District 6 National Semi-Finals Report

June 15- 16 2019

Thirty-five boats totaling seventy TBF anglers ascended on Lake Millwood in Ashdown Arkansas competing for cash prizes and bids in the 2020 TBF National Championship.

Anglers were blessed with nice weather conditions as the rain and stormy conditions forecasted for Sunday never materialized and the fish seemed to be biting as 535 fish were brought to the scales over the two-day event.

Fish numbers were plentiful but finding the quality that Millwood is known for was a challenge. Arkansas boater Blake Wilson certainly solved the puzzle and punched his ticket to the 2020 TBF National Championship.

Blake brought in ten fish weighing a total of 36lbs 8oz. He also had big bass on the boater side for 5lbs 9oz. Blake noted that he had never fished on Lake Millwood prior to this event and located his primary fishing location on Thursday during the official practice period. “I caught a couple 3lb class fish in the area but didn’t want to stick too many in practice, so I was not aware of the potential of it.

”Blake indicated that a frog was his main lure and filled in a few fish flipping and with a buzz bait. Blakes’ day two partner Larry Carter took the co-angler victory.

Larry had a two-day total of 20lbs 9oz The Oklahoma angler will represent Oklahoma as a co-angler 2020 TBF National Championship.

 

Michael Morris was the top Oklahoma Boater with a two-day total of 26lbs 6oz. Michael will be representing Oklahoma in the 2020 TBF National Championship.

Matt Tucker was the top Arkansas Co-angler with a two-day total of 15lbs 15oz. Matt will represent Arkansas in the 2020 TBF National Championship.

Prize Purse Tops $2.7 Million For 10th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship in 2019

World’s Richest Bass Fishing Championship Event Ever Held?

 

Prize Purse Tops $2.7 Million For 10th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship in 2019

The Student Angler Federation, (SAF) announced today that Student anglers will compete for a share of the record $2.7 million prize purse offered at the 10th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship dual event June 19-22 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala., registration for this premier event closes Friday June 14th.

 

Comprised of lucrative college scholarships, cash scholarships and an array of other prizes, the purse is the richest in High School Fishing history by far and possibly the largest ever posted in all levels of competitive bass fishing.

 

The payout was quickly pushed to over $1.1 million to celebrate this 10th anniversary event. Bethel University who has supported the World Finals from its start in 2010, once again started the ball rolling with their annual scholarship offers totaling $96,000, then Kentucky Christian University (KCU) in eastern Kentucky stepped up in a big way and is offering 12 scholarships totaling $1 million dollars, including a top scholarship of $100,000. Then earlier this week, Simpson University in Redding, California, added $1.5 million in multiple scholarship offers to the pot, targeting mainly top student angler teams from the western half of the US including a $60,000 offer to the top California finishers, and more than 40 other Simpson University scholarship offers as well, pushing the total to nearly 2.6 million. All 3 of these colleges have or are building out top level college fishing teams and are working to recruit for their fishing teams.

 

Educational incentives don’t end there, not everyone can travel to one of these top schools for their degree and maybe some don’t want to go to college. America certainly needs well trained, well paid, technical and trades craftsmen and women as well. So, The Bass Federation (TBF) and FLW both annually offer cash scholarships. FLW offers the winning team of the National Championship portion of the dual event a $10,000 cash scholarship and advance opportunities to the BFL All-American. (If they meet age requirements) and TBF annually provides $10,000 scholarships in the World Finals portion. These scholarships ensure that no winning team goes home empty handed. Additional smaller scholarships, daily sponsor prizes for all teams, a gift for every graduating senior attending on senior night, tens of thousands in gift cards and a plethora of other daily prizes from all the event sponsors push the total purse past the $2.7 million mark.

 

While the payout is epic, TBF President and CEO Robert Cartlidge believes the educational opportunities trump the record dollar signs.

 

“This may well be the richest prize pool ever for a bass fishing championship event of any kind, anywhere in the history of the sport, but that is not what makes it a valuable event,” he said. “In our minds, as far as TBF and our partners in fishing at FLW are concerned, what makes this the richest payback anywhere has nothing to do with the dollar amount; it is because of the dozens of top-notch educational scholarships with which students will have a chance to earn post-secondary degrees. Those educations are worth more than any dollar amount anyone can put on an event.”

