100 OF THE NATIONS TOP GRASSROOTS ANGLERS HEADED TO SHREVEPORT FOR THE 2021 TBF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

 BIGGER PRIZES FOR GRASSROOTS ANGLERS TO HELP MAKE THEIR DREAMS COME TRUE!

Ponca City, OK. (November 16, 2020) – The Bass Federation (TBF) announced today that the nation’s top grassroots anglers are headed to the Red River at Shreveport, LA. March 11-13, 2021.  The Federation has held a number of events on the red river over the last 30 years but none since 2012. The river is on the rebound now and local anglers say it could take 15 pounds a day to win the title in a March 2021 event. The anglers will enjoy one of the nation’s premier host cities, with a plethora of things to do for the families who attend.  TBF anglers competing in the no entry fee event will also enjoy significantly increased payouts that were put into place in 2020 where the prize purse pushed $400,000.00 in cash and prizes due to the growth and success of the Federation’s National Semi-Finals program across North America.

“We are proud to partner with the Red River Waterway Commission in hosting this tournament and 100 of the nation’s top grassroots anglers here in Shreveport-Bossier City.” Said Kelly Wells, Executive Director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. “We’ll deliver nothing less than world-class hospitality in sportsman’s paradise.”

Competitors qualified at 22 close-to-home district competitions in the TBF’s National Semi-Final system that span the traditional seven TBF geographical divisions.  The framework is designed to make it easier for TBF anglers to fish premier events by minimizing travel time and expenses. As noted because of the success of the new TBF National Semi-finals program payout to the membership continues to climb annually.

All fifty boaters and fifty co-anglers competing in the National Championship will fish the first two days of the event and only the 7 Division Champion boaters and 7 Division Champion co-anglers will compete on the third and final day for the Living Your Dream Prize packages and the National Champion boater and co-angler titles.  In addition to the cash prizes, all hotel room nights for the actual event days will be paid for by TBF for all the anglers as a part of their qualifying prize and all 14 finalists will earn a Living YOUR Dream prize package of various sizes and can advance to the 2021 BFL All-American if they were FLW competitor members before they qualified.

The National champions and overall winners will leave with the coveted TBF National Champion Boater and National Champion Co-angler Titles and a Living Your Dream (LYD) package. The boater LYD package is valued in excess of a whopping $130,000! In past years of the program, the Federation National Champion Living Your Dream Angler received the USE of a new Ranger boat for the following season. A new benefit was added in 2020 that will continue in 2021 which is that now the Federation National Champion Living Your Dream angler will receive a brand-new Ranger Z520 powered by 250HO outboard engine, Lowrance Electronics and MinnKota Trolling Motor rigged out and all their own to KEEP!  So, in addition to a significant CASH prize they will also earn a new Ranger boat a custom clothing package and more!

The Federation strongly believes in the value of co-anglers, so the 2021 National Champion Co-angler LYD package will be worth over $30,000, including 20K cash PLUS set paid entry stipends into the circuit of choice, clothing package and more!

Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be broadcast in high-definition in Federation Angler TV block on the Pursuit Channel, on Outdoor Action TV and streamed live from Red River South Marina daily on bassfederation.com.

For more information about Shreveport, LA or the Red River please contact Eric Gilmore, the Marketing Director of the Red River Waterway Commission at ericgilmore@redriverwaterway.com or Allyson Walker, the Marketing Manager for the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission at awalker@sbsports.org.

About TBF

The Bass Federation Inc. is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America and a member of the fresh water fishing hall of fame. TBF is 100 percent 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 50 years. The Bass Federation is proud “Partners in Fishing” with industry-leading companies including Ranger Boats, Lowrance, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Humminbird, MinnKota, Berkley, T-H Marine, FLW, Power Pole and FacultyOfFishing.com. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580-765-9031. Look for TBF on facebook at Facebook.com/thebassfederation and on twitter at Twitter.com/bassfederation.

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October 24^th and 25^th

Cottonwood Cove Marina, Lake Mohave Nevada

While the fishing has been more difficult the last few weeks on Lake Mohave some anglers managed to find the right ones and put together some good bags of fish. The wind was calm on the morning of the first day of fishing making sight fishing possible but it picked up later and with 25 plus mph gust it became more challenging to position the boat while fishing.

Day 2 started with winds up to 35 mph and some sizable waves for anyone wanting to fish the south end of the lake. The winds and waves calmed somewhat over the course of the day but getting bites seemed more difficult on day 2. Once again a few anglers figured them out and brought in some good bags.

Congratulations to Utah’s David Malone and Hunter Loveless on their respective wins for the Boater and Co-Angler divisions.

Overall it was a great event and was enjoyed by everyone.

Ninety boaters and 90 co-anglers from Illinois and Indiana met in Syracuse, Indiana for what was the largest ever field for a District 10 NSF hosted by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Although the weather was unseasonal mild, Lakes Wawasee and Syracuse proved to be unusually tough with only three 5 bass limits brought to the scales, all by boaters.

John Ruffier of Brookville, IN and a member of the Gadabout Bass Masters claimed the top spot in the boater division with eight bass weighing 12.62 pounds. Travis Edgars from nearby North Webster, IN and a member of the Northern Bass Anglers was second with 8 fish weighing 12.48 pounds. He was also the Ranger Cup winner. Brian Hensley from Edwardsburg, MI took the lead after the first day with the only 5 bass limit which weighed 8.71 pounds. However, on day two he could only muster two fish weighing 3.06 pounds that dropped him to 3^rd with 11.77 pounds.

In the co-angler division Dewayne Wilda of South Bend, the Indiana Bass Federation Vice-President and a member of the St Joe Valley Bass Masters took top honors both days and won with six bass weighing 9.39 pounds. Bob Kuykendall was second with three bass weighing 5.26 pounds. Bob is from Bloomington, IN and a member of the Tri-County Bass Anglers. Placing third was Justin Brown from Georgetown, IN and a member of the Lily Pad Masters. He had three bass weighing 4.88 pounds.

Top Illinois Federation members were boater Tim Lewis with five bass weighing 9.73 pounds that earned him 5^th place and placing 6^th in the co-angler division was Jake VanMeter with two bass weighing 4.34 pounds. Troy Thornburg of Syracuse, IN, a member of the Ye Olde Tacklebox Team claimed big bass in the boater division with a 4.40 largemouth caught on day one. Gregory Holmes of Illinois took big bass in the co-angler division with a 2.62-pound largemouth caught on day two. In all 239 bass were brought to the scales weighing 377.37 pounds. All were released alive.