Jay Keith, from Camden, S.C. crowned the 2010 Federation National Champion

The final day of the 2010 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard left Jay Keith, from Camden, S.C., the Champion boater and Matthew Hartman, from Fredricksburg, Pa., the Champion co-angler. The first two days of competition were held on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Today’s final weigh-in was held in conjunction with the final day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center, in Knoxville, Tenn. The 14 TBF anglers fished hard and reigned successful thus far to get to the final contest, and like predicted the results came down to just ounces.

Jay Keith with reigning Champ Robert Harkness

Jay Keith with reigning Champ Robert Harkness

The crowd grew still awaiting the results, while the last two anglers left in contention stood side by side on stage to see the weight brought in by the final angler and yesterday’s tournament leader, Jason Knapp, from Uniontown, Pa. Tension mounted; then, excitement filled the air for Jay Keith as six ounces separated him and Knapp, and pronounced him the 2010 Federation National Champion. “I was nervous and trying to hide it; I thought Knapp had a good bag, I wasn’t sure, but I know he’s a great fishermen,” Keith said. He thought weather might have had a lot to do with the catches today. “I can’t catch them well when it’s cloudy; I caught my four fish by 9am and kept digging, but couldn’t get the fifth. I’m very surprised I won today without bringing in a limit of bass.”

Keith had a lot of people to thank, namely, TBF and FLW Outdoors, all the sponsors and his co-angler from South Carolina, Adam Williamson, who gave his support and great advice. More than anything Keith had his heart on his family. “All this is for my brother. We lost him in September and day one, Thursday, was his birthday, I did this for him; I won this for him.” Our hearts go out to him and his family this week.

His wife echoed his excitement and was possibly more nervous than him. “I’m just so proud of Jay. He’s worked so hard and wanted this for so long. The only thing that could make this better is if our son was here or could hear the news.” The Keith’s son is a soldier in the United States Marines defending our freedom in Afghanistan.

Keith brought in 4 fish weighing 12lb 13 ounces making his total tournament weight 46lb 11ounces. Our winner on the co-angler side also caught four bass weighing 10lb 2 ounces making his total 27lb 7ounces.

All 14 of these TBF anglers have earned the opportunity to fish in the BFL All-American and our top boater and co-angler will get the chance to fish in the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup. So, these 14 anglers have definitely made it in the money, and our TBF champion anglers will receive the opportunity to compete in the most prestigious bass fishing tournaments in the world, through TBF and our partners in FLW Outdoors.

Full results can be seen here

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America. TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year, and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.

14 TBF Anglers advance to the final day of the 2010 Federation National Championship

Presented by the National Guard on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. to compete for the Championship titles.

Fishing today was tougher for some, better for others as day two of the 2010 Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard comes to a close. 14 TBF anglers, the top boater and co-angler from each of the 7 TBF divisions will advance to find out who will be leaving here National Champions. Those 14 anglers have already proven their worth and displayed skill and diligence making it through the local, state, & divisional tournaments. Now, they’ve conquered the top of their respective divisions and earned a spot in the BFL All-American, to be held May 25-27in Hot Springs, Ark. For most it will be the first time they’ll get to compete at that level. However, right now the focus is on the championship titles at stake, and the final day of fishing to decide the 2010 Federation National Champions, and the champion boater who will be “Living the Dream” fishing the FLW Outdoors Pro tour next year.

Today’s tournament leader on the boater side is, Jason Knapp, from Uniontown, Pa., representing the state of

Jason Knapp

Jason Knapp

Michigan and the TBF Northern Division. He had a five bass limit today of 19lb 5 ounces making his tournament total 34lb 13 ounces. Knapp caught his fish site fishing and brought in quite the limit. He snatched up a range of bass including, one largemouth, one spotted, and three smallmouths. “I just want to thank Jeff Cox and the Michigan TBF,” Knapp said. Tomorrow is a new day of fishing so we’ll see if he can hold on to the top spot.

Less than a pound away in second place, Jay Keith, from Camden, S.C., representing the TBF Southern Division had a limit weighing 17lb 12 ounces making his total tournament weight 33lb 14 ounces. Keith came all the way from 9th place and rattled the competition to take over the number two spot. Keith was using an All-Star 7 2 Frog Rod with a Pflueger Tron Reel and Berkley 20lb big game, flipping a gambler, “flappy daddy” on the back of an Ernest Langley Jig. “I think I burned them up today and now they’re moving. But, I think I know where they’re going, so, tomorrow I will be moving with the fish,” Keith said. “I just want to thank the TBF, the South Carolina TBF and FLW Outdoors; this tournament, the Z520 Comanche Ranger Boats, and all the equipment have run great.”

