2018 Junior World Championship (JWC) Heads Back to Popular Lake Hamilton and Hot Springs, Arkansas Under New Junior Format

News Release

For additional information, please contact: tbf@bassfederation.com

The Bass Federation, Inc. 580.765.9031

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

Ponca City, Okla., October 6, 2017 – The annual TBF state leadership national meetings were held recently in Camden, S.C.  The State Presidents, Youth Directors and their representatives in attendance wrapped up discussions with a unanimous vote to revamp the long running TBF Junior program started by the state federations in 1994.  The new format will double the field size of Junior World Championship starting with the 2018 event in Hot Springs, Ark., August 8-11.

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.

Like in years past, the JWC will be held in conjunction with the richest professional bass fishing tournament, the Forrest Wood Cup.  The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will be held on Lake Ouachita just up the road from Lake Hamilton and Hot Springs, Ark.

“Our entire community is excited to welcome these “Pros of the future” to our community,” CEO of Visit Hot Springs, Steve Arrison, said.  “The best junior anglers from each state will be competing for the world championship on Lake Hamilton.  What a great week of fishing in the Spa City!  The TBF Junior World Championship on Lake Hamilton and the FLW Cup on Lake Ouachita; I can’t wait!”

Besides all the exciting changes coming to next year’s event, an added benefit of the Hot Springs area is the all-inclusive type environment.  The JWC boat yard and weigh-ins will be right outside the host hotel. The community is also full of places close by for entertainment or to get a bite to eat.

“We’re happy to be returning to Lake Hamilton and the Hot Springs area, it’s always an angler favorite, even more so to announce these changes that will undoubtedly grow the program by leaps and bounds,” 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.”

Many of today’s top anglers started in the TBF Junior World Championship circle.  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.

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.

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District 15 Hosts National Semi-Final Event on Lake Hopatcong

Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island Advance Anglers

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.

A total of $13,320 with 123% payback was awarded in cash and prizes.  The top seven boaters and co-anglers in the 36 boat field divvied up $8,100 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.

After two days of competition, New Jersey angler, Sean Loll, bested the field to be named the 2017 National Semi-Final Champion Boater.  Loll had a slow start with one fish shy of a limit on day one for 8.68 pounds.  But, he turned it around on day two with a whopping 15.49 pounds to make his winning total 24.17 pounds, four pounds ahead of the field.  Loll not only received a $2,270 paycheck for his win but he also earned the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler.  Loll continued to rack up the wins with his 5.17 pound largemouth and tournament Big Bass.  Loll will advance to the 2018 Federation National Championship in the boater division representing New Jersey.

On the co-angler side, New Jersey angler, Art Vitale, seemed to be the only co-angler to find the weight on a stingy Lake Hopatcong.  Vitale rode a monster two day weight paired alongside boater winner, Loll, catching 13.18 pounds to make his tournament total 19.79 pounds to claim the NSF Champion Co-angler title by over seven pounds.  He received a $1,135 paycheck for his two days of work and will advance to nationals in the co-angler division representing his state.

Other NSF anglers to receive berths in the national contest were Connecticut boater/co-angler, Alex Wetherell and John Fonda, and Rhode Island boater/co-angler, Jeremy Sadowski and Robert Rull.

The New Jersey Bass Federation capitalized on home team advantage to claim bragging rights and the District 15 State Pride Award with 74.56 total pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state selected prior to the event.

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 also went well thanks to the New Jersey 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.

FULL RESULTS

PHOTOS

District 19 Hosts National Semi-Final Event on Noxon Reservoir

The Montana Bass Federation hosted the 2017 TBF National Semifinal District 19 event September 23-24 from Lakeside Resort on the Noxon Reservoir in Trout Creek, Mt.    Scheduled reservoir draw downs forced the event date to change and forest fires in the N.W. even threatened cancellation of the event.  Fortunately, the weather cooled down and the fires were controlled, allowing District 19 NSF anglers to compete.  The boats launched from Trout Creek ramp to fish for state bragging rights, deeper payouts, trophies, Ranger Cup and Evinrude contingencies plus coveted spots in the 2018 Federation National Championship.

A total of $8,200 with 138% payback was awarded in cash and prizes.  The top four boaters and co-anglers in the 20 boat field divvied up $4,500 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.

All 40 contestants caught fish on Noxon with healthy limits averaging in the mid-teens and one bag weighing a whopping 20.24 pounds.  The big bag brought in by Idaho angler, Loren Torok, would be the first solid limit of two to make his tournament total 31.91 pounds and secure him the 2017 National Semi-Final District Champion boater title.  Torok will advance to the 2018 national championship and also received a $1,410 paycheck for his win.

The National Semi-Final Co-angler Champion was J.D. Woods, a local Trout Creek angler.  Woods had a tournament total of 19.84 pounds for a total cash payout of $705.  Woods will also advance to the national contest in the co-angler division representing Montana.

Second place finishers both on the boater and co-angler sides also earned berth in the 2018 Federation National Championship being the highest finishing anglers representing their respective states. Montana boater, Tim Johnston, caught 30.6 pounds to advance and Idaho co-angler, Shannon Wadas, caught 17.58 pounds.

The tournament big fish was caught by Idaho co-angler, Keith Hoffman, on day one.  The largemouth tipped the scales at 5.76 pounds. Ranger Cup winner was Ben Warren also from Idaho.  Warren received $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler.

The Montana Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the District 19 State Pride Award with 142.95 total pounds to Idaho’s 123.41 pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state selected prior to the event.

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 also went well thanks to the Montana Bass Federation that ran the event, Lakeside Resort in Trout Creek and all the support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.

FULL RESULTS

Cabela’s Renews Support of The Bass Federation (TBF)

Cabela’s Renews Federation Angler Support

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ponca City, Okla.—Sept. 18, 2017—Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, has renewed its support for North America’s largest network of grassroots tournament fishing organizations by extending its Federation Angler sponsorship for the 2018 tournament season.

“We are happy to continue our support of Federation Angler, and are looking forward to another great year in 2018,” said Jennifer Murphy, Cabela’s brand partnership program manager. “Federation Angler is a dedicated group of knowledgeable and passionate anglers. That dedication shows in the quality events they plan and execute, and all the great work they do to promote fishing and conservation.”

“We are extremely proud to continue our Cabela’s partnership,” added Kelly Gohman, Federation Angler VP of sales and marketing. “Cabela’s has been a great supporter of Federation Angler’s competitive fishing, youth outreach and conservation efforts. Plus, their industry-leading products are a perfect fit for our hard-fishing members and the thousands of fans following them across our media platforms.”

Cabela’s, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is the world’s largest direct marketer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the company’s founding in 1961, Cabela’s has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World’s Foremost Outfitter.

Through Cabela’s expansive network of retail stores and its well-established direct-order business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela’s also issues the Cabela’s CLUB Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Federation Angler represents the largest collection of fishing, youth and conservation organizations under one roof in America today, including two National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame entities and some of the oldest and largest tournament organizations in existence.

The Federation Angler network includes The Bass Federation, Student Angler Federation High School Fishing, The Walleye Federation, Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit and National Bass Anglers Association. For complete details, visit federation.com or call (580) 765-9031.