Delaware, Maryland and Nation’s Capital Advance Anglers to National Event
The Maryland Bass Federation hosted the 2017 TBF National Semifinal District 13 event September 30 and October 1 on the Upper Chesapeake Bay out of Dundee State Park. The event was originally scheduled as a two day event but due to high winds competition days were cut to one. Sunday’s temperatures were in the low 40’s with high pressure and low tide conditions, the result of Saturday’s harsh weather conditions. But, 60 TBF anglers braved the weather to fish for state bragging rights, deep payouts, trophies, Ranger Cup and Evinrude contingencies plus coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship.
A total of $11,400 with 126% payback was awarded in cash and prizes. The top six boaters and co-anglers in the 30 boat field divvied up $6,750 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater (if he/she runs a 2012 or newer Etec Evinrude).
The new format pays back 100% of the entry fees, 75% to the top 20% of the field, 10% to the state federations and 15% to the TBF Federation National Championship.
In the new NSF rules, a co-angler can also move up as a boater if his/her weight totals more than the state boater’s weight. In District 13, the National Semi-Final Co-angler Champion did just that. Maryland’s Ron Stierstorfer brought a limit of bass to the scales weighing 18.40 pounds to win the title, a $1,000 paycheck plus a boater slot in the 2018 Federation National Championship.
The NSF boater champion was Brian Trieschman from Nation’s Capital. Trieschman had a tournament total of 18.10 pounds for a total cash payout of $2,000. Trieschman will also advance to nationals as a boater representing his state.
The other anglers advancing in the boater division are Delaware’s Craig Morris who had 16.42 pounds and Maryland’s Dan Rodriguez with 11.26 pounds. The co-anglers advancing to represent Delaware and Nation’s Capital are Adam Wall with 13.32 pounds and Jason Pierson with 8.51 pounds.
The Delaware Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the District 13 State Pride Award with 69.05 pounds. The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers selected prior to the event from each state.
The National Semi-Final format rolled out last year replacing the divisional events and state team line-ups. TBF anglers can now advance to a close-to-home NSF event in one of two ways. Active state clubs can advance their top two anglers, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater. The new format has been highly successful with state participation and membership up across the nation.
The event went well thanks to the Maryland Bass Federation that ran the event and all the support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.
The Oregon Bass Federation hosted the 2017 TBF National Semifinal District 18 event October 7-8 on the Columbia River on both the Bonneville and The Dalles pools. Pre-tournament fishing reports saw solid limits of smallmouth bass being caught on lures ranging from crankbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits and drop-shotting soft plastics (tubes, senkos and flukes). The majority of the fish were caught shallow from 5-15 feet of water across the entire pools. Thirty-eight anglers representing Oregon and Washington set out from The Dalles, Ore., to claim state bragging rights, deep payouts, trophies, Ranger Cup and Evinrude contingencies plus coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship.
Anglers faced a tough bite on day two due to lack of current and the wind that beat through the waters and anglers on day one. Slower fishing and patience proved key. Day one leader, McKay would go on to win it with a whopping 33.24 two day total. McKay was crowned District 18’s NSF Champion boater, received a $1,420 paycheck and will advance to nationals representing his state.
On the co-angler side, Scott Seros from Oregon caught 24.40 pounds to win the National Semi-Final Champion Co-angler title. Seros received a $710 paycheck and a slot in the national championship.
In the closest race to date for the NSF State Pride Awards, Washington won it with 160.21 pounds to Oregon’s 159.85 pounds. The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers selected prior to the event from each state.
News Release
The event, presented by TBF and FLW each year will incorporate some of the new program changes brought about by the vote in response to requests by both junior anglers and their families over the years. Changes like a two-person team format and an added day of competition to include two days of competition and a final cut day by TBF division. Teams will also fish out of their own boats using their own boat captains. The age group will also be adjusted to include all anglers 15 years old and younger as of AUG 31 of the JWC event year. Anglers must not turn 16 before August 31. The annual junior membership of $25 will remain the same and separate from high school membership.
The New Jersey Bass Federation hosted the 2017 TBF National Semi-final District 15 event on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey on September 30 and October 1. While fishing was spotty, given the beginning of the fall turnover, there were solid numbers and even some healthy weights caught across the board. A field of 36 boaters and co-anglers from Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island converged to vie for state bragging rights, deeper payouts, trophies, Ranger Cup and Evinrude contingencies plus coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship.
