Washington and Oregon TBF organizations have successfully concluded the 2024 season with our season finale. The joint TBF National Semi Finals tournament between Washington and Oregon was held this past weekend on the mighty Columbia River at Clover Island in the Port of Kennewick, WA. Hosted this year by the Washington State Bass Federation with assistance from the Oregon TBF, the event was very well orchestrated, and many memories were made. The weekend started off with the mandatory registration meeting. Pizza was served as we discussed the rules and logistics of the weekend’s events. A few year-end awards were given out then partner pairings were given out. Each pair was dismissed to discuss a strategy for next morning.
Each morning the contestants were greeted with freshly made local coffee. Livewell inspections were swiftly done, and boaters were allowed to launch. The blast off staging area was cast in the orange glow of the morning sun as it just began to break the horizon. First day of the event gave everyone bluebird sky conditions and flat calm waters to enjoy. The fishing however seemed to suffer from these conditions. The contestants all struggled to locate the size and quantity of what they had seen in practice days.
The final day started off with the same spectacular sunrise as the contestants blasted off. The weather as predicted, changed and the wind started to blow. Being on a river system with high canyon walls this is always a concern for our people. Luckily the conditions never got extreme, and all were able to safely navigate the waters. The change in weather conditions paid off in the size and number of fish that were caught. Our top two Co-anglers both weighed in 20+ lbs bags including big fish for the event, a 6.98lb largemouth. Multiple big bags were brought to the scales as both the boaters and co-anglers battled it out to become the state champions. The awards were presented at the base of the lighthouse on Clover Island. The lighthouse overlooks the river and makes the perfect backdrop for photos of our winners and state champions. The excitement level in the Pacific Northwest is high and gaining momentum. Both states are already gearing up for an exciting 2025 season and next year’s national semi-finals event.
