Sixty TBF anglers from five states in the Northwest Division gather this week on Pot Holes Reservoir in Moses Lake, Wash., to compete for the division championship titles both in the individual and state team standings. The championship event is hosted on a yearly rotation; this year, the Washington Bass Federation plays host.
Anglers are consistently catching 20lb bags of mostly smallmouth and some
largemouth bass on Pot Holes Reservoir. Out in front on day one and holding on by less than a pound after day two, is Idaho state team angler, Chad Kaiser, from Hayden, Idaho.
“The weather’s been great; a week ago it was 28 degrees, this afternoon it will be 95,” Kaiser said. “It’s kind of unusual for this area, but it’s great. The fish are all just piling up; it’s going to get even better today.” Kaiser brought in five bass limits on both tournament days with 26lbs 1ounce on day one and 20lbs 4ounces on day two.
“All the fish are pulling up off the beds, and more and more keep filling up the areas I’ve been fishing,” Kaiser continued. “I’ve been catching a mix of smallmouth and largemouth, getting a limit then going through and picking out the big ones, just working them.” Today, Kaiser is looking for largemouth in the hunt for his number one goal, nationals. “I’ve fished every divisional since 2007 and never advanced to nationals. I’m so close; my main goal is just to make it for my state. I am ready for nationals.”
Kaiser led the Idaho state team to the top on day one, but on day two they were edged out by Oregon. Today, Kaiser hopes to take them all the way. “We’ve all talked about catching fish in our meetings,” Kaiser said. “I helped them out with what I know and told them what to look for out there; hopefully, we can make a run at it.”
This week 10 TBF anglers, the top two from each state, will advance to the 2014 Federation National Championship. A division champion in the individual and state team standings will also leave here with the titles and all the bragging rights as the 2013 Northwest Division Championship presented by Berkley wraps up today in Moses Lake, Wash.
