a Humminbird Helix 9.

With all the additions, one thing remains the same; this week the 2017 Federation National Champion boater and co-angler will be crowned.  The winning champion boater will receive the $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package to include an increased cash prize check, fully paid entry fees on the 2018 FLW Tour as a Pro, travel expense stipends for each event and use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Ranger boat for the year.  The national champion co-angler will also receive an increased cash payout and fully paid entry fees into the FLW Series division of his/her choice.

TBF National Championship anglers will compete for berths in two of the sport’s most coveted events – the Forrest Wood Cup and the BFL All-American. The top boater and co-angler from each of the seven TBF divisions will advance to the 2017 BFL All-American. The TBF Federation National Champion boater will also advance to the world championship of bass fishing, the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup for a shot at winning the biggest payday in bass fishing.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be broadcast in high-definition on the NBC Sports Network and streamed live on bassfederation.com.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call 580-765-9031. Look for TBF on Facebook to follow all the updates and pictures from the event.

For more information about the Table Rock area, contact Sheila Thomas, Table Rock Chamber, 417-739-2564 or on Facebook.

 

 

Kentucky’s Trophy Bass Program Opens for the Season

Department seeks angler donations to build a better bass fishery

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 6, 2017) — When Murray resident Austin Gruner caught an 8.2-ounce largemouth bass bulging with developing eggs from Kentucky Lake on Feb. 10, he didn’t keep it.

Instead, Gruner took his trophy to Fisherman’s Headquarters in Benton, where employees held it for pick up by a Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources hatchery truck.

“Austin’s fish is the first donation we’ve received this year for the department’s Trophy Bass Propagation Program,” said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We’re seeking additional donations of big bass caught in other lakes so we can increase the potential for oversized largemouths in Kentucky’s waters.”

Trophy bass donated to the program go to Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery near Frankfort for spawning. The department stocks the trophy offspring to the original lake and select other lakes in fall.

Anglers really don’t lose their trophy. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife gives participants professionally mounted, fiberglass reproductions of their fish in return for the donation. Photos of the four bass donated in 2016 – the inaugural season of the program – are viewable online at www.fw.ky.gov by searching under the keywords, “Trophy Bass Propagation Program.”

In spring, Kentucky’s program only accepts female bass weighing more than 8 pounds, and male bass weighing more than 6 pounds. Fish this size generally exceed 22 inches in length. In fall, the department accepts fish of any gender weighing more than 7 pounds. The seasonal program shuts down for the summer on May 31, because the higher temperatures are stressful to the fish and reduce the chances of survival.

Anglers should take their trophy bass to a participating bait shop as soon as possible, rather than leaving the fish in a livewell or stringer for an extended period of time. Bait shop employees will hold the fish in aerated bait tanks until a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife employee can pick up the bass and take it to a hatchery.

Look for more information about the trophy bass program, fish handling tips and a list participating bait shops on the department’s website, www.fw.ky.gov.

California and Arizona Advance Anglers to Federation National Championship

The California Bass Federation played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 23 and the last to wrap up the 2016 TBF National Semi-Final Series.  The contest was held February 18-19 on Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu City, Ca.  The new TBF National Semi-Finals program pits top grassroots anglers from each state in a “close to home” weekend event with neighboring states for significant cash prizes and advancements.

The anglers were greeted with beautiful weather going into practice but by Saturday the forecast called for rain and 20mph winds with gusts up to 30mph.  Fortunately, the weather laid down a bit as 24 boats launched from Lake Havasu Marina with overcast skies.

On day one, Charlie Crawford, from Arizona commanded a solid lead on the boater’s side with a limit of bass weighing 18.02 pounds.  Right behind him were Arizona anglers, Max Hernandez with a limit weighing 17.78 pounds and Chris Cook with 13.68 pounds.  In fourth and leading the California boaters, was George Fedor with 11.91 pounds.

Richard Vizcarra from Arizona led the co-angler side with a limit of bass weighing 11.31 pounds.  The California leader was Aaron Sok-Jung Yun with two fish totaling 7.31 pounds.

After two days of competition, Charlie Crawford held on to the lead to win the 2017 District 23 NSF event.  Crawford caught four fish weighing 11.39 pounds to make his two day total 29.41 pounds.  He received a $1,690 paycheck and a slot in the 2017 Federation National Championship.

George Fedor came in second overall and was the highest finishing California boater.  Fedor was also the only boater to catch a limit both days for a two day total of 25.44 pounds.  He scored a $870 paycheck for his two days of work and will also advance to the national event.

On the co-angler side, Robin Oh of California came from behind to win with 20.42 pounds ousting day one leader, Vizcarra of Arizona who had 15.20 pounds.  Both anglers will advance as the top co-angler’s representing their respective states.

The Arizona Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the first District 23 State Pride Award with 78.13 total pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.

$500 Ranger Cup winner, Bryan Kurata

A total of $9,480 with 131.5% payback in cash and prizes, National Semi-Final qualifying jerseys, trophies, champion titles and slots in the national championship were awarded in the boater and co-angler divisions.  The top four boaters and co-anglers in the 24 boat field divvied up $5,400 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater (if he/she runs a 2012 or newer Evinrude).

In District 23, top TBF anglers competed for the chance to advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship and to win enough cash to travel to the spring event.  Anglers qualify for the semi-finals in one of two ways.  Active state clubs in good standing can send their top two anglers directly to the semi-final event, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater.

The new format pays back 100% of the entry fees, 75% to the top 20% of the field, 10% to the state federations and 15% to the TBF Federation National Championship.  In the new NSF rules, a co-angler can also move up as a boater if his/her weight totals more than the state boater’s weight.

The new event format went well thanks to its hosts, the California Bass Federation and all their support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.

FULL RESULTS

PAYOUT