The Tennessee Bass Federation hosted the 2023 Tennessee-Kentucky District 3 Semi Final on beautiful Pickwick Lake in Hardin County on October 20-22.  A total of 61 boaters and 61 co anglers arrived with hope of catching enough fish to win a trip the National Championship in the spring of 2024.

High skies and windy conditions greeted the Anglers on day one.  Unfortunately fishing conditions did not cooperate as 31 boaters and 34 co anglers failed to boat a keeper bass.  However as usual, someone always finds fish.  David Rogers of Tennessee was the first boater weighed in and he brought a 5 fish limit weighing 15 lbs 8 ozs to the scales which held up for the day lead.  David also has the big bass, a smallie weighing 4lbs 10 ozs.  Only one other boater weighed a limit on day 1 as Jeremy Henry of Tennessee has a nice limit weighing 13 lbs 5 ozs.  On the co angler side, John Huntley of Tennessee managed to catch 3 bass weighing 8 lb 12 ozs.  Kentucky anglers on day 1 were lead by Chris Abbatello with 8 lbs 9 ozs while co angler Chase Fleenor bass weighed in 6 lb 1 oz. The top twelve weights on Saturday for the boaters ranged from 15 lbs 8 ozs down to 4 lbs 12 ozs.  On the co angler side, top man had 8 lbs 12 ozs down to 3 lbs 10 ozs for 12^th place.  Big bass on day 1 on the boater side went to David Rogers with a nice 4 lb 10 oz Smallmouth.  Chase Preatt, co angler of Kentucky caught the big bass on day 1 with a real nice 6 lb 11 oz largemouth.

Everyone left for the night with hopes of having a better day on Sunday because no one felt they were out of the running. On Sunday morning, the anglers were greeted with high skies and a slight wind but the fish again failed to cooperate.  While the wind laid on day 2, the fish again seemed to have a case of ‘LOCKJAW”.  While day 1 only produced 2 limits over 10 lbs, day 2 was a little better as 3 bags weighing over 10 lbs.  Brandon Staten found the “mother lode” as he brought 5 fish to the scales weighing 21 lbs, which vaulted him into the tournament lead with a 2 day total of 29 lbs 11 ozs.  Hanging on for second place and leading the Tennessee team was David Rogers who weighed in 9 lb 14 oz to finished with 25 lb 6 ozs.  Jeremy Henry of Tennessee weighed a total of 19 lb 7 ozs to join David Rogers as boaters to the National Championship from Tennessee.  Co anglers from Tennessee will be John Huntley and Brett Mchaney.  Brandon Staten # 1 overall and Chase Preat of Kentucky will represent Kentucky at the National.  A big shout out to Bill Buckner of Kentucky, while he zeroed on day 1 he found that mother lode on day 2 and was the comeback angler of the tournament.  His day 2 weight was 5 weighing 17 lb 2 ozs.  Day 2 big bass was caught by Michael Carter of Kentucky, a largemouth weighing 6 lb 5 ozs.  Second big bass was a largemouth weighing 6 lb 2 ozs caught by Jeremy Henry of Tennessee.

All in all, it was a successful tournament, however, the big smallmouth Pickwick Lake is noted for never showed up.  There was only 1 smallmouth over 5 lbs caught by Bill Buckner of Kentucky.

Many thanks go to Beth Pippin and the Hardin County Tourism for their hospitality during the week.  I urge everyone if they are looking to take a trip to catch some great smallmouth to consider Pickwick Lake in Hardin County.  Also, thanks to all sponsors of The Bass Federation for their sponsorship.

The Mississippi Bass Federation hosted the 2023 District 4 NSF event October 14-15, 2023 on Ross Barnett at Madison Landing in Ridgeland MS.  On Day One anglers had strong winds that lasted all day, then on Day two anglers were met with strong winds, rain, and a cold front.  The fishing on Ross Barnett was very tough both days.

After two days of competition Alabama angler Keith Glasgow with a two-day total of 18.99 is the 2023 Dist. 4 National Semi-Finals Champion Boater.  Keith Glasgow will represent Alabama at the 2024 National Championship.  Finishing second was Mississippi angler Timmy Ming with a two-day total of 18.49.  Timmy Ming will represent Mississippi at the 2023 National Championship.  Finishing third was Bryan Wright from Alabama with a two-day total of 13.31 pounds, fourth was Joey Cobb from Alabama with a two-day total of 11.91 pounds, fifth was Gregg Quinley from Alabama with a two-day total of 11.18 pounds, sixth was Blake Duncan from Mississippi with a two-day total of 11.17 pounds.

On the co-angler side Mississippi angler Craig Jackson with a two-day total of 13.27 is the 2023 Dist. 4 National Semi-Finals Champion Co-Angler and will represent Mississippi at the 2024 National Championship.  Finishing second was Jeff Crump from Mississippi with a two-day total of 10.89 pounds.  Finishing third was Alabama Co-angler Lonnie Hairel with a two-day total of 9.66 pounds. Lonnie Hairel will represent Alabama at the 2024 National Championship.  Finishing fourth was Larry McWilliams from Mississippi with a two-day total of 9.17 pounds, fifth was Nick Glenn from Alabama with a two-day total of 5.79 pounds, and sixth was Charles Culver from Alabama with a two-day total of 3.66 pounds.

Big Fish Day 1 Boater went to Blake Duncan with a 3.96 lunker.  Big Fish Day 1 Co-Angler went to Lonnie Hairel with a 3.64 lunker.  Big Fish Day 2 Boater went to Roy Galbraith with a 4.44 lunker and Big Fish Day 2 Co-Angler went to Nick Glenn with a 4.08 lunker.