Eric Guimond

Eric Guimond

Eric Guimond, from Standish, Maine, brought in a limit of bass weighing 16lb 9 ounces making his total tournament weight 30lb 2 ounces. Guimond is in the third place slot, representing the TBF Eastern Division.

Holding the tournament’s fourth spot is Clint Farris, from Crowley, Texas, with a limit weighing 12lb 7 ounces making his total weight 28lb 11 ounces. He qualified for the tournament as a co-angler and a last minute family emergency hindered the boater from his state, pushing Farris up to the boater competition. So far, so good for Farris as his boat, Farris and his co-angler, have brought in about 30lb of bass each day. “I’m just going to keep on keeping on,” Farris said. “I think the fish will replenish again tomorrow.” We’ll see tomorrow if it will be enough to knock out the current tournament leaders.

Fishing for the second slot in the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, presented by BP and Castrol is our leader on the co-angler side, Adam Williamson, from Ridgeway, SC, representing the TBF Southern Division. He caught four keepers weighing 10lb 11 ounces making his tournament total 24lb 2 ounces. Williamson has already earned a spot in the BFL All-American being the top co-angler in his division. “My goal was to make it to the BFL All-American and I made the cut by 2 ounces; I’ve never made it this far before and I’m excited,” Williamson said. He plans to fish the same way he has all week, which has clearly worked so far. “Well, I had a great boater today in John Pritchett and I owe the whole catch to him. He let me go to my waters to fish and we both ended up with good bags.”

The competition is heating up and the anglers are focused on the prize; the final day of the 2010 Federation National Championship will highlight the TBF anglers who’ve rose above the pack and earned the right to be crowned TBF National Champions, and for one the opportunity to be “Living the Dream” fishing on the FLW tour.

The “Living the Dream” $100,000 cash and prize package will include, fully paid entry fees into the FLW tour, travel funds and use of a wrapped Ranger Boat and Chevrolet truck for the year. Also, the 2010 National Champions, on the boater and non-boater side, will be receiving entrance into the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol, Aug 5-8th, in Atlanta, Ga.

The third stop on the 2010 FLW tour is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes, where our 2009 Federation National Champion, Robert Harkness, will be “Living the Dream”, competing for his share in cash and prizes, proving just how much is on the line this week at the 2010 Federation National Championship.

The final day of the Federation National Championship will be held in conjunction with the final weigh-in day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The TBF competitors will launch each day at 7am at Ladd Park, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm.

Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The standings for the top 7 boaters advancing to the final day of the 2010 Federation National Championship are as follows; Jason Knapp, Uniontown, Pa.; Jay Keith, Camden, S.C.; Eric Guimond, Standish, Maine; Clint Farris, Crowley, Texas; Edward Loughran, Mechanicsville, Va.; Jason Rayls, Haskell, Texas; Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho.

The standings for the top 7 co-anglers are as follows; Adam R Williamson, Ridgeway, S.C.; Randy Pierson, Oakdale, Calif.; Matthew Hartman, Fredricksburg, Pa.; Kevin Wells, South Shore, Ky.; Matt King, Olathe, Kan.; Gilbert Gagner, Highgate Springs, Vt.; Boyd Golightly, Preston, Idaho.

Full results can be seen here

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America. TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year, and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.

TBF Anglers prove; Plenty of fish to be caught on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tennessee

Day one of the 2010 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard is in the books.

Gary Cline

Gary Cline

Kingston, Tenn., April 22, 2010 Gary Cline, from Lexington, NC, representing the TBF Southern Division is our day one leader with a five fish limit weighing 19lbs 4ounces. Cline had a chance to pre-fish over Easter weekend and has settled on a pattern he’s familiar with. When asked if he planned on doing the same thing tomorrow, Cline said, “Oh Yeah, definitely.” He had his limit by 10:30am. “I just really want to say I’ve enjoyed being in Kingston, the community has been very friendly and helpful.” He’s holding on tight to the top spot but the race is close so we’ll see what tomorrow’s fishing brings.

