NEW 7th TBF Division Announced along with 13th & 14th TBF slot in the 2010 Walmart BFL All-American
Ponca City, Okla. (Dec. 15, 2008) – The Bass Federation (TBF) and their “Partners in Fishing” at FLW Outdoors announced today they are expanding opportunities and support for anglers in the Western United States. TBF is 
splitting its Western Division in half to form a new Northwest and Southwest division. The new Northwest Division covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming while the new Southwest Division covers California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. These Western states will now enjoy all the benefits of TBF membership with half the potential travel time.
Before the split, the Western Division included everything west of Kansas to the Pacific Ocean and from Canada to Mexico. Standard drive time was more than 20 hours for anglers to compete. “For many years, the Federation wanted to split the West in half to help support our members. It was never possible before, but with the support of our partners at FLW Outdoors, it is now a reality,” stated Robert Cartlidge, TBF National President. “Historically the West was left out when it came to expansion. FLW Outdoors changed all that when they rolled out the Stren Series Western Division and the Walmart FLW Series National Guard Western Division. The next logical step was the grassroots anglers of TBF. FLW Outdoors is once again showing its support of TBF, and not only to the anglers in the West, but the entire TBF membership, by adding a 13th and 14th spot in the Walmart BFL All-American to accommodate the new TBF Western Divisions.”
TBF leadership in the West is thrilled with the decision.
“It is the greatest news to western anglers since the introduction of the FLW Series National Guard Western Division,” said Gary Bradford, TBF Western Division Representative. “With all the gloom and doom of the current economy that is being bantered about, it is very welcome news. With the new division, the addition of two more TBF slots in the All-American, Stren Series and FLW Series events, and FLW Fantasy Fishing, anglers have more opportunities to get involved with fishing in the West than ever before. I hope all TBF members, and particularly anglers in the Western United States, recognize the level of support that TBF and FLW Outdoors are putting into the West for their benefit and come out and help support it.”
Growing fishing participation is a long established goal of FLW Outdoors.
“FLW Outdoors’ goal is to provide fishing opportunities for anglers from coast to coast,” said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. “We are working with our partners at TBF to do just that. We feel that fishing, particularly fishing with the TBF and FLW Outdoors, can change lives. Just ask TBF National Champion Brian Travis who will be ‘Living the Dream’ next season on the Walmart FLW Tour. Plus, everyone has a chance to change their life by playing Fantasy Fishing, just as Michael Thompson did last year by winning $1 million playing Fantasy Fishing.”
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2009 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, offering the largest awards possible in the history of fantasy sports, $10 million in cash and prizes.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those we serve and 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 a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 30 years. Visit bassfederation.com
