TBF Anglers prove; Plenty of fish to be caught on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tennessee

Day one of the 2010 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard is in the books.

Kingston, Tenn., April 22, 2010 Gary Cline, from Lexington, NC, representing the TBF Southern Division is our day one leader with a five fish limit weighing 19lbs 4ounces. Cline had a chance to pre-fish over Easter weekend and has settled on a pattern he’s familiar with. When asked if he planned on doing the same thing tomorrow, Cline said, “Oh Yeah, definitely.” He had his limit by 10:30am. “I just really want to say I’ve enjoyed being in Kingston, the community has been very friendly and helpful.” He’s holding on tight to the top spot but the race is close so we’ll see what tomorrow’s fishing brings.

Trailing by only ounces and fighting to break into that top spot is Leo Bevelaqua from Wyoming, RI, representing the Eastern Division with a limit weighing 18lb 9 ounces. “I was here pre-fishing when the lake was way down, so I was able to see a lot that is hiding below the surface.” Bevelaqua said. He caught his limit by 9am and only ran about mid-lake. “I just want to say thank you to all my family and friends for their support, specially my son and girlfriend who are here with me this week.”

Close behind, holding down the third spot is, Clint Farris, from Crowley, Texas, representing the TBF Central Division with a limit of bass weighing 16lb 4ounces. Farris is putting his focus on making it to Saturday. “I’m going to try to put that same sack together tomorrow,” Farris said. “I lost a fish about 6-7lb today. There’s just a lot on the line, a lot of pressure, and that’s the same for everybody.” Farris also plans on working the same water tomorrow, “I don’t feel like I beat them up today; I feel there’s still enough there for two more days.” Farris’s day one partner, fishing from the back of the boat also caught fish today. Adam Williamson, from Ridgeway, SC, representing the TBF Southern Division has the lead on the co-angler side with a four pound spread. He had a limit of bass weighing 13lb 7ounces and he caught his largest keeper using a jig. Williamson said he’d fished lakes in Alabama similar to this one. “I used that knowledge to help us during pre-fishing.”

There are just ounces separating the fourth and fifth place anglers on both the boater and co-angler sides. The competition is close and the angler’s know what’s at stake. Each angler will be fishing tomorrow with all they have, striving to be the ones named national champions. So, day two of the 2010 Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard, is sure to come down to ounces of bass, hard work, and a little luck

The third stop on the 2010 FLW tour is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes, where our 2009 Federation National Champion, Robert Harkness, will be “Living the Dream”, competing for his share in cash and prizes, proving just how much is on the line this week at the 2010 Federation National Championship.

Tomorrow, Friday, is the last lakeside weighin day at Ladd Park in Kingston. Saturday’s final day of the Federation National Championship will be held in conjunction with the final weigh-in day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The TBF competitors will launch each day at 7am at Ladd Park, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm.

Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm EST. You can watch the full weigh in LIVE on www.flwoutdoors.com starting at 3pm EST.

Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America. TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year, and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.