2017 TBF NATIONAL SEMI-FINALS UPDATE
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The final round of regional tournaments in The Bass
Federation’ s National Semi-Finals program produced a flurry of exciting grassroots bass fishing competition, as TBF members battled for the last invitations to fish the 2018 TBF National Championship this spring.
Highlights from the last wave of events:
District 1
Competitors from Georgia and Florida enjoyed pictureperfect conditions for the District 1 event Nov. 4-5 on Lake Eufaula. Stable weather, water temperatures in the low to mid-70s and water levels a few feet below full pool set the stage.
When the scales settled after the final catch was weighed, Georgia’ s Brent Tullis led the boater field with a tournament total of 28.78 pounds. Tullis earned $ 2,810 for the win, including the $ 2,310 first-place cash payout and $ 500 Ranger Cup award. He will also represent Georgia at the championship.
Florida’ s Edward Fry topped the co-anglers with a total of eight bass for 19.01 pounds. Fry pocketed $ 1,155 plus a ticket to nationals. Other anglers advancing to the finals are Florida boater A. J. Willequer( 18.06 pounds) and Georgia co-angler Ray Edelen( 17.09 pounds).
The Georgia Bass Federation, which hosted the event out of Lakepoint State Park, won the District 1 State Pride Award with 90.57 pounds.
District 2
The District 2 National Semi-Finals event was held Nov. 4- 5 on South Carolina’ s Lake Murray, site of the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup. While the lake has a well-deserved reputation for producing limit catches and heavy weights, Murray was in transition in early November and challenged TBF members in the 52-boat field to put double-digit daily numbers on the board.
South Carolina’ s David Kneece topped the boaters with a 26.11-pound two-day weight. He cashed a $ 2,600 check and advanced to the championship.
Fellow South Carolina angler Preston Rikard paced the coangler contingency with 16.63 total pounds, good for $ 1,300 and a trip to nationals, where he’ ll be joined by second-place boater Brian Fritts of North Carolina( 26.01 pounds) and second-place co-angler David Ford, also of North Carolina( 15.43 pounds).
In one of the closest state battles to date, South Carolina won the District 2 State Pride Award with 82.97 pounds to North Carolina’ s 79.31 pounds.
District 3
A total of 162 TBF members from Kentucky and Tennessee converged on Kentucky Lake Oct. 21-22 for the District 3 showdown.
Clear skies and calm waters prevailed, but the impoundment still dealt the field a challenging hand as many anglers struggled to get bit. Tennessee boater Larry Dunlap overcame the challenges with 20.40 pounds.
Larry Dunlap paced the District 3 boaters.
Conditions soured on day two when lower temps, stronger winds and scattered rain further tested TBF members’ mettle. Dunlap rose to the challenge again, boxing a 14.05-pound limit for a 34.09-pound total to win the boater title. He cashed a $ 4,370 check and will represent Tennessee at nationals.
Tennessee boaters swept the top seven places. Kentucky’ s Steven Taylor landed in eighth with 18.07 pounds and will represent the Bluegrass contingent in the championship.
On the co-angler side, Kentucky’ s BJ Nelson sacked just two bass for 4.07 pounds on day one, but he vaulted into first on day two with a 14.13-pound limit and 19.04-pound total. Nelson won $ 2,185 plus a trip to nationals. Tennessee’ s top co-angler, Chris Franco,( 13.05 pounds) will join him in the finals.
The Tennessee Bass Federation won the District 3 State Pride Award by a healthy margin of 87.13 pounds to 44.12 pounds.
District 4
The Mississippi Bass Federation hosted the District 4 National Semi-Finals event Oct. 14-15 on Biloxi’ s Back Bay out of D’ Iberville Marina. Balmy weather greeted the 35-boat field, but high pressure kept the tide in and made for a tough bite.
Mississippi boater Wayne Parish bested the boater field with a 14.50-pound total. Parish pocketed $ 2,250 for the win and will represent Mississippi at nationals for the second year in a row.
Alabama’ s David Salter led the co-anglers with 10 bass for 10.64 pounds, good for $ 1,126 and a championship berth. Other anglers advancing to the 2018 championship are top Alabama boater Larry Franks Jr.( 11.41 pounds) and top Mississippi co-angler Justin McKee( 7.73 pounds).
The Alabama Bass Federation won its second straight District 4 State Pride Award with 43.40 pounds.
flWfIshIng. com I february-march 2018