 

Produced by SAF under the TBF umbrella with support from FLW Outdoors, the popular four-day High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship dual-event format allows all anglers to compete for three full days, with a second-chance round designed to keep everyone in the game until the fourth and final day cut much like any other high school double elimination event.

 

The High School Fishing World Finals portion of this dual event is open to ALL SAF members world-wide so that all SAF members have a chance to earn a life changing scholarship and is expected to draw nearly 400 two-person teams from about every U.S. state, plus competitors from foreign destinations ranging from Canada to Zimbabwe. The National Championship portion of the event you must qualify for through SAF State Championships, FLW Open events and SAF sanctioned trails across the nation. This format allows friends, siblings and club team members to travel and compete together in one or two premier events with separate prize pools, in a one week long family friendly vacation all at once, with only one travel cost for the families. There is still time for any high school team to get registered and attend as registration for the World Finals event closes Friday June 14th.

 

For complete details, visit HighSchoolFishing.org. You can also follow the daily action, including Facebook Live morning takeoffs and live streaming weigh-ins, at www.HighSchoolFishing.org and enjoy additional daily coverage and photos at FLWFishing.com.

 

About The Bass Federation

 

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their 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. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call 580-765-9031.

 

For full details and more information about the Student Angler Federation and this year’s High School World Finals, visit highschoolfishing.org or call 580-765-9031.

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2019 Junior World Championship heads to North Little Rock Arkansas August 8-10

PONCA CITY, OKLA. (5 /14/2019) – The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) and Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) announced today that the 2019 Junior World Championship (JWC) has been scheduled for August 8-10 in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

The 2019 JWC will include a two-person team format; an added day of competition to include two days of competition, and a third and final cut day by TBF division. Teams will fish out of their own boats using their own boat captains. The age group to include all anglers is under 15 years old as of August 31, 2019. The new program changes, which were very popular with anglers and their families in 2018, are the result of a vote by the state presidents in 2017.

As in years past, the JWC will be held in conjunction with the richest professional bass fishing tournament, the Forrest Wood Cup. The 2019 Forrest Wood Cup will be held on nearby Lake Hamilton just down the road from North Little Rock.

“We are excited to host the TBF Junior World Championship in North Little Rock,” said Erica Goss, Sales Manager for the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re ready to show off not only the great fishing on the Arkansas River, but also the great hospitality North Little Rock has to offer!”

Besides all the excitement of the competition, an added benefit of the North Little Rock area is proximity to amenities. The JWC boat yard and weigh-ins will be near Wyndham Riverfront, the riverside host hotel; anglers can stock up at a large Bass Pro Shops, and North Little Rock is close enough to attend the Forrest Wood Cup expo and Weigh-ins at Hot Springs after the juniors weigh in. Family, state presidents and state federation officers will also appreciate the Clinton National Airport.

“We’re happy to be returning to the state of Arkansas and to the North Little Rock area specifically. We received some feedback from multiple families last year that a close airport would benefit moms, dads and other family who would like to fly in to watch their kids weigh-in but cannot drive and stay all week long. Additionally, we hold our annual state federation leadership meetings with all the state federation officers at this event and many of them fly in. With excellent fishing on the Arkansas River in August, North Little Rock fits the bill to a tee,” TBF President and CEO Robert Cartlidge said. “The Junior program was started in 1994 by four of our state federations and truly has grown into a program that cultivates the future of our sport and is dedicated to young anglers discovering their love for fishing and the great outdoors. The best of the best will be there.”

Many of today’s top anglers started in the TBF Junior World Championship circle when they were young.  A few notable examples are; Jacob Wheeler (IN) fished the 2006 JWC; Shane Lehew (NC) won the 2007 JWC, and recent 2017 Forrest Wood Cup winner Justin Atkins (MS) fished the 2008 JWC.

For more information about JWC rules, results and past winners, visit www.BassFederation.com.

