94 TBF Champions eagerly await the start of TBF’s premier event
Ponca City, Okla., (April 11, 2011) – Kimball, Tenn., will host the widely anticipated 2011 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard on Nickajack Lake. For most, it is the trip of a lifetime, a process that started well over a year ago where grassroots anglers nationwide competed in seven TBF divisions to qualify for the no-entry fee 2010 TBF Division Championship Series. From there, the top two anglers from each state advance one boater and one co-angler, to compete in the no-entry fee 2011 Federation National Championship. The field also contains the Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) National Champions. 94 total championship anglers will face-off on Nickajack Lake, Thursday, April 14.
Warm weather and the revitalized productive fishery of Nickajack have been producing some heavy weights and TBF expects this week to not be any different. Local sources predict it might take as much as 23lbs a day to secure the win and with this level of talent, TBF anglers will not disappoint. The town of Kimball has really ramped up the welcome for the anglers coming from across the nation. A welcoming banquet and fireworks show is planned for Tuesday night of registration.
“The town of Kimball is very excited to be the host of the 2011 TBF Federation National Championship,” Mayor of Kimball, David Jackson, stated. “This event will mean a lot to our community and our local businesses. The economic boost to our town will be unreal, especially with the down turn in the economy. Our goal is to make this the best event of 2011, and we hope it encourages people from across the US to come visit and draws other fishermen here as well. We would like to thank TBF for choosing Kimball as the host city and we’re looking forward to hosting the anglers and their families.”
Grassroots fishing’s most prestigious event will be held in conjunction with a Walmart FLW Tour Major event. While the FLW Tour event is one pool up on Lake Chickamauga, TBF anglers will be on Nickajack Lake. An official practice day will be held Wednesday, April 13 followed by three days of competition, April 14-16. The entire field will compete Thursday and Friday with weigh-ins at Kimball Park. The final day the field will be cut to the top boater and co-angler from each of the seven TBF divisions. The national champion boater and co-angler will be crowned with the best three-day accumulative weight live on the FLW Tour main stage in the Chattanooga Convention Center. There are plenty of family activities, in Kimball, Tenn., and at the FLW Outdoors Expo in the Chattanooga Convention Center. There will be a National Guard Ranger Boat simulator ride, free to the public of all ages, at the Kimball Wal-Mart from 12 Noon to 6pm on Thursday the 14th. All Kimball weigh-ins start at 3:00pm CST at Kimball Park and are free to the public.
“‘The Federation’ has never been simply about fishing for money,” TBF President, Robert Cartlidge, stated. “Although these anglers will vie for their share of over two hundred thousand dollars in cash and prizes during this championship event, these 94 anglers are the very best this year out of literally tens of thousands of TBF members. If they don’t catch another fish, pride in that fact is something that can never be taken away. The cash to be claimed is a nice bonus but the real brass rings are the TBF $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package, two berths in the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup World Championship, and 14 berths in the 2011 BFL All-American presented by Chevy. We will show up in Kimball, Tennessee in April and see who claims them.”
On a national average a TBF member spends less than $200 a year in total TBF dues and entry fees. The lowest cost in the industry lets them advanced through their local state events to the Federation National Championship with the chance to advance to the biggest events in bass fishing; it’s quite a deal for the money. The event will be filmed for television and streamed live on the internet while the anglers are in Kimball, Tenn. TBF and its sponsor partners provide all 94 champion anglers entry fees to the official tournament, hotel rooms for the event, banquets, and amenities. Additionally, they’re provided use of a state of the art fully-rigged FLW Tour Ranger Boat. The TBF “Living The Dream” prize package is unique and unequaled in sport-fishing and awarded to the TBF National Champion Boater each year. The package includes: cash prize, sponsor merchandise, guaranteed spot in the 2011 BFL All-American, guaranteed spot in the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup, up to $24,000 in paid entry fees on the 2012 FLW Tour, travel expense stipends for each event, and use of a TBF “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude outboard for the 2012 FLW Tour Season.
ABOUT FLW OUTDOORS
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.
ABOUT THE BASS FEDERATION (TBF)
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, visit bassfederation.com or call 580.765.9031.
