California’s Austin Wilson wins the National Championship and takes the TBF Living The Dream package, Ray Blash from Missouri takes the Co-Angler National Champions title.

California’s Austin Wilson wins the National Championship and takes the TBF Living The Dream package, Ray Blash from Missouri takes the Co-Angler National Champions title.

April 14, 2018

By Dan Johnson

Undaunted by roller coaster weather conditions, falling water levels and intense competition, California’s Austin Wilson turned three days of rock-solid springtime bass fishing into a $120,000 payday at The Bass Federation’s 2018 National Championship.

Held April 12-14 on Bull Shoals Lake out of Flippin, Arkansas, the event featured an elite field of 54 boaters and 54 co-anglers from across the continent, who qualified at 22 district competitions in the TBF’s National Semi-Final system.

Thanks to the success of that recently adopted qualifying format, the field competed for an all-time record payout of nearly $300,000 in cash and prizes.

Top prize, awarded to the top boater, was the coveted $120,000 “Living the Dream” prize package, which included $20,000 cash, fully paid entry fees on the 2018 FLW Tour as a pro, travel expense stipends for each event and use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Ranger boat and truck for the year and much more.

“Anglers practiced in their own boats Monday and Tuesday, then transferred their gear to brand-new, Evinrude-powered Ranger boats for the final day of practice,” TBF President and CEO Robert Cartlidge explained. “Everyone fished out of these state-of-the-art Rangers on Thursday and Friday, after which the field was cut to the top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s seven divisions for Saturday’s final round.”

Wilson’s drive to claim “Living the Dream” winnings and ultimate bragging rights on the grassroots bass fishing scene began with serious research from his home in Citrus Heights, just outside Sacramento. “As soon as I found we were fishing Bull Shoals, I spent as much time as possible on Google Earth, dissecting the lake and getting an idea where I thought the bass would position to move in and spawn,” he said.

Wilson’s home waters include the California Delta, plus Folsom and Clear lakes, and although his favorite tactics are frogging and flipping, he’s a firm believer in versatility. “I don’t like to put myself in any one category,” he says. “My weakness is cranking, but I still caught a lot of my fish this week on crankbaits.”

In practice, he fished the lake stem to stern.  “Every day I launched and fished somewhere totally different,” he reports.

Wilson started the championship with a 5-fish day one limit weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch included a pair of largemouths that hit a compact Picasso Alabama rig near a bridge 25 minutes from takeoff at the Bull Shoals Boat Dock, and a trio of smallies taken barely a long cast from the ramp.

“I got the smallmouths on a Norman Little N in Reverse Green Craw,” he says. “I was fishing chunk rock on a secondary point in 5 to 10 feet of water.”

The weight put him atop the Southwest Division and within striking distance of overall leader Cody Huddleston of West Virginia, who brought 15 pounds, 9 ounces to the scale.

As he idled onto Bull Shoals the second morning, Wilson was in a dead heat with Kentucky’s B.J. Nelson, who was representing the Southern Division. Wilson followed a similar game plan. Although the bridge failed to produce, a mix of A-rigs and cranking Little N’s yielded all the keepers.

As fate would have it, both anglers turned in identical limits again on day two. Each weighed 13 pounds, 9 ounces to lead their divisions and the entire field with 27 pounds, 11 ounces.

Wilson stuck to the same game plan on day three. Again, the bridge was a bust. But his two-pronged crankbait and A-rig program yielded a respectable limit in 10 feet of water on secondary points near the weigh-in area.

“I didn’t think I had enough to win it,” he admits. Still, the 12-pound, 9-ounce basket was enough for a 40-pound, 4-ounce total that put him more than 3 pounds ahead of his closes rival.

“I’m ecstatic,” he said after claiming the crown. “I’ve been fishing as long as I can remember, and ever since I was about 16 I knew this is what I wanted to do with my life. I’m thankful TBF offers an opportunity like this.”

In fact, Wilson became interested in TBF after seeing fellow Californian Mark Daniels Jr. win the TBF championship and parlay the Living the Dream package into a professional bass fishing career—and he hopes to do likewise with his shot at the FLW Tour.

As icing on the cake, Wilson was rewarded with a brand-new Ranger Z-518 for being the event’s top Ranger Cup-qualified boater.

