THE BASS FEDERATION’S BEST TO COMPETE FOR $100,000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 14, 2008) — The best of the nation’s TBF club anglers are headed to Lake Wylie near Charlotte, N.C., for The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard April 24-26, where they will complete for berths into two of the sport’s most coveted events — the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup and the $1 million BFL All-American.

The winning boater and co-angler at the TBF National Championship will automatically be entered into the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 where they will compete for as much as $1 million in the Boater Division and $50,000 in the Co-angler Division. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each TBF division will also be given a berth into the 2008 All-American presented by Chevy on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., May 29-31. With top awards of $140,000 in the Boater Division and $70,000 in the Co-angler Division, the All-American has served as a launching pad for many professional fishing careers.

In addition to incredibly lucrative championship berths, the TBF National Championship will also award $10,000 and a “Living the Dream” prize package to the first-place boater. The package includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered either by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the winner’s choice of either the 2009 Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series to compete against the world’s top bass anglers.

Anglers from six nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2007 and qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National Championship.

“Being named the TBF Champion is a culmination of many years of dreams and hard work,” said David Simmons, FLW Outdoors and TBF programs manager. “It means you are the top club angler in the country. TBF Championship anglers are not only fishing for personal pride and rewards, they are also representing their respective states and divisions. We are looking forward to an incredible tournament.”

The TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard begins Wednesday, April 23, with an official practice day, and competition begins Thursday at 6:30 a.m. with takeoff from Copperhead Island Park located at 15200 Soldier Road in Charlotte. Copperhead Island Park will also host takeoff Friday at 6:30 a.m. and Saturday at 6:25 a.m. Anglers will weigh in Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center located at 501 S. College St. in Charlotte. Saturday’s weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center followed by the Wal-Mart FLW Tour National Guard Open weigh-in at 4 p.m. FLW Tour anglers will return to the convention center Sunday for their final weigh-in at 4 p.m.

Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors® and the TBF will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Charlotte Convention Center from noon to 6 p.m. each day. The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their favorite TBF and FLW Tour anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Saturday and Sunday children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone will also receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. On Sunday, April 27 during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in, one lucky member of the audience will win a new Ranger boat. Admission is free and you must be present to win.

The entire field of 40 TBF boaters and 40 co-anglers will compete Thursday and Friday for an accumulated two-day weight. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions will advance to Saturday’s competition, where they will continue fishing, carrying their weight from the first round into the final round. The winners will be determined Saturday by the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on June 8 as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.

Visit the FLW Outdoors Media Center at http://mc.flwoutdoors.com for additional information and photos.

Washington “travels” to back to back TBF Western Division Championship titles

Chris Lambert wins the individual race and the Castrol Maximum Preformer Award.

Flashback…2007 Washington was the host state for the 2007 Western Divisional Championship on Pot holes Lake, the held the division champions cup for a full year….and liked it…..they had no intentions of giving it up. Mission accomplished.

The TBF state team from Washington proved this year that they are tops in the west again with a total three-day weight of 353 pounds and 5 ounces. They accomplished the feat over 1400 miles away at Lake Havasu, AZ. About as far away from home as they can get in the western division.

“I and all the members of TBF in the state of Washington are so very proud of our team, stated Gary Morris, the Washington TBF state President, back to back division championship titles is a dream come true, there is a lot of great fishermen in the west, so I know that the guys worked hard to earn it.” Morris went on to say this about the tournament Champion Chris Lambert from Olympia, Washington, “ Chris is a good guy, a long time federation member, always happy, never complains, he just a good guy and a great fisherman. He’s someone you never hear a complaint about and he is an angler that is definitely has the skills to move into the FLW tour’s pro ranks someday.”

Chris Lambert

Chris Lambert

Lambert who won the individual standings and the Castrol Maximum Performer cash award. Lead his team and will fish the 2009 Federation National Championship as a boater, second place angler for Washington who will go as a non-boater is David Kromm.

The Washington TBF Team

In the state team standings, finishing in second place forty pounds behind Washington with 313-02 was the team from California. Anchored by Los Angles angler Troy Lindner, and John Albidrez from Fresno who will both advance.

Colorado, in their first TBF divisional, had a slow start but moved up each day to finish strong in the third place spot with 265-04. Colorado TBF state President Steve Way had this to say about their first TBF divisional, “We are very excited to be able to send a State Team to the Western Divisional. March of 2007 many of the anglers in Colorado made the decision to form a new partnership with FLW/TBF and we are glad that we did. We are thrilled to have finished so well. I think that it is just starting to sink in that we are the first team to represent the State of Colorado with this new Partnership. We all strongly feel that we have great support with FLW/TBF for the Federation level Angler, something that many of us have not felt for a long time. This past year for Colorado TBF has seen some test and failures but we feel that we are putting together a strong organization. If we continue to grow at our current rate, we could easily double the membership this year that we had at the end of last year. The great finish by our anglers can only help.”

Rounding out the State team standings were; The host state team from Arizona

Washington State Champs

Washington State Champs

finished in fourth with 263-05, Idaho and Utah wound up tied in the fifth spot with 261-02, Seventh place was the team from Wyoming and finishing in eight was the new TBF Montana team, who fished two angler down all week with only ten team members at 176-09.

