TBF
WHAT’S MAKING NEWS IN THE BASS FEDERATION
FINAL 2016 TBF
DIVISIONALS IN
THE BOOKS
T
by Dan Johnson
TBF’S FIRST NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL EVENT
MARKS NEW ERA OF TOURNAMENT FISHING
he final three of The Bass
Federation’s seven traditional
Divisional Championships are in
the books for 2016. TBF members
from the Northern, Eastern and Mid-
Atlantic divisions competed for state
bragging rights and coveted invita-
tions to the 2017 TBF National
Championship.
The Winners:
Northern Division Presented by
Lowrance – Sept. 7-9
Lake Oahe, Pierre, S.D.
Boater: Shane Cowan
Pierre, S.D. – 56-3
State team: South Dakota – 466-0
Eastern Division Presented by
Cabela’s – Sept. 14-16
Lake Ontario, Kingston, Ontario
Boater: Russell Watkins
Aurora, Ontario – 56-14
State team: Massachusetts – 437-9
122
Mid-Atlantic Division Presented by
Minn Kota – Sept. 21-23
Monongahela River, Morgantown, W.Va.
Boater: Bobby Crisman
Bracey, Va. – 13-15
State team: West Virginia – 74-7
C
Greg Gizzi
olorado’s scenic Lake Pueblo hosted The Bass Federation’s first regional
super-qualifier in the organization’s new National Semi-Finals system for
reaching the TBF National Championship.
The new TBF program pits top grassroots anglers from each state in a “close
to home” weekend event with neighboring states for significant cash prizes and
advancements. TBF members from Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico com-
peted on Pueblo in the District 21 Semi-Finals Aug. 13-14.
Colorado’s Greg Gizzi won top honors in the boater division with an 18.91-
pound two-day total. He was sitting in second with 9.17 on day one, but took
over the lead on the final day with a solid four-bass catch of 9.74 pounds. Fellow
Colorado angler David Pauly topped the co-anglers with 7.29 pounds.
Gizzi and Pauly advance to the 2017 TBF National Championship, along with
Wyoming representatives Bubba O’Neil (boater) and Lee Thomas (co-angler) and
New Mexico’s Andy Cochran (boater) and Adam Campbell (co-angler).
A total of $5,100 in cash prizes, champion titles and slots in the National
Championship were awarded in the boater and co-angler divisions. The top
three boaters and co-anglers in the 16-boat field divvied up $4,100 in total pay-
back, including a $500 Ranger Cup award.
FLWFISHING.COM I DECEMBER 2016