Missouri and Kansas Advance Anglers to Nationals
The Missouri TBF played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 7 on Truman Lake in Warsaw, Mo. 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.
In District 7, top TBF anglers competed October 1-2 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.
A total of $8,520 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 21 boat field divvied up $4,725 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater who runs a 2012 or newer Evinrude.
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fter two days of competition, the District 7 National Semi-Final Champion titles would go to the boater from Missouri, Roger Edwards with 22.21 pounds who received a $1,500 cash prize. The co-angler champion was Ray Cates from Kansas with 15.17 pounds who received $750.
The other two anglers to advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship were the highest finishing boater from Kansas, Craig Wolf, with 12.95 pounds and the highest finishing co-angler from Missouri, Dave Lindner, with 11.48 pounds.
Don Heiser nabbed the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest Ranger Cup qualified angler along with his $750 second place overall purse.
The Kansas TBF won the District 7 State Pride Award and became the first state to win over the home team advantage. They also won by the narrowest margin yet with 57.90 pounds right ahead of Missouri’s 52.46 pounds. The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and top four co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.
Day one brought good sacks of bass to the scales but also mixed emotions as anglers struggled to find limits. A few lunkers and some four fish bags would, however, set the pace for the two day tournament.
Big bass of the day went to Heiser with a 6.26 pound beauty. Edwards came out leading it with 15.77 pounds. A total of 64 fish weighing 189 pounds came to the scale on day one.
Day two was a totally different story; launch was delayed due to fog and even by 10am anglers reported pockets of dense fog on the lake. The weights would reflect the foggy conditions.
Chris Young captured big sack on day two with 10.31 pounds, but it wouldn’t be enough to knock Edwards off the title platform. Mick Maples showed off his big bass of the day weighing 5.59 pounds.
The event was sponsored by the City of Warsaw, Truman Lodge and Ferg’s Diner; Missouri TBF and The Bass Federation would like to thank all the sponsors for the help with the event.
