TBF
WHAT’S MAKING NEWS IN THE BASS FEDERATION
FIELD ALMOST SET FOR 2017 NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP AT TABLE ROCK
W
ith all but one qualifier in the books at press time,
the field for the prestigious 2017 The Bass
Federation National Championship is nearly final.
The 2017 championship is scheduled for April 3-8 on
Missouri’s mighty Table Rock Lake out of Kimberling City
and promises to be the largest, richest and most exciting
title showdown in Federation history.
This year’s championship comes during a transition
period. With anglers qualifying via the old state team/divi-
sional format and the new National Semi-Finals, every
state has at least two boater and two co-angler qualifiers,
while some have more.
To accommodate the field size, the event has been
expanded and will feature a cut format in which all anglers
compete for two days, when the top boater and co-angler
from each state earn spots in new Evinrude-powered
Ranger boats for a two-day semi-final round. The semi-
final field is then “cut” to a final group of seven – the divi-
sion boater and co-angler leaders – for the last day, when
the champions will be crowned.
Fourteen finalists – seven boaters and seven co-anglers
– will advance to the 2017 T-H Marine Bass Fishing League
All-American. The boater champ advances to the world
championship of bass fishing, the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup,
for a shot at winning the $300,000 top prize.
The winning boater will also receive the $100,000 “Living
the Dream” package that includes a cash prize, fully paid
entry fees in the 2018 FLW Tour as a pro, a travel expense
stipend for each event and use of a wrapped Ranger boat
with Evinrude outboard for the year. The top co-angler will
also receive a cash prize and fully paid co-angler entry fees
into the Costa FLW Series division of choice.
TBF is proud “Partners in Fishing” with FLW, which helps
support this annual event along with other industry-lead-
ing TBF sponsors, including Ranger Boats, Evinrude,
Cabela’s, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Berkley, Lowrance and
Power-Pole.
Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be
broadcast nationally on the Pursuit Channel and streamed
live daily on bassfederation.com.
2017 TBF National Championship Qualifiers*
CENTRAL DIVISION
ARKANSAS
Boaters
Doug Thompson, Mabelvale, Ark.
Josh Ray, Alexander, Ark.
Co-anglers
Evan Barnes, Hot Springs, Ark.
Robert Scott, Little Rock, Ark.
KANSAS
Boaters
Jason Benjamin, Lawrence, Kan.
Craig Wolf, Hutchinson, Kan.
Co-anglers
Chad Dick, Baldwin City, Kan.
Ray Cates, Overland Park, Kan.
LOUISIANA
Boaters
Joshua Moore, Grand Cane, La.
Albert Rayborn, Hammond, La.
Co-anglers
Ross Cagle, Downsville, La.
David Sherrer, Elm Grove, La.
82
MISSOURI
Boaters
Trace Hannaford,
Mountain Home, Ark.
Roger Edwards, Tuscumbia, Mo.
Co-anglers
Don Heiser, Kearney, Mo.
David Lindner, Warrenton, Mo.
MISSISSIPPI
Boaters
Heath Willard, Brookhaven, Miss.
Wayne Parish, Aberdeen, Miss.
Co-anglers
Brad Jernigan, Nettleton, Miss.
Nikolas Beckstein, Vancleave, Miss.
NEBRASKA
Boaters
Pat Klausen, Lincoln, Neb.
Robert Walla, Ceresco, Neb.
Co-anglers
Billy Ray, Plattsmouth, Neb.
Nick Ash, Omaha, Neb.
By Dan Johnson
OKLAHOMA
Boaters
Dean Matts, Yukon, Okla.
Jackie Husmann, Ponca City, Okla.
Co-anglers
Jody Linder, Ponca City, Okla.
Sanford Hooker, Wellston, Okla.
TEXAS
Boaters
Robert Hill, Fort Worth, Texas
James Biggs, Bedford, Texas
Co-anglers
Michael Briseno, Elgin, Texas
Jimmy Walls, Glen Rose, Texas
EASTERN DIVISION
CONNECTICUT
Boaters
Russell Phillips, Guilford, Conn.
Alex Wetherell, Middletown, Conn.
Co-anglers
Ken Bugden, Westbrook, Conn.
Steven Martins, Killingworth, Conn.
MASSACHUSETTS
Boaters
David McNary, Woburn, Mass.
Jim Gildea, Weston, Mass.
Co-anglers
Stephen O’Keefe, Shrewsbury, Mass.
Colleen McKay, Shrewsbury, Mass.
MAINE
Boaters
David Barnes Sr., China, Maine
Herb Meyer, W. Kennebunk, Maine
Co-anglers
Roger LaFlamme, Lyman, Maine
Lewis Mendall, Wrentham, Mass.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Boaters
Matt Thoin, Rindge, N.H.
David Tsao, Newburyport, Mass.
Co-anglers
Donald Gagnon, New Boston, N.H.
Henry Bobadilla, Methuen, Mass.
FLWFISHING.COM I FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017