Mid-Atlantic Division Anglers Dominates At The 2025 TBF Federation National Championship.
Maryland Boater Jonathan Lang and Co-Angler Kade Wesner from Pennsylvania wins bulk of the over $400,000 in cash, prizes and awards as well as the TBF National Champion titles at Lake Dardanelle, AR.
Russellville, AR, March 4, 2025 – For Release
The Bass Federation (TBF) has long been separated into 7 geographical divisions. The Northwest, Southwest, Central, Northern, Southern, Mid-Atlantic and Eastern divisions. Along with that the TBF Federation National Championship has had a very unique format for many decades to even the playing field.
Boaters and Co-anglers qualify through their home state federations to advance to one of 22 close to home TBF National Semi-final events. From there at least one boater and one co-angler from each state advances to the TBF Federation National Championship to represent their home state and their home division.
Once at The TBF Federation National Championship the anglers only compete within their home division the first two days. Then on day three each of the 7 division champions boaters and Co-anglers compete for the National Champions title using their 3 day combined weight totals.
Jonathan Lang the boater from the Maryland TBF Federation in the Mid-Atlantic Division of TBF held the overall lead on day 1 with a 17-11 bag, he had a very respectable 16-10 on day 2. However, with Oklahoma’s Bradley Sullivan (Central Div) and Alabama’s Chad Sykes (Southern Div) both weighing in a 21 pound plus bag on day two Lang dropped in the overall standings into 3rd place, but he maintained his lead in the Mid Atlantic Division which is all that mattered as that advanced him to the final day competition among the Division Champions.
“Every single day of the event was plagued by weather issues,” Stated Robert Cartlidge the TBF Federation National President. “A historic once in a generation flooding event was happening all around us in Arkansas. We received 6 inches of rain over the 3 tournament day’s and it was still raining when we left town. Day one was a shortened day; we weighed in at 1:00pm instead of 3:00pm to be done before a storm front arrived. Day 2 we had lightening in the area before daylight, but were clear for take-off and we got in a full day with a 3:00pm weigh-in although a bit of rain and hail during the day. Then on the final day we had both, anglers were forced to sit in their trucks while lightening cleared the area for take-off and another front was coming in late that afternoon forcing a 1:00pm weigh in again. The anglers handled it great! They caught good fish and everyone was safe. A special thanks to all local weather officials on their expert input.”
No one was more surprised to win the TBF National Championship on the final day than Lang. He weighed in then had to wait and watch while Oklahoma and Alabama both weighed in after him, but neither could beat his 3-day weight of 46-12 ounces.
Lang reporting catching nearly all his fish for the week on a black and blue chatter bait. This win secured his name in the history books as one of only a few people in the world that hold that title. For his win, Lang also received the title and coveted National Champions trophy and the $125,000.00 TBF Living Your Dream prize package consisting of a brand-new Ranger Z520 Boat and matching Ranger Trail trailer, fully rigged with a 250 HP outboard and ready to go! Power Pole kicked in a couple new Power poles for the Ranger Boat as well. Then there was a $20,000 check, advancement spots in the BFL All-America and to the Toyota Series Championship with our partners in fishing at MLF, $5,000 worth of paid entry fees into whatever he would like to fish and more!
On the Co-angler side it was Pennsylvania’s Kade Wesner, also from the Mid-Atlantic Division of TBF who ultimately took home the title of Co-Angler National Champion.
Going into the final day as the Mid-Atlantic Div champ Wesner sat in 2nd place overall with 24-13 on the Co-angler side behind the Eastern division angler from Maine, Toby Cross who had 29-15. When the scales settled in on day 3, Wesner won from the back of the boat with 42-05 and gave all the credit to his daily boaters. For his win Kade Wesner took the Co-Angler National Champions “Live your dream” prize package including the champions trophy, a $20,000 check, advancement spot into the BFL All American and Toyota series championship from our partners in fishing at MLF, paid entry fees up to $2,500 into whatever he wishes to fish and Minn Kota added a trolling motor and more!
The Division Champions that qualified for the final day 3 event and their final order of finish was as follows on the boater’s side. Mid-Atlantic Division Jonathan Lang, Maryland with 46 pounds and 12 ounces. Central Divisions Bradley Sullivan, Oklahoma – 45-00, Southern Divisions Chad Sykes, Alabama – 44-10, Northern Divisions Mike Puterbaugh, Wisconsin -44-03, Southwest Divisions, Brandon Morton, Arizona -39-08, Northwest Divisions Loren Torok, Idaho – 38-09 and the Eastern Divisions Matt Thoin, New Hampshire – 37-06. Back row standing left to right.
On the Co-Angler side the division champions and their final place of finish were: Mid Atlantic Div. Kade Wesner, Pennsylvania – 42-05, Central Div. Austin Abadie, Louisiana – 39-08, Eastern Div. Toby Cross, Maine, 29-15, Southwest Div. Andy Morita, California – 22-10, Northern Div. Arthur Stahlhut, Michigan – 19-14, Southern Div. Shelton Yonce, South Carolina – 18-08 and Northwest Div. Steven Houston, Idaho -16-09 Front row kneeling left to right.
The annual event is filmed for television to highlight TBF Federation anglers and our program will air on Federation Angler TV on the Pursuit Channel, and on Outdoor Action TV and various other networks. In total the tournament awards for this event was more than $400,000 in cash, prizes, stipends and bonuses, with every angler receiving some amount and memorabilia.
To find out how you can get started fishing TBF and earn a spot in the 2026 TBF Federation National Championship go to bassfederation.com to contact us or click a link to contact your State Federation President.
About TBF The Bass Federation Inc. is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America and a member of the freshwater fishing hall of fame. TBF is 100 % owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and has provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 50 years. The Bass Federation is proud “Partners in Fishing” with industry-leading companies including MLF, Ranger Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, T-H Marine, Power Pole, Lew’s, Strike King Minn Kota, Humminbird, Rapala, VMC Hooks, Suffix Line, Rapala Crush City baits and FacultyOfFishing.com. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580-765-9031. Look for TBF on facebook at Facebook.com/thebassfederation
