Maine and New Hampshire Advance Anglers to Nationals

The Maine Federation played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 17 on Great Pond Lake in Belgrade, Maine.  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.

In District 17, top TBF anglers competed October 1-2 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.

A total of $8,200 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 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 who runs a 2012 or newer Evinrude.

After two days of competition, the District 17 National Semi-Final Champion titles would go to the boater from New Hampshire, Dave Tsao, who received a $1,410 cash prize.  The co-angler champion was Henry Bobadilla also from New Hampshire who received $700 from his two days of work.

Maine’s Herb Meyer and Lewis Mendall will also advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship being the highest boater and co-angler finishers to represent their state.

Meyer also nabbed the $500 Ranger Cup Award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler along with $320 for his fourth place overall purse.

The New Hampshire Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the first District 17 State Pride Award with 103.65 total pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state.  The boaters are selected prior to the event.

Great Pond Lake rumored aggressive smallies in practice, but a small front entered the area bringing cloudy skies and flat, calm waters with next to no wind.  The conditions challenged some anglers while others adjusted using techniques to land the smallie bite.  Anglers caught fish from as shallow as a 2 feet to as deep as 60 feet of water.

The new event format went well thanks to the Maine Bass Federation and all the angler’s support.

PAYOUT

RESULTS

Missouri and Kansas Advance Anglers to Nationals

The Missouri TBF played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 7 on Truman Lake in Warsaw, Mo.  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.

In District 7, top TBF anglers competed October 1-2 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.

A total of $8,520 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 four boaters and co-anglers in the 21 boat field divvied up $4,725 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater who runs a 2012 or newer Evinrude.

After two days of competition, the District 7 National Semi-Final Champion titles would go to the boater from Missouri, Roger Edwards with 22.21 pounds who received a $1,500 cash prize.  The co-angler champion was Ray Cates from Kansas with 15.17 pounds who received $750.

The other two anglers to advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship were the highest finishing boater from Kansas, Craig Wolf, with 12.95 pounds and the highest finishing co-angler from Missouri, Dave Lindner, with 11.48 pounds.

Don Heiser nabbed the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest Ranger Cup qualified angler along with his $750 second place overall purse.

The Kansas TBF won the District 7 State Pride Award and became the first state to win over the home team advantage.  They also won by the narrowest margin yet with 57.90 pounds right ahead of Missouri’s 52.46 pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and top four co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.

Day one brought good sacks of bass to the scales but also mixed emotions as anglers struggled to find limits.  A few lunkers and some four fish bags would, however, set the pace for the two day tournament.

Big bass of the day went to Heiser with a 6.26 pound beauty.  Edwards came out leading it with 15.77 pounds.  A total of 64 fish weighing 189 pounds came to the scale on day one.

Day two was a totally different story; launch was delayed due to fog and even by 10am anglers reported pockets of dense fog on the lake.  The weights would reflect the foggy conditions.

Chris Young captured big sack on day two with 10.31 pounds, but it wouldn’t be enough to knock Edwards off the title platform.  Mick Maples showed off his big bass of the day weighing 5.59 pounds.

The event was sponsored by the City of Warsaw, Truman Lodge and Ferg’s Diner; Missouri TBF and The Bass Federation would like to thank all the sponsors for the help with the event.

FULL RESULTS

PAYOUT

Massachusetts and Vermont Advance Anglers to Nationals

The Massachusetts Bass Federation played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 16 on the Lake Champlain in Ticonderoga, N.Y.  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.

In District 16, top TBF anglers from Massachusetts and Vermont competed October 1-2 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.

A total of $11,100 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 29 boat field divvied up $6,525 in total cash payback, not including the $500 Ranger Cup award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-tec award for the winning boater who runs a 2012 or newer Evinrude.

After two days of competition, the District 16 National Semi-Final Champion titles would go to the boater from Massachusetss, Jim Gildea, who received a $1,980 cash prize, in addition to the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest finishing Ranger Cup qualified angler.  The co-angler champion was Colleen McKay also from Massachusetts who received $990 from her two days of work.

Vermont’s boater, Gene Gordon and co-angler, Scott McKay will also advance to the 2017 Federation National Championship being the highest Vermont finishers to represent their state.

The Massachusetts Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the first District 16 State Pride Award with 176.07 total pounds.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and top four co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.

Lake Champlain saw light showers, 50 degree temperatures and a 5mph wind, which allowed anglers to run anywhere on the lake from White Hall in the South to Rouses Point in the North.  It also allowed anglers to bring lots of smallmouth and some big largemouth to the scales on both days.