On the co-angler side of the event, Missouri’s Ray Blash won the Co-AnglerNational Champions Title with 10 bass for a 27-pound, 12-ounce total. Blash sacked 6 pounds, 11 ounces on day one, boated the field’s heaviest basket on day two with a 16-pound, 3-ounce limit, and finished with 4 pounds, 14 ounces on day three. The recently retired 22 year veteran of the US Army, distanced himself from the rest of the co-angler field on the second day of the event when he weighed in a 16-03 bag from the back of the boat which was the second biggest of the entire event.

Blash received a $30,000 “Living the Dream” prize package with increased payout and fully paid entry fees into the FLW Series division of his choice. Vermont’s Scott McKay earned a $5,000 cash award for being the highest-placing Ranger Cup qualified co-angler.

After day three, top boaters (listed with total catch) are:

  1. Austin Wilson, California, 40-04, (15)
    2. Pat Upthagrove, Michigan, 37-02 (15)
    3. Brian Trieschman, Washington, D.C., 37-02 (14)
    4. B.J. Nelson, Kentucky, 35-00 (13)
    5. Nick Deering, Maine, 32-02 (12)
    6. Mike Webster, Arkansas, 27-08 (10)
    7. Loren Torok, Idaho, 19-03 (7)

Top co-anglers are:

  1. Ray Blash, Missouri, 27-12 (10)
    2. Jesse Parks, Arizona, 21-13 (7)
    3. Hernandez Ruffin, Washington, 19-10 (8)
    4. Adam Wall, Delaware, 16-06 (6)
    5. Dave Berg, Minnesota, 11-05 (4)
    6. Chris Franco, Tennessee, 7-14 (3)
    7. Scott McKay, Vermont, 5-05 (2)

 

Overall, boaters and co-anglers brought in 31 bass weighing 85 pounds, 8 ounces today. Just three of the 14 finalists landed limits.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship was streamed live daily on bassfederation.com and will be broadcast nationally in high-definition on “Federation Angler,” which airs on the Pursuit Channel.

The Bass Federation is a proud partner in fishing with FLW, which helps support this annual event along with other industry-leading TBF sponsors including Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Cabela’s, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Berkley, Lowrance, T-H Marine and Power Pole.

For full results and payout info check out the tournament results page.

 

Too Close to Call on Lake Bull Shoals; 14 TBF District Champions Qualify for BFL All-American and Tomorrow’s Final Showdown

Nelson, Wilson Tie it Up on Both Days to Seize the Lead; Co-Angler, Ray Blash, Brings in Biggest Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

B J Nelson and Austin Wilson both brought five bass limits to the scales yesterday weighing 14 lbs 2 ounces, and for one wild turn of fate, followed it up with 13 lbs 9 ounces today to lead it with 27 lbs 11 ounces.  The field is tight, however, and with the weather roller coaster this week,  the final day can and will bring anything.  One thing is undeniable; the 2018 Federation National Champions will be crowned tomorrow on Lake Bull Shoals and they will certainly earn it.

Nelson, is from Kentucky and represents the Southern Division.   He made a trip to pre-fish with his Dad just after Thanksgiving and his honey hole is the same place they found, which is obviously still producing.

“The way it lays, I was thinking of spring time and where the fish would be in the Spring, and it happened to be that type of area,” Nelson said.  “I had four this morning by 8am and caught 12 keepers both days.  I tried to leave outta there a little early each day and just let it rest.”

This is Nelson’s first time competing at the national championship but he’s fished on and off with TBF since he was 16.  He’s also fished other high profile events and recently won a boat.  Tomorrow, he’ll be looking to keep the fire alive.

Wilson is also making his national championship debut and is representing California and the Southwest Division.  He started fishing TBF two years ago inspired by the success story of Federation National Champion and California angler turned FLW Tour Pro, Mark Daniels, Jr.  He also mentioned how TBF has such affordable entry fees.

From a low cost tournament TBF has definitely produced.  He’s got one more day to reap all the benefits and secure the $120,000 “Living the Dream” package.

“It’s tied and tomorrow is a different day,” Wilson said.  “I’m shooting for a limit but we have a pretty big cold snap coming in and I don’t know what it’s going to do to the fish I’ve been catching.

