Dye Maintains Overall Lead – Virginia Team In Commanding Lead

Kerr Lake-South Hill, VA – Sept 22, 2011 – After day two of the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Division Championship, presented by Solar Bat, the bite appeared to be tougher on the anglers. Only seven anglers caught limits today. Anglers are going to have to buckle down as the top two anglers from each state will be moving on after tomorrow’s weigh-in to the 2012 TBF National Championship.

Yesterday’s leader, Ronald Dye of Abingdon, VA and the Virginia Bass Federation, has maintained his lead – even out of the back of the boat! Dye has a 2-day total of 23 lbs 2 oz, a good 3 lb 11 oz lead over the 2nd place angler, Ed Loughran of the DC Federation. “Fishing was a lot tougher today and I had a hard time catching ‘em, but was able to bring in a limit. I also had a good partner today,” Dye said. Dye is fishing as a non-boater for this tournament. But if he finishes in the top of his state federation of Virginia, he will qualify for the 2012 TBF National Championship as a boater. “I just gotta hope for the best tomorrow!” This would be his first time to qualify for the TBF National Championship in the 25 years he’s been a Federation Member. Continue reading

Low Lake and Light Weights; Virginia and Dye Out in Front

Day One Leader

South Hill, Va.-September 21, 2011 The lake is low and the clear bite is tough on day one of the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Division Championship on Kerr Lake in South Hill, Va.  TBF anglers representing seven states face off this week to crown this year’s division champions in the individual and state team standings.  Anglers hoped the hurricane that swept through a couple weeks ago would fill the lake, but it didn’t, which has made anglers fight for the bite.  “The fish are there; the guys can see them,” TBF President and weighmaster, Robert Cartlidge, said.  “They’re just having trouble landing the bite.”  Tough water or not, nearly 415lbs of fish were caught today on Kerr Lake, and Virginia State Team brought in a whopping 88lb 4oounces of it to take the lead after day one of the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Division Championship. Continue reading

Maine Makes it Happen; First-time TBF Eastern Division Champions! Acox Snags the Overall Win to be Three-Peat National Qualifier

Bruce Acox Division Champion

All week the Maine state team has said they weren’t here to take second place. Again.  Today, they went all out to shake the record books with their first TBF Eastern Division Championship Title as the final day of the 2011 Eastern Division Championship came to a close on Lake Sebago, in Casco, Maine.  The home team advantage didn’t help their less than stellar second day performance, as Massachusetts state team closed the gap to less than two pounds.  But, the hunger for their first championship title prevailed.  In the individual standings, Bruce Acox crept up from second on day one to lead it after day two.  Today, Acox tacked on another solid day of fishing to be named the 2011 Eastern Division Champion.

This week 16 TBF State Champions advance, the top two from each state and Ontario, Canada, to the 2012 Federation National Championship to compete against state champions from TBF’s six other divisions across the U.S., as well as, two Boat US Collegiate Champions.  The no-entry fee national contest will award thousands in cash and prizes, and the esteemed “Living the Dream” prize package to include paid entry fees as an FLW Tour Pro for a year with use of a wrapped Chevrolet Truck and Ranger Boat. Continue reading

Bruce Acox Sails into First; Maine’s Lead Takes a Beating through Monsoons on Lake Sebago

Day Two Leader

Bursts of monsoons today helped some and hindered others on day two of the 2011 Eastern Division Championship presented by Ranger Boats at Point Sebago Resort, in Casco, Maine.  Nearly all 96 anglers walked fish across the stage today, so rain or no rain; anglers are definitely starting to put things together out there.  Tomorrow, 16 will advance to the national contest and one angler and one state team will walk away 2011 Eastern Division Champions.  Sliding into the top spot in the individual standings is Bruce Acox from Raymond, N.H.  Holding on to the top spot in the team standings, but just by a hair, is the day one leaders from the home state of Maine. Continue reading