Congratulations to all the participants in the District 4 Semi-finals for 100% catch and release.

The Alabama Bass Federation maintains bragging rights and The District 4 State Pride Award.  The award is determined by adding the weights of the top four boaters and co-anglers from each state selected prior to the event.

Mississippi and Alabama Federations would like to thank The Ridgeland Tourism Commission, as well as, TBF’s Sponsors: Ranger, Bass Pro Shop & Cabela’s, TH Marine, and Power Pole.

When District 8 announced the Semifinals tournament was going to be held on Lake Okoboji in 2022, there was a lot of excitement from a lot of great anglers.  Lake Okoboji located in the Northwest corner of Iowa is arguably one of the best lakes in the Midwest, if not the nation.  A lake where multiple 20lb bags are weighed no matter the season or tournament size, and sometimes a 20lb bag isn’t even enough to crack the top 5.

This weekend was no different.  On Day 1, Nick Siepker sacked up 26.92 pounds to take the lead over Chard Garton who weighed in 23.01.  This year Garton made the jump to the front end of the boat after winning The 2023 Bass Federation National Championship as a Co-Angler.  Rounding out the top 3 was former college angler, Charlie DeShazer bringing in 21.40.  But a stacked field was hot on their trail:

4. Kent Priel – 21.40, 1998 Bassmaster Classic Qualifier
   5. Jared Knuth – 20.60, 2013 Bassmaster Classic Qualifier
   6. Hunter Suchsland – 20.25 – 2023 Bassmaster College National Championship, 10^thplace finisher

Strong storms moved in overnight, but cleared just in time for takeoff.  The weather threw some of our top anglers a curveball, while others were able to keep the pedal down, and some continued to climb the leaderboard.

Charlie DeShazer brought in 17.52 to finish 6^thoverall.  Joe “The Zark” McKay came charging from behind weighing 24.89lbs anchored by a 7.78lb largemouth to finish 5^th overall.  Hunter Suchsland stayed consistent and brought in 19.53lbs to finish 4.  Jordan Hirt, the 2022 Bass Federation National Champion weighed 19.92lbs to finish 3^rd overall.

With the final 2 left, Nick Siepker was not able to replicate his day 1 total, and weighed only 15.28lbs on day 2. This left the door open for Chad Garton.  Garton also could not replicate his day 1 total but still weighed a solid 18.43lbs of fish.  Garton’s two day total was 41.44lbs.  In the end only .76lbs separated the two anglers, but Garton was unable to close the gap with Siepker’s two day total weighing 42.20lbs and winning the District 8, 2023 Semi-finals.

On the co-angler side, Iowa High School State Champion Ways Raasch won District 8, 2023 Semi-finals with 31.57lbs, besting the closest angler by over 2.5 pounds!

2. Hunter Fry – 28.96
   3. Mark Moorman – 27.67
   4. Jon Small – 25.98
   5. Hunter King – 25.97
   6. Brad Rockford – 24.98

The following anglers were the top placing finishers in their state and will be going to The Bass Federation National Championship in 2024.

Nebraska
Angler: Nick Siepker
Co-Angler: Mark Moorman

South Dakota
Angler: Troy Diede
Co-Angler: Terry Laverack

Iowa
Angler: Joe “The Zark” McKay
Co-Angler: Ways Raasch

TBF Nebraska was the host state, and would like to thank your sponsors.  Fort Randall Hotel and Casino, Big Stone Lake Chamber of Commerce, Oak Hills Outdoors.  The weigh-master and MC was Bob Harris with South West Iowa Fishing Teams, who made the tournament one of the premier events in the Midwest.  Thank you Bob!

On October 7^th and 8^th 2023 the District 10 IL/IN Semi Finals was held on the Mississippi River Pools 18 and 19 Launched at Fort Madison Iowa. This event was hosted by the Illinois Bass Federation.

Registration for the event was held Friday evening at the Quality Inn Fort Madison.

There were 109 Boaters and 109 co-anglers competing in the event to qualify for spots for the 2024 TBF National Tournament next spring. Location TBD.

Illinois qualified 1 boater and 1 co-angler and Indiana qualified 2 boaters and 2 co-anglers.

The weather was warm during practice on Wed and Thurs. A cold front and high winds came through on Friday to start the cold front for the event on Saturday and Sunday making fishing more difficult for most anglers.

Those who found biting fish did very well.

Congratulations Pete Saele as he was the overall Boater winner with a 2 day total of 28.69 Lbs. He will advance to the 2024 TBF National Tournament for IL.

Congratulations to Chris Lally as he was the overall Co-angler winner with a 2 day total of 14.72 Lbs. He will advance to the 2024 TBF National Tournament for IL.

Indiana Boaters Scott Bateman 27.40 Lbs and Chris Wilkinson 21.57 Lbs. will advance to the 2024 TBF National Tournament.

Indiana Co-Anglers Jason Cross 11.38 Lbs. and Daniel Eversole 11.04 Lbs. will advance to the 2024 TBF National Tournament.

A big thanks to all who helped in running the tournament.  Especially Joe Snyder, Ryan Winstead, Don Delong, Pat Welch, Pat Reeves, Derick Price, Mike Goins and Chi Easton, City of Fort Madison

And a big thanks to Chi Easton and team from the City of Fort Madison for their help with parking the boats and trailers on the tournament mornings, helping at the registration meeting and at the tournament weigh-in.