Anything can happen. I can go out and I can blank, that’s fishing.  Hopefully, I’m going to go out and catch five; if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be and I’ll end up on top.

Co-angler, Ray Blash, from Missouri and the Central Division brought in the biggest bag of the day with 16 lbs 3 ounces.  Blash had a two day total of 22 lbs 14 ounces to seize the co-angler lead, advance to finals and punch his ticket to the 2018 BFL All-American.

Although he’s fished with the Missouri TBF since 2014, he’s not local to this lake having only visited the Arkansas side of Lake Bull Shoals a couple times.  He’s also a retired Army Veteran who retired in 2011 after nearly 23 years of service.

He thanked his boat captains on stage and again during the interview but when asked what he was doing different out there he said he’ll keep that a secret until tomorrow.

“I just want to give a shout out to my wife and kids and also, the guys that I worked with on Fort Leonard Wood.”

Tomorrow will decide it all as the 2018 Federation National Championship wraps up on Lake Bull Shoals in Flippin and Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

FULL RESULTS OVERALL

FULL RESULTS BY DIVISION

TOP 7 BOATERS – TOURNAMENT TOTALS

BJ NELSON – KY – SOUTHERN – 5 FISH – 27LBS 11OZ

AUSTIN WILSON – CA – SOUTHWEST – 5 FISH – 27LBS 11OZ

NICK DEERING – ME – EASTERN – 5 FISH – 26LBS 3OZ

PAT UPTHAGROVE – MI – NORTHERN – 5 FISH – 24LBS 26OZ

MIKE WEBSTER – AR – CENTRAL -5 FISH – 22LBS 14OZ

TOP 7 CO-ANGLERS – TOURNAMENT TOTALS

RAY BLASH – MO – CENTRAL – 5 FISH – 22LBS 14OZ

HERNANDEZ RUFFIN – WA – NORTHWEST – 5 FISH – 16LBS 3OZ

JESSE PARKS – AZ – SOUTHWEST – 1 FISH – 13LBS 15OZ

ADAM WALL – DE – MID-ATLANTIC – 0 FISH – 10LBS

CHRIS FRANCO – TN – SOUTHERN – 2 FISH – 7LBS 14OZ

DAVE BERG – MN – NORTHERN – 3 FISH – 7LBS 13OZ

SCOTT MCKAY – VT – EASTERN – 1 FISH – 5LBS OZ

Smallies Steal the Show on Day One of the Federation National Championship; Huddleston Leads it Despite Tough Fishing on Bull Shoals Lake

TBF National Semi-Final Champions are on the hunt this week for all the glory.  As day one wrapped up, several anglers came up short but seemed optimistic with what tomorrow will bring.  Dramatic shifts in weather have stalled the bite and a host of pre-spawning bass.  Anglers have continued to grind it out and switch up strategies, which have been a key pieces to the puzzle.  Tomorrow, weather will again change to bring a storm system moving in with high winds and rain, which will undoubtedly change the outcomes for many, hopefully for the best.

Cody Huddleston of West Virginia representing the Mid-Atlantic division was among the few to land a limit of bass today.  Huddleston brought 15 lbs 9 ounces to the scales on his national championship debut.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better.  Leading after day one the national championship and I’m thrilled to be here; hope I can do it tomorrow and move on to the last day for the $120,000,” Huddleston said.

“I had a really good practice caught a lot fish even with the 28 degree weather we had one morning.  The lake, it’s got big fish and they’re pre-spawning; next week this lake will be plum full.  I mean it’s just luck of the draw.  We just got a tough week but a lot of that is the weather.  There’s still big fish out there and some will be caught tomorrow.  It’s early April fishing; I mean they had snow here Monday.”

Huddleston, by random draw, was the last boat out this morning and by then, a spot that treated him well in practice was already too crowded.  So, tomorrow his boat will be first out.

“I’ll do the same thing tomorrow except I’ll hit my number one spot early and, hopefully, get an early morning bite,” Huddleston continued.  “I’ve just burnt a lot of banks up.  Cast a reel, cast a reel.  Covered as much water as I could to get five bites; it worked out.”

