APRIL 8, 2014—GROVE, OK—Ninety-four of North America’s best grassroots bass tournament anglers are set to square off for more than $200,000 in cash and prizes this week at The Bass Federation’s 2014 National Championship on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake.
Representing 46 U.S. states and the province of Ontario, the anglers qualified by competing in state and regional TBF competitions. Widely considered the pinnacle of grassroots bass tournaments, the championship features Boater and Non-Boater divisions. In addition to offering cash, prizes and ultimate bragging rights in the blue-collar bass world, the event will catapult the winner of each division into the next level of tournament competition with a paid entry into the prestigious BFL All-American Tournament and an invitation to fish the FLW Forrest Wood Cup.
Both will also win a coveted TBF Living The Dream Package. The boater’s purse includes paid entry fees to the FLW Tour as a touring pro, plus cash, the use of a custom-wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat for the year, and a travel stipend for each event. The top non-boater will receive fully paid entry fees into the Ray-O-Vac Series of choice.
“While not every bass angler can or wants to fish full-time for a living, deep down we all want to see how we stack up against the pros on the FLW Tour,” said TBF national president Robert Cartlidge. “The TBF National Championship provides that opportunity.”
“TBF has provided the foundation of competitive bass fishing for more than 45 years, and this event is its cornerstone,” added Kelly Gohman, TBF national vice president of sales and marketing.
Additional cash and prizes up for grabs include a new, fully-rigged Ranger Z 518c to the top Ranger Cup-qualified boater, and $5,000 to the top non-boater in the Ranger Cup Program. Plus, the Grand Lake Extravaganza offers the chance at catching a tagged fish worth $250,000.
Along with the thrill of world-class tournament competition, anglers fishing the TBF National Championship are treated to the use of a brand-new, fully-rigged Ranger boat during the event. Plus, all boat gas, oil and lunches are provided free of charge courtesy of TBF and FLW.
The TBF National Championship runs April 10-12 on Grand Lake. Take-offs all three days will be held at Wolf Creek Park, beginning at 7 a.m. on Day 1 and Day 2, and 6:45 a.m. on Day 3. Weigh-ins Day 1 and 2 will be held at Wolf Creek beginning at 3 p.m. On Day 3, the 2014 national champions will be crowned on the FLW stage at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Arkansas. Held in conjunction with the FLW Tour’s Beaver Lake tournament, the final day’s festivities include the FLW Expo beginning at noon; TBF weigh-in at 3 p.m.; and FLW Tour weigh-in at 4 p.m. All activities are free and open to the public.
The TBF National Championship is produced by a partnership between The Bass Federation and FLW Outdoors. Sponsors include Chevy, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Cabela’s, Solar Bat, Berkley, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Indigo Sky Casino, Grand Lake Association and Travel Oklahoma. For details, visit bassfederation.com, contact TBF National Headquarters at (580) 765-9031.
