Big Sky Country Bite Tougher Today – Idaho Takes Commanding Lead

 

 June 3, 2010 – Yellowtail Reservoir, Montana – The limits caught today was considerably down from yesterday, 32 vs 21, but Idaho apparently has the puzzle figured out. The Idaho State Team brought their A-Game today, weighing in 74 lbs 11 oz, over 3 lbs more than yesterday, making their 2 day total 146 lbs 2 oz. Yesterday’s State Team Leader, Washington, had a tough day, only bringing in 45 lbs 3 oz maxing out their 2-day total at 123 lbs 13 oz. They are not out of it yet but they need a top performance tomorrow and a little help in the form of a stumble by Idaho. If Idaho catches them again tomorrow it is likely an all out race for second place. Oregon holds down the third spot with 105.13, they are fishing two men down with only 10 anglers in attendance from the Oregon squad. Could they have won this event if they had a full roster? We will never know but they do have a real shot at second place, if they catch them good again tomorrow and Washington has another tough day.

Leading the Idaho State Team is Josh Polfer, Melba, ID, who has been consistent over both days, has caught a limit both days, his total of 10 fish weigh 17 lbs 6 oz.  Just as the leader Elvaas did yesterday, Polfer also had his limit early this morning and used the rest of the day to prepare for tomorrow, so the morning bite seems to be key for the leaders. “It was a good day.” Polfer said. Josh has never qualified for the TBF National Championship and is doing everything he can to secure his spot in next spring’s event with one final day to go. The rest of the Idaho team will have something to say about that as well however, as the standings are very close. Polfer is leading his state, but only by 7 oz over a very successful 22-year-old Brandon Palaniuk. Brandon has had tremendous success in the last few months fishing the Federation National Championship, the BFL All-American and FLW Tour.  Tomorrow will tell the story.
Drop shot fishing off the cliffs seems to be a successful way to catch the smallmouth here on the Yellowtail Reservoir. This has been successful for the overall tournament leader, Eric Lippincott of Daniel, Wyoming. He has 2-day, 10-bass total of 19 lbs 5 oz. He’s also staying consistent, and should have a good chance at qualifying for the National Championship. His dad, Gene Lippincott is in 2nd place in the Wyoming state standings with 13 lbs 2 oz. Mike Bozner is not far behind him with 12 lbs 8 oz.
Today’s big bass contest is a tie between Montana’s Michael Sloan and Eric Lippincott. They both weighed in a smallmouth that weighed 2 lbs 11 oz, 1 oz more than yesterday’s big bass. Whoever has the tournament big bass will be awarded a cash prize.
Full tournament standings can be found on the TBF Website, BassFederation.com on the Results page under the Tournaments link.
Tomorrow is the final day of the Northwest Divisional Tournament. There’s a lot on the line for 10 men. The top 2 anglers in each state will qualify for the 2011 TBF National Championship next spring, where they will fish for the ultimate goal of all TBF Anglers, the $100,000 TBF ‘Living the Dream’ package. The overall winner of the National Championship will be awarded a brand new wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat to use for a year, as they fish with expenses paid as a pro into the FLW Tour. They will make their pro debut in the richest bass tournament in the world, the Forrest Wood Cup. The 2011 Forrest Wood Cup will be held on Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs, AR.
The Bass Federation is the oldest grass roots, 100% member-owned bass fishing organization in the nation, consisting of nearly 30,000 members in US & Canada. For more information about TBF, you can visit BassFederation.com.

