Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island Advance Anglers to Nationals

The Connecticut TBF played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 15 October 8-9 on the Connecticut River in Rhode Island.  The new TBF National Semi-Finals program pits top grassroots anglers from each state in a “close to home” weekend event with neighboring states for significant cash prizes and advancements.

A total of $10,760 with 128% payback in cash and prizes, National Semi-Final qualifying jerseys, trophies, champion titles and slots in the national championship were awarded in the boater and co-angler divisions.  The top five boaters and co-anglers in the 28 boat field divvied up $6,300 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 Evinrude).

Day one started on a foggy note, but the weather would clear leaving sunny skies.  Several anglers brought healthy bags to the scales.  But, on day two the weather shut the bite down with cloudy, rainy skies.  Although anglers struggled to find limits, the champions found enough weight to prevail.

After two days of competition, Alex Wetherell from Connecticut bested the boater field with 26.43 pounds.  He weighed in a 12.88 pound bag on day one to set the winning pace.  Wetherell received a $1,900 paycheck and a slot in the 2017 Federation National Championship.

In second and third overall, were Connecticut anglers, Dino Moutogiannis, with 15.13 pounds and, Ken Bugden, with 14.23 pounds.  Moutogiannis received a $960 paycheck and Bugden received $640.

Richard Congero from New Jersey had a tournament total of 14.09 pounds for fourth place overall.  Congero will advance to nationals as the highest finishing boater representing New Jersey; he also received a $400 cash prize.  Jacob Marcantonio was the highest finishing boater from Rhode Island with 10.44 pounds; he’ll advance to nationals representing his state.

Darren Pincus from New Jersey finished in sixth overall with 13.04 pounds.  Pincus received the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler.

On the co-angler side, Joseph Casale, from New Jersey would prove consistency is key.  He weighed in 5.93 pounds on day one to sit in third.  On day two, anglers struggled to bring in weight while he brought in another solid bag weighing 5.29 pounds to make his winning total 11.52 pounds.  Casale would take the co-angler title, advance to nationals representing New Jersey and also receive a $950 cash prize for his two days of work.

Steven Martins from Connecticut came in second overall on the co-angler side with 9.98 pounds.  He received a $470 paycheck and will also advance to nationals representing his state.  Brittany Johnson was the highest finishing co-angler representing Rhode Island with 9.68 pounds.  She received a $200 cash prize for her fourth overall finish and will advance to nationals representing her state.

The New Jersey Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the first District 15 State Pride Award with 60.52 total pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.

In District 15, top TBF anglers competed for the chance to advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship and to win enough cash to travel to the spring event.  Anglers qualify for the semi-finals in one of two ways.  Active state clubs in good standing can send their top two anglers directly to the semi-final event, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater.

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.

The new event format went well thanks to the Connecticut Bass Federation who ran the event and all their support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.  Also, thanks to New Jersey and Rhode Island Bass Federation anglers for their help in making the event enjoyable for all.

PAYOUT

FULL RESULTS

Kentucky and Tennessee Advance Anglers to Nationals

The Kentucky Bass Federation played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 3 October 15-16 on the Ohio River in Carrollton, Ky.  The new TBF National Semi-Finals program pits top grassroots anglers from each state in a “close to home” weekend event with neighboring states for significant cash prizes and advancements.

A total of $19,400 with 118% payback in cash and prizes, National Semi-Final qualifying jerseys, trophies, champion titles and slots in the national championship were awarded in the boater and co-angler divisions.  The top 11 boaters and co-anglers in the 55 boat field divvied up $12,375 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 Evinrude).

Stingy waters on the Ohio River only allowed for three limits on both days.  Even though anglers struggled, they struggled across the board, and the tournament would have its winners whether they brought in 30 pounds or three.  The numbers on the scale don’t affect the payout or the advancement opportunities either, so ultimately, “a win is a win”.

In the end, David Sullivan from Kentucky used his local knowledge to fish both the upper and lower pools of the Ohio River to edge out the boater field with 8.6 pounds.  Sullivan’s two day total paid big.  He received a $2,750 cash prize, a slot in the 2017 Federation National Championship, $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler and the $1,000 Evinrude award for being the winning boater running a 2012 or newer Evinrude E-Tec.  Talk about “a win is a win”.

Eighteen year old, Trevor Windgassen from Kentucky came in second overall with 7.03 pounds for a $1,700 paycheck.  Mike Boggs, also from Kentucky, caught 7 pounds to finish third overall and walk away $850 dollars richer.

Tennessee angler, Jerry Gibson, had a tournament total of 6.13 pounds to edge out teammate, Ben Mays, with 6.2 pounds.  Gibson will advance to nationals being the highest finishing boater representing Tennessee.

On the co-angler side, Kentucky’s Brian Bemis, weighed in 6.15 pounds to claim the title and receive a $1,375 cash prize.  Bemis will advance to nationals as the top finishing co-angler representing Kentucky.