About The Bass Federation

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations and their 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. TBF founded the Student Angler Federation and the National High School Fishing program in 2008 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.

Craig, Fuchs Crowned “Living the Dream” National Champion Anglers

Final Day of the 2019 Federation National Championship Says Goodbye to a Rainy Kentucky Lake

This week, 102 TBF State Champions traveled from across the US and Canada to compete on Kentucky Lake’s legendary waters in Paris, Tenn.  Fourteen Division Champions were awarded slots in the 2019 BFL All-American.  The National Champion boater will take his place among the elite as he heads to the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup to fish for the biggest payday in bass fishing. 

The National Champion boater, Preston Craig, was awarded the $120,000 “Living the Dream” prize package to include prize check and fully paid entry fees on the FLW Tour as a Pro plus travel expense stipends for each event, use of a tow vehicle and a “Living the Dream” wrapped Ranger boat for the year. 

The National Champion co-angler, John Fuchs, was awarded the $30,000 “Living the Dream” prize package to include a $20,000 prize check and fully paid entry fees into the FLW Series division of choice.

Craig and Fuchs were both leading going into the final day so they went out today as partners.  This is also their first national championship event.  Both champions kept adapting to the ever-changing weather, staying positive and grinding it out this week to earn the prestigious national champion titles.

Craig found some areas during practice producing quality fish.  On the first official practice day his co-angler nabbed a smallmouth just under five pounds in one spot, so he returned five times trying it, then left.  He caught two keepers there his first day but after that he couldn’t land anything but small fish there or anywhere else.  So, he found himself fishing new water close to the launch site.

“I ran all over the place, my fish just left,” Craig said.  “Something just kept telling me to notwaste tim run around a lot, instead to fish close and maximize my fishing time, I caught one near the marina and it was a good one.  It was out of the wind, it has a lot of the same stuff all in one place that I had been getting bites on.  So, I told myself last night I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here all day whether I win or lose, I’ll live or die by it – I’m staying. I started the big motor about six times and never planed off.  I lived by it today.”

Craig threw a 5 1/16th ounce Booyah jig with a Zoom swimmin’ chunk all week but today the fish kept biting it and dropping it off, then they quit biting it all together. 

“For some reason they just quit.  So, with the clouds and rain, I picked up a topwater and they started swallowing it,” Craig said.  “I had one good smallmouth bite in practice on it and something told me just to get it out of the rod box. The first cast I caught one.”   

Craig won a national title, the “Living the Dream” package with a chance to fish as a Pro for a year, cash prize and so much more, plus a slot in the BFL All-American.  On stage, he was reminded he will also advance to the Forrest Wood Cup.

“I completely forgot all about it!” Craig said.  “I was just sucked into the moment of what I’d caught and what I’ve been catching.  I work full-time at Malibu boats & every chance I get I’m on the water, fishing as much as I can, local and club tournaments.  Me and a friend have been fishing a team trail tournament this year.  So much effort, all the time put on the water, time spent casting and casting.  Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t.  Today, it really did.” 

This highlight of the day was his first keeper and his biggest catch.  Craig and Fuchs put the boat right up against the backside of the dock and with one foot each they’d pull their legs down the dock easing the boat alongside to stop and fish.  Fuchs stretched out to net his five plus pounder and his fish all day. 

“I told him this morning it was rough fishing and to be ready to reach and man, he was awesome today,” Craig said.  “If it wasn’t for him and stretching out all day I don’t know what I would have done. 

He was a fun guy, I believe I’m giving him a call to go fish the Potomac. I’ve never fished tidal water so, it’s going to be something different.”

Craig and Fuchs battled it out in the marina all day even when setbacks hit them.  Preston lost a 4 1/2 pounder early then broke off a 6 pounder at the boat and had another one follow it.    

“I just kept it in my head, I gotta keep grinding,” Craig said.  “There’s more, I got to keep fishing.  I beat myself up for a minute then, it was just back to the same thing.  It happens but, it’s over.  You gotta keep grinding, there’s more. I couldn’t let it get in my head and that’s what I did.”

After losing two keepers, he drove to the other side of the marina and on the first cast caught a 3 1/2 pounder to finish his limit. 