“The members of Montana’s first TBF Divisional team had a great time at Lake Havasu, we did compete with only ten anglers instead of the twelve allowed but our guys fished hard.” Said Montana TBF state President George Riedel. “We are already looking forward to competing next year with a full team against the other states in the Western Division. We want to prove that there are more than trout fishermen in Montana (but the trout do eat well). We would like to invite any and all our neighbors to join us this summer for some world class smallmouth fishing here in Montana–see out website for our tournament schedule — www.montanatbf.com

Under the TBF format, not one, but two anglers from each TBF state advance to the 2009 TBF Federation National Championship, Presented by the National Guard. From Washington will be Lambert and Kromm, Lindner and Albidrez from California. Colorado will send Sam Heckman, Fountian, CO., and Matt Massey, Lakewood, CO. Idaho anglers advancing are Brandon Palanuk (Rathdrum, ID) and Brandon Craner, (Filer, ID). Top Utah anglers were Joe Debrucque who lives just across the line in Grand Junction, CO. and Robert Knight from Salt Lake City. Wyoming anglers advancing are two state presidents. Past Wyoming state president Mike Bozner, Rock Springs, WY and current state president Eric Lippincott, Daniel, WY. Montana anglers earning their spots are Sean Andrachick, Marion, MT and Don Collins, Kalispell, MT.

2009 TBF National Champ Western Qualifiers

2009 TBF National Champ Western Qualifiers

TBF would like to send out a special thanks to members of the Arizona Bass Federation of TBF, Dave and Brenda Hagan and all the crew who hosted this event. The Arizona “team” done a great job, the Federation is thankful for people like you.

For more details about how the Western Division anglers fared today and their outlook for tomorrows final day check out our partners website at www.flwoutdoors.com

WASHINGTON MEANS BUSINESS in ARIZONA!!

TBF Western Division Day 2

The defending Western Division Champs, the TBF state team from Washington, sent a clear message today that they intend to hold onto the Western Division Champions CUP, if the other western states want it and the first place cash that goes with it, they will have to step up on tomorrow’s final day and “take” it.

The Washington Team leads with a two day total of 259 pounds and 7 ounces, extended their lead in the team standings to more than 40 pounds beyond the second place team of California who sits at 217-15. Forty pounds might seem like a lot…any it is but it is not insurmountable with 12 anglers on each state team. Idaho made a move today and jumped to third place with 201-13, Arizona now sits in fourth, 184-03. Right on their heels in fifth is the TBF team from Colorado, only 1-6 back at 182-13. Utah is in sixth with 171-03, Wyoming and Montana are next with 146-15 and 129-15 respectively.

Troy Lindner, CA

Troy Lindner, CA

In the individual standings, Lambert Leads! Washington’s Chris Lambert jumped to the top of the standings today with the tournaments biggest bag so far, 16-6. Which pushed him solidly into the first place spot in the individual standings at 31-10 and a shot at the Castrol Maximum Performer award. Lambert has a teammate from Washington right over his shoulder, David Kromm is in second with 26-12. California’s Troy Lindner is tied at third with Washington’s Andy Smith, they each have 25-03. That should give both Kromm and Lambert something to think about. Lindner is leading the California team with 25-03

CA’s Troy Lindner, (of the Lindner family fishing fame,) leads the California Team. This is what can happen when you take a child fishing! Thanks, Al Lindner, looks like he learned well…….

For more details about how the Western Division anglers fared today and their outlook for tomorrows final day check out our partners website at www.flwoutdoors.com

For complete standings and which anglers are leading their state teams, vying for a spot in the TBF Federation National Championship ………one more day to go.

Lake Havasu to host Western Divisional Championship

Event slated for April 9-11, 2008

The Bass Federation 2008 Western Divisional Championship presented by the National Guard will be held on Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu City April 9-11. As many as 84 competitors representing eight Western Division states – Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Washington and Wyoming – are expected to compete in the tournament. The public is invited to Lake Havasu Marina located at 1100 McCulloch Blvd. N. in Lake Havasu City to watch the takeoffs and weigh-ins at 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Admission is free.

Anglers will compete both individually and as state teams in an effort to qualify for the prestigious TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard. The top three state teams will be awarded trophies and cash prizes. The angler with the heaviest three-day weight will also earn a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer.

Each state team is made up of 12 anglers, and the top-finishing angler from each team will advance to the 2009 TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard as a boater. The No. 2 competitor from each state team will advance to the National Championship as a co-angler.

TBF National Championship anglers will compete for a share of more than $200,000 in cash and merchandise, including a $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package with use of a wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions at the National Championship will receive a berth into the $1 million BFL All-American presented by Chevy, where boaters compete for a top award of $140,000 and co-anglers cast for a top award of $70,000. The winning boater and co-angler at the TBF National Championship will also advance to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol, where pros compete for a top award of $1 million and co-anglers fish for a top award of $50,000.

Tournament anglers aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television series. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.

In TBF Divisional Championship competition, anglers are randomly paired each day and share control of the boat throughout the day.

Official practice for the TBF Western Divisional Championship begins at daylight April 6 and continues through 2 p.m. April 8.