The fourth qualifying spot would go to Jim Nygard with 6.10 pounds.  He will advance to the national event as the highest finishing co-angler representing the volunteer state.

The Kentucky Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the first District 3 State Pride Award with 21.8 pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.

In District 3, top TBF anglers competed for the chance to advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship and to win enough cash to travel to the spring event.  Anglers qualify for the semi-finals in one of two ways.  Active state clubs in good standing can send their top two anglers directly to the semi-final event, in addition, the top 10% of state event participation or a minimum of 12 anglers per state qualify, whichever is greater.

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.

There was a big fish pot sponsored by Earl Floyd Ford, Carrollton, Ky.   Boaters fished for $300 and co-anglers fished for $200 each day.  Day one big fish winners were Windgassen with 2.13 pounds and co-angler, David Crabtree, with 4 pounds from Tennessee. On day two, the winning boater was again Kentucky’s, Windgssen with 2.4 pounds and co-angler, Barry Ward, from Kentucky with a 4.13 pound beauty.

Although the fishing was rough, the hospitality from Misty Wheeler and the Carroll County Tourism was bar none. The 116 anglers were provided an outstanding catered meal at the banquet. She also had free ice available and hand delivered breakfast sandwiches to each boat as we prepared to launch.  The tournament co-sponsor, Earl Floyd Ford, provided each angler with a T-shirt and donated $1,000 for the big fish pots.

The new event format went well also thanks to the Kentucky Bass Federation who hosted the event and all their support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.

PAYOUT

FULL RESULTS

TOP 4 RESULTS

New York, Ontario and Pennsylvania Advance Anglers to Nationals

Carl Alexander – NY

The first National TBF Semi-Final in District 14 was held October 15-16 on Lake Champlain out of the Ticonderoga boat ramp. The event was hosted by the New York Bass Federation (NYTBF) and started with the registration, meeting, and a banquet at the Best Western in Ticonderoga.

A total of $21,640 in cash and prizes, National Semi-Final qualifying jerseys, trophies, champion titles and slots in the national championship were awarded in the boater and co-angler divisions.

District 14 held the largest and richest Semi-Final to date.  The top 12 boaters and co-anglers in the 62 boat field divvyed up $13,950 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 Evinrude).

After two days of official practice, the anglers from New York, Ontario, and Pennsylvania were greeted with low water and foggy conditions that delayed takeoff for an hour and a half. Even with the reduced fishing time, anglers were enthusiastic about catching lots of quality largemouth and smallmouth from the famous Lake Champlain fishery. There were many mixed bags of both species weighed in over the two days of the tournament.

In the end, Brad Brodnicki from New York bested the boater field with a combined weight of 28.90 pounds. Brodnicki received a $3,100 cash prize and he’ll advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship.

Brad Brodnicki – NY

However, it was co-angler Carl Alexander from New York that had the largest total weight of the tournament at 30.20 pounds.  Under the new national semi-final format, Alexander can now opt to fish as a boater at the national championship event.  If he does, New York will move up the next two co-angler spots keeping the numbers even with two boaters and two co-anglers.

Also advancing to nationals as the highest finishing boaters in their states are Justin Fung representing Ontario (2nd boater overall) and Robert Joseph Davidson, Jr. representing Pennsylvania (3rd boater overall).  Fung also received a $1,840 paycheck and Davidson received a $910 cash prize for his two days of work.

The co-anglers advancing to the national championship are Matthew Davis representing Pennsylvania (4th co-angler overall), and Jayson Saliba representing Ontario (5th co-angler overall).

The New York federation team also won the National Semi-Final “STATE PRIDE” award with 132.35 pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.

The top New York boaters were Brad Brodnicki, Bobby Williams, Garry Woodruff, and Glenn Babineau, and the top co-anglers included Kevin Grist, David Dumas, Stuart Morse, and Luke Musto.

It was difficult to launch and retrieve the boats in the low water conditions especially in the early morning hours. The NYTBF was grateful the Pennsylvania TBF President, Chris Wilson, and Vice-President, Mike Saabi, for running the ramp and keeping boats moving in an organized manner. They also helped with the weigh-in along with team members from New York.

Anglers drove their vehicles and boats right up to the weigh-in stage held at the Bicentennial Park in historic Ticonderoga.  The waterfall coming from Lake George into the LaChute River served as the backdrop making for a spectacular weigh-in site.

Special thanks to the Town of Ticonderoga and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) for sponsoring the event and allowing usage of the park.  Without great sponsors, events like this with 120 plus anglers and their families would be difficult.

The new event format also went well thanks to the support from TBF’s sponsors; FLW, Ranger, Cabela’s, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Evinrude, Berkley and Power Pole.

PAYOUT

FULL RESULTS