Trailing by only ounces and fighting to break into that top spot is Leo Bevelaqua from Wyoming, RI, representing the Eastern Division with a limit weighing 18lb 9 ounces. “I was here pre-fishing when the lake was way down, so I was able to see a lot that is hiding below the surface.” Bevelaqua said. He caught his limit by 9am and only ran about mid-lake. “I just want to say thank you to all my family and friends for their support, specially my son and girlfriend who are here with me this week.”

Close behind, holding down the third spot is, Clint Farris, from Crowley, Texas, representing the TBF Central Division with a limit of bass weighing 16lb 4ounces. Farris is putting his focus on making it to Saturday. “I’m going to try to put that same sack together tomorrow,” Farris said. “I lost a fish about 6-7lb today. There’s just a lot on the line, a lot of pressure, and that’s the same for everybody.” Farris also plans on working the same water tomorrow, “I don’t feel like I beat them up today; I feel there’s still enough there for two more days.” Farris’s day one partner, fishing from the back of the boat also caught fish today. Adam Williamson, from Ridgeway, SC, representing the TBF Southern Division has the lead on the co-angler side with a four pound spread. He had a limit of bass weighing 13lb 7ounces and he caught his largest keeper using a jig. Williamson said he’d fished lakes in Alabama similar to this one. “I used that knowledge to help us during pre-fishing.”

There are just ounces separating the fourth and fifth place anglers on both the boater and co-angler sides. The competition is close and the angler’s know what’s at stake. Each angler will be fishing tomorrow with all they have, striving to be the ones named national champions. So, day two of the 2010 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard, is sure to come down to ounces of bass, hard work, and a little luck

The third stop on the 2010 FLW tour is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes, where our 2009 Federation National Champion, Robert Harkness, will be “Living the Dream”, competing for his share in cash and prizes, proving just how much is on the line this week at the 2010 Federation National Championship.

Tomorrow, Friday, is the last lakeside weighin day at Ladd Park in Kingston. Saturday’s final day of the Federation National Championship will be held in conjunction with the final weigh-in day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The TBF competitors will launch each day at 7am at Ladd Park, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm.

Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm EST. You can watch the full weigh in LIVE on www.flwoutdoors.com starting at 3pm EST.

Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America. TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year, and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.

2010 TBF Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard

The 2010 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard, and hosted by the Tennessee Valley Authority kicks off tomorrow on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn., with 94 TBF Champion anglers ready to face-off for the title

Kingston, Tenn., April 21, 2010 Excitement and nerves built this morning amidst the heavy fog as 94 eager TBF anglers set out to run some water, find some fish and make their final preparations for the start of the 2010 Federation National Championship, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn., April 22-24. Tomorrow, these anglers will begin fishing to be crowned 2010 Federation National Champions. The TBF National Champion boater will also earn the prestigious $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package, including cash and prizes, fully paid entry fees into the FLW tour, travel funds and use of a wrapped Ranger Boat and Chevrolet truck for the year. Also, the 2010 National Champions, on the boater and non-boater side, will also be receiving entrance into the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup. The 2010 Federation National Championship on Watts Bar Lake is deemed one of the most anticipated TBF events of the year and is sure to shake the record books.

The tournament field consists of the top two anglers from 45 states, the top two anglers representing the Canadian Bass Anglers Federation and the two BoatUS Collegiate National Champions, all of whom competed at local, state and regional qualifiers to advance to the national contest. For most, the road to nationals has been a two year process, and now they compete to make it all worthwhile.

The tournament will be the compilation of three days of fishing. The accumulative weight of the first two days will decide the 14 anglers, the top boater and non-boater from each of 7 divisions, who will advance to day three competition. These 14 anglers will not only be fishing for the championship titles, but also they will have secured a spot in the 2010 BFL-All American to be held this May.

The third stop on the 2010 FLW tour is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes, where our 2009 Federation National Champion, Robert Harkness, will be “Living the Dream”, competing for his share in cash and prizes, proving just how much is on the line this week at the 2010 Federation National Championship.

The final day of the Federation National Championship will be held in conjunction with the final weigh-in day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The TBF competitors will launch each day at 7am at Ladd Park, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm EST. You can watch the full weigh in LIVE on www.flwoutdoors.com starting at 3pm EST.

Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America. TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year, and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.