Water levels have been dropping on Bull Shoals Lake since practice started this week and with more changes in the weather coming, the whole game will change out there.  Huddleston said the wind has really been helping his bite out but the dropping lake levels have hurt.  So, he’s hoping the changes won’t affect his lead.

“I think it’s going to help me a little worse than it’s going to hurt me.”

Although, this is Huddleston’s first appearance at the Federation National Championship he has been fishing from a young age.  TBF youth and high school programs weren’t as prevalent as they are now and so he joined the TBF adult program when he was 16.

“I grew up right beside a boat ramp and would go out, 9-10 years old, and stand and hope someone would come take me along.  The junior program just wasn’t as big. It’s blowing up now, which I think is awesome and a really important thing – to get these kids fishing.  Now, I’m leading on day one of the national championship.  Really is a dream come true.”

Rounding out the top 5:

John Schoener – PA – Mid-Atlantic Division – 5 fish – 14 lbs 10 ounces

BJ Nelson – KY – Southern Division – 5 fish – 14 lbs 2 ounces

Austin Wilson – CA – Southwest Division – 5 fish – 14 lbs 2 ounces

Robert Peixotto –NM – Southwest Division – 5 fish – 13 lbs 10 ounces

FULL OVERALL RESULTS

RESULTS BY DIVISION

Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be broadcast in high-definition on the Pursuit Channel and streamed live on bassfederation.com.  Photos of the event, updates, plus live videos will also be posted on The Bass Federation’s Facebook page.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call 580-765-9031.

 

 

 

2018 Federation National Championship Boasts Increased Payouts Across the Field on Bull Shoals Lake

108 TBF National Semi-Final Qualifiers Set Out Tomorrow with their Dreams on the Line

The Bass Federation, (TBF) National Semi-Final program has seen participation more than double across the nation and the 2018 Federation National Championship contenders are about to fight for the fruits of that transition.  A ton of swag during registration, huge prize giveaways and increased payouts and contingencies for the top “Living the Dream” boater and co-angler aren’t the only perks added to this year’s event.   Every contender will receive a payout in the form of cash award or $100 Cabela’s  card.  Excitement is mounting as tomorrow tournament days begin on Lake Bull Shoals in Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

One TBF constant is the incredible support of our sponsors.  FNC contenders practiced today and will compete until the culmination of the live streamed, nationally televised event from brand new Ranger Boats, fully equipped thanks to TBF sponsors at Lowrance, Power Pole, Minn Kota and Evinrude.

 

Last night, registration kicked off with a walk through of freebies, including FLW, Ranger, Lowrance and Evinrude “stuff”, TBF qualifier long-sleeve shirts and decals, Cabela’s gift cards for all 108 anglers,weigh bags, polarized glasses, Berkley line and baits and more.  On top of that, four lucky anglers were drawn to receive a Minn Kota 80lb thrust trolling motor, a Lowrance CARBON HDS 7 unit, Ranger Boats auto inflate life-jacket and a Humminbird Helix 7  unit.  With all the pre-tournament excitement, one thing remains the same; tomorrow, it’s time to get down to business.

This week the 2018 Federation National Champion boater and co-angler will be crowned.  The winning champion boater will receive the $120,000 “Living the Dream” prize package to include an increased cash prize check, fully paid entry fees on the 2018 FLW Tour as a Pro, travel expense stipends for each event and use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Ranger boat for the year.  The national champion co-angler will also receive a $30,000 “Living the Dream” prize package with increased payouts and fully paid entry fees into the FLW Series division of choice.

On top of that, Ranger Cup contingencies will be awarded.  The top Ranger cup qualified boater will receive a brand new Ranger Z518 and the top Ranger Cup qualified co-angler will receive $5,000 cash award.

TBF National Championship anglers will compete for berths in two of the sport’s most coveted events – the Forrest Wood Cup and the BFL All-American. The top boater and co-angler from each of the seven TBF divisions will advance to the 2018 BFL All-American. The TBF Federation National Champion boater will also advance to the world championship of bass fishing, the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup for a shot at winning the biggest payday in bass fishing.

 

Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be broadcast in high-definition on the Pursuit Channel and streamed live on bassfederation.com.  Photos of the event, updates, plus live videos will also be posted on The Bass Federation’s Facebook page.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call 580-765-9031.