 

Washington Takes Day 1 Lead in First Northwest Divisional Tournament

 

 

June 2, 2010 – Yellowtail Reservoir, Montana – For the first ever Northwest Divisional Tournament consisting of the 5 states of Washington, Oregon, Montana Wyoming & Idaho, it definitely was not a home water advantage for Montana. It was a gorgeous day for fishing in the Big Sky Country on Yellowtail Reservoir. The scenery here is breathtaking and the water is clear, cool and full of smallmouth bass.
There were 32 limits caught, all smallmouth bass, as Washington surged ahead for the lead with 78 lbs and 10 oz. Idaho is in a close 2nd with a team total of 71 lbs 7 oz. Ken Elvsaas of Snoqualmie, Washington is leading his state and the tournament with 10 lbs 15 oz on Day1. Washington had 4 team members in the top 10.
Elvsaas had his limit caught very early after takeoff, which began bright and early at 6am this morning. He caught bedfish with the bigger ones being a bit deeper in water, although there were a lot of empty beds from prefishing. His partner from Oregon, Jim Brinkerhoff also caught a limit that weighed 6.12.  Elvsaas’s teammate, Chris Ferry, is in a close 2nd place overall tie with Wyoming’s Eric Lippincott, both anglers weighed in 9 lbs 10 oz. It’s going to be a close race every ounces will count to see who moves on to the 2011 TBF National Championship. There are 2 days left of fishing and anything can happen!
Reigning Montana State Champion and home state favorite, JD Woods of Trout Creek, MT, showed why he is a state champion and led his team on the river today. JD is both deaf and mute but despite what some might view as a disability, JD is in the hunt and has a strong presence in 4th place overall, with 9 lbs 9 oz. He is only down by 1 ½ pounds.
 Jordan Doucet of Bothell, WA weighed in a 2 lb 10 oz smallmouth and leads the big bass pool so far. We’ll see if that holds up for the next 2 days! He is also in 5th place in the overall standings with 9 lbs 2 oz.
Full individual, team & federation standings can be viewed on our Tournament Results page.

The top 2 anglers to finish in their state will qualify for the 2011 TBF National Championship, where they will fish for the ultimate prize, the TBF $100,000 “Living the Dream” Package next spring.

 

Hot Springs to host 2011 Forrest Wood Cup

Professional bass fishing’s premier championship to head back to Arkansas

25.May.2010

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — FLW Outdoors and the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau announced Tuesday Hot Springs would once again host the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, Aug. 11-14, 2011, on Lake Ouachita. The last time the Forrest Wood Cup, the sport’s premier event, was held in Hot Springs was 2007 and Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., made professional fishing history winning the first $1 million first-place cash prize.

“We couldn’t be happier about returning to Hot Springs for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup,” said Charlie Evans, President and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “The then-record attendance we had at the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup and FLW Outdoors Expo speaks volumes about the enthusiasm for bass fishing that fans have throughout the state and the entire region.”

Hot Springs isn’t a new venue for FLW Outdoors’ championship tournaments. The 2005 Forrest Wood Cup and FLW Outdoors Expo was held on Lake Hamilton, a sister lake to Lake Ouachita, and drew a then-record crowd of 40,671 fans to the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena over the course of four days. Those same fans ultimately witnessed Hot Springs resident and bass-fishing legend George Cochran reel in $500,000. The Forrest Wood Cup returned to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita in 2007 where many of those same fans and more, 61,967 to be exact, saw Suggs make history.

“The 2007 Forrest Wood Cup was by far the largest and most successful event we’ve ever held in the Hot Springs Convention Center since the construction of Summit Arena in 2003,” said Steve Arrison, executive director for the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Hot Springs is a bass-fishing town situated along some fantastic lakes and full of fishing fans. There’s no better place to hold the most lucrative event in the history of the sport.”

In addition to the tournament and the international media coverage it will receive, the FLW Outdoors Expo, which will feature hundreds of exhibits and activities, will be held at the convention center and the live weigh-ins will be held at Summit Arena. Visitors from around the globe will not only catch the world’s best bass-fishing action, they’ll also receive great buys on everything from crankbaits to bass boats at the outdoor show.