“I told my camera guy after finishing my limit, I think I’ve got it.  Luckily, it happened. I got the right bites and it’s an amazing feeling.  It’s lot of work to get here and finishing my limit, that was a weight lifted off.  That was it.” 

Fuchs kept the same mantra – grind it out.  But, he didn’t put a keeper in the boat until 10am and it was only around 15 1/2 inches.  The next one didn’t come until 12:30 and it was a 2 1/2-3 pounder.  He didn’t get another keeper bite.

So, with just two keepers going into the weigh-in he wasn’t confident.  “I told Preston on the way in, man I left the door wide open,” Fuchs said.  “I can just put it in God’s hands and if he sees fit that it’s time for me to win, that’s what his plan is.” 

Now, Fuchs, the National Champion Co-angler said he’s just thinking about calling his wife and talking to his twin 12 year old boys to let them know, he’s in the money. 

“My wife might be crying she is so happy for me,” Fuchs said.  “Last night, she told me no matter what happens I’m always going be a winner in her eyes- you are going to make me cry – My 12 year old boys they look up to me.  I don’t know what I’d do without them, without them, I wouldn’t be standing here to day thats the gods honest truth.”

Fuchs was more than overwhelmed and completely ecstatic he was set in making plans. 

“Half of it will go into our savings account and the other half I’m using to buy a Ranger Boat.  Then, I can bump up from a co-angler to the front of the boat,” Fuchs continued.  “I used to have a boat and some financial hardships have happened and I had to get rid of it.  Now, I’ve got the money to put back in our savings for a move and I’ve got the money for a boat and to pay of some bills; I’m going to be just fine.” 

Fuchs said he learned so much from his boaters this week.  On day one, his boater showed him some different techniques using a shakey head.  He went from catching 12-13 inch bass to five pounders.  On day 2, he drew Craig and the rest speaks for itself. 

“Preston was the highlight of my week out there, he puts on a show,” Fuchs said.  “He caught a lot of big fish and just stretching out 10 feet to net them – I mean what do you do?  The guy’s a beast.  I made a good friend right there.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Scott Green from the Vermont Bass Federation came in second as a boater but he didn’t go away empty-handed.  Not only will he receive a prize check but he was also the top Ranger Cup qualified boater and was awarded a new Ranger z518. 

“I had no idea I was the Ranger Cup highest place winner; it was very overwhelming to me,” Green said.  “I didn’t have any expectations this week, but I was really working hard to get it done.”

Green got emotional on stage when the news hit him about his new Ranger Boat.  “My boat is about 8 years old, a Ranger z19, it’s been through a few tours so to speak so winning this boat is great.  It means I will be able to upgrade.  I absolutely wouldn’t fish anything else they are a cut above all the rest.”

Traveling all the way to Tennessee from Vermont is quite a trek but not only did he have a contingency of family and friends celebrating his success together back home, he also had some words for what Ranger means to anglers and federations that travel so far.

“Ranger really brought it to this tournament.  The stability, the fishability, it’s hands above the rest.  We went out there Thursday and there were 30 mile gusts and it really put those boats to the test.  We took some pretty big leaps over those waves and that boat didn’t move at all.  The boat is solid you can drive it anywhere.

Willis Kennedy III, lead the tournament after day one but came up short for the title. He was the highest Ranger Cup qualified co-angler to win a $5,000 prize check for his efforts this week.

Thank you Ranger, for bringing all the rigs here 53, z520’s thats a huge endeavor and we very much appreciate it as anglers,” Green continued. “It takes the pressure off us without having to rig our boats.  They all had top of the line equipment loaded up and all we have to do is show up and fish.

Green has fished the federation for 15 years and has competed at several Divisional and National Semi-Final events.  This will also make his second national championship appearance.

“This has just been another great experience.  For the states that have fewer numbers like Vermont, it’s still super important to foster strong clubs, strong representation to represent our state federations with our fishing abilities and go out there and give it our all.”

The top division champions and national champion anglers prove just that – grind it out and we’ll see which TBF Federation anglers will be next.