Tennessee Bass Federation
March Newsletter
“March Madness” to most people refers to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but to Tennessee anglers “March Madness” is the time of year when the fishing breaks loose on area lakes. TBF members will pursue bass not just on occasion but at every opportunity. While our brothers in the North are waiting for ice out, we are in hot pursuit of the next big fish or largest limit in the tournament. Thank goodness we live in Tennessee where we can usually fish year round, but if this “global warming” stuff continues in Tennessee, we may have to take up ice fishing in a few years.
All Tennessee Bass Federation clubs will be having an area meeting in the near future so please make plans to attend. Area Directors will discuss items that were highlighted at the February State Officers and Directors meeting.
We have two topics to highlight in this newsletter that have impact on Tennessee Bass Federation members: TBF National Championship and TBF School Program.
TVA’s WATTS BAR LAKE TO HOST THE 2010 TBF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bass Federation has announced that the Tennessee Valley Authority and Roane County, Tenn., will host the 2010 The Bass Federation National Championship, presented by the National Guard. The event will be held April 22-24 on Watts Bar Lake. It’s the culmination of more than two years of qualifiers for most of the 30,000 anglers that are members of TBF in the United States and Canada.
Anglers from seven TBF divisions competed locally in their home states during 2008 to qualify for the 2009 no-entry- fee TBF Divisional Championship Series tournaments. The top two anglers from each state at those events advance, and the Association of Collegiate Anglers National Champions advance to compete in the no-entry-fee 2010 TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard.
“TVA is very excited to help sponsor the TBF national championship,” said Anda Ray, TVA Senior Vice-President of Environment and Technology. “We look forward to working closely with TBF to help produce a first-class event and ensure that the competing anglers enjoy their fishing experience on Watts Bar Lake. We certainly welcome all the TBF membership to our region and, while you’re here, we hope you enjoy the many outdoor and recreational activities offered in beautiful East Tennessee.”
Once again, grassroots fishing’s most prestigious event will be held in conjunction with an FLW Tour stop that is taking place on Knoxville’s Fort Loudon-Tellico lakes the same week. The first two days weigh-ins will be held lakeside at Watts Bar Lake, and the final weigh-in and the Family Fun Zone & Outdoor Expo which offers festivities for both events, will be held downtown at the Knoxville Convention Center on Saturday, April 24.
“We are thrilled to be, once again, holding the TBF National Championship presented by The National Guard in conjunction with an FLW Tour event,” TBF President Robert Cartlidge stated. “The two events feed off each other well. Our partners at FLW Outdoors always go above and beyond in support of TBF, and we’re both bigger and better because of it. Watts Bar Lake and the Kingston, Tenn., area are great family destinations with many things to do and see. The Tennessee Valley Authority has done a lot of hard work to make sure Watts Bar Lake is in great shape. The fishing is as good as it’s ever been there, and it should prove to be a great venue to test the mettle of our anglers.”
TBF National Championship anglers will compete for their share of nearly a quarter of a million dollars in cash and prizes and every TBF Championship angler will receive a check and other prizes. The $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package and berths in two of the sport’s most coveted events – the BFL All-American presented by Chevy and the Forrest Wood Cup are up for grabs. The top boater and top co-angler from each of the seven TBF divisions from the competition on Watts Bar Lake will advance to the 2010 BFL All-American. The TBF Federation National Champion boater and co-angler also qualify for the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup. In addition to these incredibly lucrative championship berths, the winning boater at the TBF National Championship will receive the Living the Dream Prize package to include: $7,000 prize check, fully paid entry fees on the 2011 FLW Tour, travel expense funds and the use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat, as well as sponsor merchandise.
An official practice day will be held Wednesday, April 21 followed by three days of competition held April 22-24. The entire field will compete Thursday and Friday with weigh-ins at Ladd Park in Kingston, Tenn. The field will then be cut to the top boater and co-angler from each of the seven TBF divisions for Saturday’s final day. The National Champion boater and co-angler will be crowned Saturday in the Knoxville Convention Center by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.
Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on WFN (World Fishing Network).
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.
TBF School Program: Maryville Middle School
(Please insert Maryville Middle School picture here)
Have you heard the phrase, “Hook, line, and sinker?” Literally speaking fisherman want the fish to swallow the bait fully- hook, line, and sinker. This old adage refers to accepting another’s point of view. It seems that Maryville Middle School in Maryville, TN has bought into the idea of having a fishing club: hook, line, and sinker. In fact they are the first middle school in the state of Tennessee with a Bass Club. In the spring of 2009 Physical Education teacher David Clark contacted Mark Gintert (National Youth Director of the Bass Federation) to inquire about Target Fishing. He generously donated ten targets to the Maryville Middle Physical Education department in hopes that the school would draw student interest to form a club. With the support of Ott DeFoe, professional fisherman with FLW Outdoors and Dave Prossor, Maryville Middle School students experienced the art of Target Fishing. DeFoe gave a short presentation to each class, demonstrated fishing, assisted students and allowed them a personal look in his boat. Dave Prossor of Academy Sports + Outdoors donated fishing equipment to the P.E. department. “I could not have organized this without the help of Mark Gintert, Ott DeFoe, Dave Prossor, and Greg Newman,” shares Clark. Through an article in the local newspaper, Newman discovered that the middle school wanted to have a Bass Club. His club, Little River Bassmasters, is now the school sponsor. “I’ve been fishing since nine years old and I think it’s very important to pass along the enjoyment of the outdoors to others. Fishing is something that anyone can do because it’s not limited to age or physical boundaries. It allows kids to get out of the house and into the outdoors and is something they can do with family or friends,” states Newman.
The club has 28 members and was recently awarded the largest new club membership in 2009, by The Bass Federation. Gintert with TBF will present the award to the club in April. In addition, these organizations sponsor the club: Wal-Mart, C&C Outdoors in Louisville, TN, U.S. Boat Angler, Pure Fishing, UltimateBass.com, Gemini Sports Marketing, Wired2Fish.com, Little River Bassmasters, the club’s pro angler support team, and other parent volunteers. Through their help they were able to provide the club with fishing jerseys.
Meetings are held monthly and include guest speakers such as pro-anglers, a TWRA Resource officer who discussed boating safety and fish care, and a how sponsorships are acquired.
This year the club held two tournaments, one in the fall and spring. Twenty-four members attended the fall event at Fort Loudon Lake. With the help of professional fishermen and parents, it was a huge success. Clark’s goal for next year is to have three to four tournaments. They are looking forward to FLW Tour and the TBF Championship held in Knoxville, TN this April. The club will be involved in various activities at the events.
If anyone would like more information on how to form a school bass club or would like to assist them, please visit their website or email David Clark.
Maryville Middle Bass Club: http://www.maryvillecityschools.k12.tn.us/education/club/club.php?sectionid=1954&
clarkd@ci.maryville.tn.us
Sponsors:
We have added three state sponsors that we will highlight in the coming months. Okuma Reels, Diamond Gusset Jeans, Bon Aqua, TN (made in the USA) and Punisher Lures (Celina, TN) have joined the Tennessee Bass Federation’s list of sponsors. Please support our valued sponsors at every opportunity. We are extremely fortunate to have great sponsors, especially in these difficult economic times.
