FLW, TBF Extend Strategic Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PONCA CITY, OK . (Dec. 5, 2020) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) and The Bass Federation (TBF) announced today a new strategic partnership. This agreement extends bass fishing’s longest-running alliance between two pioneering organizations in service to grassroots anglers from coast to coast and around the world. Terms were not disclosed.

The partnership between FLW and TBF, two independent companies, continues to afford opportunities for co-membership and FLW tournament bids to TBF anglers in this agreement. The top boater and co-angler from each of seven divisions at the TBF National Championship will advance to FLW’s Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. Additionally, TBF introduces a revamped and expanded “Living the Dream” prize package for anglers in 2020 and beyond. Preston Craig, the 2019 TBF National Champion from Philadelphia, Tenn., will be the first “Living the Dream” angler to benefit from the new partnership with his entry fees paid for the 2020 FLW Pro Circuit.

“We are proud to continue our longstanding relationship with FLW to provide grassroots fishing opportunities for our adult and student anglers alike,” said Robert Cartlidge, TBF President. “We value of the tradition of TBF and FLW working together. This relationship allows TBF the flexibility to do more for our members.”

FLW and TBF will continue to co-manage the nation’s largest High School Fishing program that includes 66 tournaments and a host of sanctioned trails serving more than 20,000 students across the United States. Participation in FLW and TBF High School Fishing tournaments is free to all Student Angler Federation (SAF) members, as SAF membership includes both TBF and FLW membership.

“We are thrilled to announce our continued partnership with TBF,” said Kathy Fennel, FLW Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Since 2006 we’ve worked more closely than any two organizations in the history of our sport, and we intend to strengthen that relationship under our new ownership for the benefit of all the anglers we serve.”

Preston Craig’s “Living the Dream” prize package, will include fully paid FLW Pro Circuit entry fees, use of a tow vehicle and boat, and travel stipends for many events. Previous winners include MLF pro Mark Daniels, Jr.

“Living the Dream kicked off my career,” Daniels said. “It literally changed my life. I always dreamed of an opportunity to fish for a living, and TBF was the saving grace that granted me that chance.”

Daniels won the 2013 TBF National Championship, which led to him fishing the 2014 FLW Tour. He fished the FLW Tour in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Daniels finished 28^th in the 2019 inaugural Bass Pro Tour and has won more than three-quarters of a million dollars fishing professionally. Daniels will continue as a competitor on the 2020 MLF Bass Pro Tour.

“MLF fully supports the continuation of the long relationship between TBF and FLW,” said Don Rucks, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “TBF competitors now have a dream path that leads all the way to the no-entry-fee Bass Pro Tour.”

“The proof of the partnership is in the things we have accomplished together,” said Cartlidge. “When TBF founded the national High School Fishing Program, FLW was our first partner and together we have invested to grow it into something neither organization could have accomplished alone, which will underpin our sport for decades to come.”

TBF members will continue to receive priority entry into FLW tournaments and will receive a subscription to the FLW Bass Fishing magazine.

About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, FLW and its partners conduct more than 290 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Zimbabwe.

FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. Acquired by Major League Fishing in late 2019, FLW programming expands in 2020 to the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel as well as on-demand at MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).

For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About TBF

The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is the nation’s largest and oldest organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization and a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those it serves and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF-affiliated state federations and member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for nearly 50 years. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org for more information.

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Future Fisherman Foundation Hosts 10th Annual On-line Auction

Hall of Fame Angler and Classic champion David Fritts highlights this year’s list of fishing trips

Ponca City, Okla., (11/18/19)
The Future Fisherman Foundation (501C3 Foundation) will host its 10th annual on-line eBay auction starting December 1st and running through the 7th.

This year’s event highlights Lew’s Pro David Fritts, who is a past Bassmaster Classic champion and was recently inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. David is known as the “Crankbait King” and spending the day in the boat with him will not only be educational, it will be just plain entertaining as he has a great sense of humor.

Shoppers also have an opportunity to bid on a variety of guided fishing trips, as well as a great selection of tackle packages and merchandise.

Interested in a new fishing reel? There are great selections from Fin-Nor, Lew’s and Eagle Claw. Need a shallow water anchoring device? The folks at Power Pole have sent us a very nice Micro Pole that is perfect for small boats and kayaks. How about a new locator? We have units from both Lowrance and Humminbird to fill your shopping list! need a top quality Fishing Rod, we have them from TBF Federation Angler Custom rods.

Proceeds from the annual event support F3 programs like Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs, SuperFish and the Tackle for Educators programs.

“We have once again put together a terrific assortment of fishing trips and merchandise items for this year’s auction” said F3 Executive Director Mark Gintert. “Cyber Monday will fall right in line with this year’s event, so if you are looking for a Christmas gift for that outdoorsperson in your life, you need to look no farther than futurefisherman.org where all the items will be listed and ready for bidding.”

Once again, A huge THANK YOU goes out to all of our donors this year; we couldn’t do it without them!

The auction goes live at 8am EST on Sunday December 1st. It will run for seven days and bidding closes December 7th, at 8am EST. (Check Auction Listing for potential variations in time and date)

Interested bidders should go to www.futurefisherman.org and click on the auction tab and then click on the eBay link to view the trips and merchandise and place your winning bids!

Help us “Ensure the Future of Fishing” by supporting this terrific event!

About the Future Fisherman Foundation
Established in 1986, the Future Fisherman Foundation (F3) unites the sportfishing industry and a nationwide network of state outdoor educators, national conservation groups, youth organizations and other educators dedicated to introducing America’s youth to angling, conservation and the outdoors lifestyle. The Future Fisherman Foundation (F3) operates under The Bass Federation (TBF) umbrella of companies and is the official non-profit education arm of TBF. For more info visit futurefisherman.org.