Well, today is the day that Federation anglers across North America have fished for all last year.
The first tournament day of the 2021 TBF Federation National Championship on the Red River at Shreveport, LA. A lot has happened on the Red River with Federation anglers over the years. It has the reputation of being one of those places where the very best rise to the top. There are always a lot of variables on the Red River to take into consideration. Starting with high water one day and low water the next and locks, debris, bad things can happen if you run outside the channel markers, fish there one day and gone the next, and oh yea, things like alligators that many anglers here have never seen in the wild. These are but a few variables anglers have to be focused on and aware of but those who can figure it out may well go on to careers in fishing.
The Federation Championship’s first stop on the Red River was in 1997 Alabama’s Dalton Bobo won that event and the backwater he won it in is still named the bobo hole to this day. Then The Federation championship came back in 1999 and a young NJ Federation angler named Mike Iaconelli won that event and launched his pro career. Then the last time it was held here was in 2002 where an Illinois angler Ken Crist lead that event wire to wire fishing a 50-75 yard stretch all week to win.
Now we are back here thanks to the Shreveport Bossier City Sports Commission and the Red River waterway Commission to make some history again. Almost 300,000 in tournament payouts plus another almost 100K in housing, meals, boat gas stipends and etc will be paid out this week starting with the $125,000 TBF Living YOUR Dream prize package to the TBF National Championship boater and a $35,000 Live YOUR dream prize package to the TBF National Championship Non-Boater on Saturday.
The boater champions package includes a fully rigged Ranger Z520 powered by a 250 hp motor, full electronics, trolling motor, power poles the works, it is their to keep and live their dream out of. PLUS $20,000 in cash, PLUS $5,000 in paid entries to any circuit they want to fish. Plus travel stipends to fish that circuit as well as advancement spots into the 2021 BFL All -American, The 2021 MLF BIg 5 Toyota Series Championship a berth into the MLF BIG 5 Pro Series, and MORE.
The non-boater champions package includes $20,000 cash plus a Live YOUR dream entry fee stipend of $2500 to fish whatever they wish. Plus travel stipends to fish that circuit as well as advancement spots into the 2021 BFL All -American, The 2021 MLF BIg 5 Toyota Series Championship, and MORE.
Each of the 7 TBF Division Champion Boaters and Non-Boaters also each received an LYD package and advancement to the 2021 BFL All American!
WHO will win?
We find out together as it all starts today at 3:00 pm CT right here and at Red Rivier South Marina
