Bass Fishing Apr - May 2021 | Page 93

THE BASS FEDERATION
Edited by Mason Prince

TBF CROWNS 2021 NATIONAL

CHAMPIONS ON RED RIVER

The Bass Federation National Championship put the finishing touches on the 2020-21 TBF season March 11-13 on the Red River out of Shreveport , Louisiana , making a triumphant return to the Pelican State for the first time since 2002 .

One hundred anglers and co-anglers began the picturesque mid-March weekend with hopes of winning the top prize – the Living Your Dream Prize Package totaling more than $ 125,000 . It was a close battle all weekend long , but it ended with two anglers etching their names into the TBF record books as National Champions .
MIKE MORRIS TAKES TOP BOATER TITLE
Delaware angler Mike Morris had never fished on the Red River or in a TBF National Championship before he showed up to Bossier City in mid-March . That makes his win as the top boater all the more impressive after totaling three straight days of five-fish limits and more than 42 pounds of Red River largemouth .
Morris said he didn ’ t even know the name of the area that got him his win until the final day of competition .
“ Apparently it ’ s called the ‘ Do Not Dredge ’ area of the river ,” Morris explained . “ I just knew that I had some wind in that area and I had it basically to myself . I picked up my Big Mouth Lures spinnerbait and caught all my fish that way on Day 1 . I was targeting hyacinth and shade with that spinnerbait , and it worked well .”
2021 TBF National Championship winner Mike Morris .
After ending his first day of competition tied for seventh place with 13-12 , Morris knew he was going to need more than just his spinnerbait bite to contend for the victory .
“ Day 2 was really all about a 5-inch Senko , still targeting those hyacinth ,” Morris recalled . “ I saw a big bedding fish on Day 1 that I couldn ’ t get to bite , so I went back to her on Day 2 and she was still there . I got her to eat that Senko , got her in the boat with my Vexan spinning rod and 8- pound-test line , and she weighed a little over 6 1 / 2 pounds . That was the biggest fish of my life and really gave me a confidence boost heading into the final day .”
His 14-9 Day 2 bag pushed Morris into third place heading into the final day of the event , needing to make up a 3- 9 difference on leader Brad Knight . To get the job done , he was going to need to compete in a crowded area and find a stretch of water that he could have all to himself .
“ The word got out where people were catching them , so I wasn ’ t really alone in my area anymore ,” Morris said .
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