Delaware, Maryland and Nation’s Capital Advance Anglers to National Event
The Maryland Bass Federation hosted the 2017 TBF National Semifinal District 13 event September 30 and October 1 on the Upper Chesapeake Bay out of Dundee State Park. The event was originally scheduled as a two day event but due to high winds competition days were cut to one. Sunday’s temperatures were in the low 40’s with high pressure and low tide conditions, the result of Saturday’s harsh weather conditions. But, 60 TBF anglers braved the weather to fish for state bragging rights, deep payouts, trophies, Ranger Cup and Evinrude contingencies plus coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship.
A total of $11,400 with 126% payback was awarded in cash and prizes. The top six boaters and co-anglers in the 30 boat field divvied up $6,750 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater (if he/she runs a 2012 or newer Etec Evinrude).
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. In District 13, the National Semi-Final Co-angler Champion did just that. Maryland’s Ron Stierstorfer brought a limit of bass to the scales weighing 18.40 pounds to win the title, a $1,000 paycheck plus a boater slot in the 2018 Federation National Championship.
The NSF boater champion was Brian Trieschman from Nation’s Capital. Trieschman had a tournament total of 18.10 pounds for a total cash payout of $2,000. Trieschman will also advance to nationals as a boater representing his state.
The other anglers advancing in the boater division are Delaware’s Craig Morris who had 16.42 pounds and Maryland’s Dan Rodriguez with 11.26 pounds. The co-anglers advancing to represent Delaware and Nation’s Capital are Adam Wall with 13.32 pounds and Jason Pierson with 8.51 pounds.
The Delaware Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the District 13 State Pride Award with 69.05 pounds. The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers selected prior to the event from each state.
The National Semi-Final format rolled out last year replacing the divisional events and state team line-ups. TBF anglers can now advance to a close-to-home NSF event in one of two ways. Active state clubs can advance their top two anglers, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater. The new format has been highly successful with state participation and membership up across the nation.
The event went well thanks to the Maryland Bass Federation that ran the event and all the support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.