Day 1 had boaters Joe Burchill from Mass Bass and Cole Harris from the Vermont TBF both leading with 17.16 pounds. Burchill had Champlain largemouths from the South and Harris had smallmouths from the North.  Eric Manseau trailed with 17.03 pounds, with Jim Gildea at 16.65 pounds, Mike McNary with 16.32 pounds, Bob Crino at 16.19 pounds and Bryan Folino with 16.08 pounds.  After day one, all anglers were within a pound of the lead.

On day two, winds reached 15-20mph in Plattsburg limiting the lake run.  Some anglers tried but decided to turn around once they got to open water on the main lake.  Harris, after tying for the lead on day one chose to go North but wouldn’t make it back to the scales leaving a good bag of smallies from Mallets Bay behind.

Jim Gildea found 17.29 pounds to put his total at 33.94 pounds for the win on the boaters side. Mike McNary was close behind with 31.76 pounds, as well as, Eric Manseau with 30.45 pounds, Burchill who dropped from tying for first on day one with 28.66 pounds and rounding out 5^th was Jim D’Ambra with 27.49 pounds.

Co Angler winner was Colleen McKay from the Mass Bass Federation.  Colleen weighed in 12.54 pounds for a total weight of 26.35 pounds to win the Co-Angler spot at the 2017 TBF National Championship.  Following Colleen, was Rich Snow with 24.75 pounds, Dan Tavilla 23.30 pounds, Josh Cotier with 21.86 pounds and Mass Bass High school Angler of the Year, Justin Taylor, with 20.63 pounds.  Taylor also had Lunker largemouth on day two with a 5.44 pound lunker.  Bob Frechette had lunker smallmouth with a 4.89 pound smallie.

The new event format went very well and the TBF National office, as well as, the anglers made the event run smooth.  Thanks to the Massachusetts Bass Federation for running the event and all its support.

FULL RESULTS

PAYOUT

Washington and Oregon Advance Anglers to Nationals

The Washington Bass Federation played host to the first TBF National Semifinal contest for District 18 on Banks Lake in Electric City, Wash. 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.

In District 18, top TBF anglers from Washington and Oregon competed October 1-2 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.

A total of $8,840 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 four boaters and co-anglers in the 22 boat field divvied up $4,950 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 competition, the District 18 National Semi-Final Champion titles would go to the boater from Washington, Matt Krumdiak, who received a $1,550 cash prize.  The co-angler champion was Kevin Higgins also from Washington who received $775 from his two days of work.

Wes Wezenberg of Washington nabbed the $500 Ranger Cup award for being the highest Ranger Cup qualified angler along with his $580 third place overall purse.

The Washington Bass Federation made the final sweep taking home bragging rights and the first District 18 State Pride Award with 123.56 total pounds.  The award is determined by adding up the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state, which are selected prior to the event.

The weather was stable and cooling leading into the official practice period.  Anglers found smallmouth bass in typical late summer to early fall patterns and temperatures in the mid-sixties, which for Banks Lake meant fish were scattered, seemingly everywhere but not yet grouped and feeding strong.

Day one of competition 11 of 21 boaters brought in limits with Krumdiack of Washington setting the pace with a 17.01 pound bag and a 4.25 kicker.  His limit put him nearly four pounds ahead of Gerald Dunn’s 13.48 pound bag.

 Co-anglers weighed six limits on day one with Washington anglers Kevin Higgins and Luke Morgan leading the way with 9.49 pound and 9.28 pound bags, respectively.

 As daylight faded on day one a cold front moved in dropping the temperatures ten degrees changing it up for Sunday’s final day of competition.  Consequently, most anglers struggled as only three boaters brought in limits.

Krumdiak, would find a way to take the title with 12.72 pounds for a total of 29.73 pounds, securing a six pound margin over Dunn at 23.51 pounds.

 Wezenberg found day two’s largest limit at 13.44 pounds to lift him to a two day total of 21.90 pounds to secure third place overall and earning him the $500 Ranger Cup prize money.

Josh Marthaller of Oregon finished fourth with 18.21 pounds and he’ll advance to the TBF National Championship as the boater representing Oregon.

Five co-anglers found limits on day two with Higgins and Morgan once again locked in a tight battle for the co-angler title.  Higgin’s 18.46 pounds would seal the deal by only .57 over Morgan’s 17.89 pounds. Advancing on the co-angler side to represent Oregon will be Todd Woolard with a two day total of 12.97 pounds.

 The event was sponsored by Coulee Playland Resort and the Banks Lake Golf Course.  Thanks to their sponsorship, as well as, the anglers who helped the event run smoothly and be fun for all.

RESULTS

PAYOUT