Delta fish bite on final day – Voorhees is Victorious

Ryan Voorhees crowned 2010 TBF Southwest Division Overall Champion; California State team closes a three day hot streak for the title of 2010 TBF Southwest Division State Team Champions

TBF anglers went out with a bang, stroking them on the Delta today, as the 2010 Southwest Division Championship wrapped up in Bethel Island, Calif., at Russo’s Marina. Two anglers from each state will move on, the first place finisher as the boater and second as the co-angler. 10 TBF anglers will advance to the 2011 Federation National Championship to vie for nearly a quarter of a million in cash and prizes. These anglers were all smiles today at becoming one step closer to “Living the Dream” and the opportunity to compete at the most prestigious tournaments available to anglers today. Now, they look to the future contest, hoping they will be the ones taking home the largest piece of the pie.

Ryan Voorhees, from Fresno, Calif., came from third to snatch the top spot from the one and two day leader, Phillip Garcia, from Yuba City, Calif. Voorhees brought in an impressive 19lb 2ounces sack making his tournament total 47lb 13ounces and earning him the 2010 TBF Southwest Division Champion’s title.

Ryan Voorhees

Ryan Voorhees

This is Voorhees’s fifth state team and his first time to qualify for the national contest. “The biggest thing for me was just to fish with my team. I really enjoy the camaraderie and the team part of it. Of course, it’s great to win,” Voorhees said. He nabbed his catch actually finesse fishing on the Delta; Texas rigging 1/16 ounce worms fishing through the weeds hunting for post-spawning fish. “I thought some might be guarding the fry, so I went in with a subtle presentation trying to imitate a blue gill weaving in and out. A lot of guys came out power fishing and the fish don’t want to cooperate with that on top of these unstable weather conditions.” Voorhees wanted to thank his family and friends traveling with him. “This just wouldn’t be possible without family; it wouldn’t be the same without them.”

From day one, Larry Hardy, from Tonto Basin, Ariz., kept a tight grip on second place. This didn’t changed today as his persistency landed him the second place finish and advancement into next years Federation National Championship representing the state of Arizona as the boater. “I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” Hardy said. This will be his first time to qualify for nationals in over 20 years of federation fishing. “I’ve been in second and third a lot, but now, I’m just really, really happy.” Hardy caught all his fish except one on drop shot using 6-8lb line. “When I first got to the Delta I told myself I’d never come back, but the more and more time I spend here the more I like it.” He wished to thank the TBF Staff. “They just know what they’re doing; these tournaments are run so well, so smooth, they’re just great people.”

In the state team battle, coming out on top as the 2010 Southwest Division Champions was the state t

Larry Hardy

Larry Hardy

eam from California.

California anglers did not exactly use their home lake knowledge early on, but proved sometimes when thngs are tough every little bit helps. Although they lead all three days, today they sealed the deal bringing in over 119lb today, making their catch 140 bass with a tournament total of 343lb 14ounces.

California team member, Steve Dollard, from Hughson, Calif., had nothing but great things to say about his California State team and everyone involved. “I just want to thank all the staff, volunteers and Russo’s Marina for making such a great event possible.” The California team didn’t stick with a specific strategy during the course of competition, rather adjusted for the changes in the weather. “We pointed each other to good spots and helped each other out avoiding not so good ones. We really worked well together this week, and we’re all glad to have won this as a team.”

The rest of the state standings are as follows: Arizona; 124 fish, 298lb 15ounces; – Utah 105 fish, 232lb 12ounces; -Colorado; 102 fish, 224lb 3ounes; Nevada; 74 fish, 137lb 11ounces

California Team Champs

California Team Champs

The top 10 anglers advancing are as follows: Ryan Voorhees, Fresno, Calif., boater, Phillip Garcia, Yuba City, Calif., co-angler; California; Larry Hardy, Tonto Basin, Ariz., boater, Bill Peterson, Scottsdale, Ariz., co-angler; Arizona; Mike Isbell, South Jordan, Utah, boater, John Hill, Grand Junction, Co., co-angler; Utah; Greg Gizzi, Widefield, Co., boater, Mike Hubbard, Dacono, Co., co-angler; Colorado; Joe Raftery, Las Vegas, Nev., boater, Mitch Geyer, Elko, Nev., co-angler; Nevada

Full Results Are Here.