TBF
WHAT’S MAKING NEWS IN THE BASS FEDERATION
By Dan Johnson
2018 TBF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR BULL SHOALS
G
About Bull Shoals
Spanning 45,000 acres and rich in timber, structure and
bass, Bull Shoals Lake has a long and storied history of pro-
ducing exciting bass fishing tournaments, including TBF
National Championships.
In March 2013, Vermont TBF member Gilbert Gagner fished
Yamamoto Senkos and jigs to claim the TBF crown on Bull
Shoals with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 35 pounds, 5
ounces. The grand finale was a true nail-biter that saw Gagner
and Arizona’s Jeff Erickson locked in a tie for first. The contest
was decided by the second tie-breaker in TBF rules, which is
the number of bass weighed alive. All of Gagner’s fish were
alive, while Erickson had one dead fish in his three-day catch.
The action was no less entertaining in March 2009, when
West Virginia’s Robert Harkness rallied to claim the TBF crown
on Bull Shoals with a three-day total catch of 15 bass weigh-
ing 40 pounds, 13 ounces. After landing in 17th on day one,
he moved up to fifth on day two before taking the lead at the
final weigh-in.
Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be
broadcast nationally on the Pursuit Channel and streamed live
daily on bassfederation.com.
OHNS
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rassroots bass fans can expect a battle of epic propor-
tions this spring when The Bass Federation’s 2018
National Championship is held on Bull Shoals Lake out of
Flippin, Ark., April 9-14.
Competitors for the big event qualified through 22 district
competitions in the National Semi-Finals system, which spans
the traditional seven TBF geographical divisions. The frame-
work is designed to make it easier for TBF anglers to fish pre-
mier events by minimizing travel time and expenses.
With the success of the new TBF National Semi-Finals pro-
gram feeding the 2018 championship, the event will offer an
all-time record payout of nearly $300,000 in cash and prizes,
and will feature the top grassroots field of boaters and co-
anglers from across North America.
The top boaters and co-anglers from each state will com-
pete in new Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boats for all three
days of competition. Contestants will vie for a share of the
record payout and for 15 berths in two of the sport’s most cov-
eted events.
Fourteen finalists – seven boaters and seven co-anglers –
will advance to the 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League
All-American. The National Championship boater winner
advances to the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, for a shot at winning
the biggest payday in bass fishing.
The winning boater will also receive the $100,000 “Living
the Dream” package to include a cash prize, fully paid entry
fees on the 2019 FLW Tour as a pro, travel expense stipends
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 along with fully paid entry fees into the
Costa FLW Series division of choice.
Longtime TBF sponsor Ranger Boats will host the event.
Based in Flippin, Ark., the legendary boatmaker marks its 50th
anniversary in 2018, as does TBF.
“Ranger was founded in 1968, the same year the first
Federation club [the Chattanooga Bass Club] was formed,”
says TBF President Robert Cartlidge. “For 50 years, the
Federation and Ranger Boats have worked separately and
together to support fishing, youth, conservation and the foun-
dation of the sport at the grassroots level. Ranger Boats is the
Federation’s oldest and longest-running sponsor. The 2018
TBF National Championship will help us celebrate our shared
heritage, and we wish our friends at Ranger Boats a happy
golden anniversary.”
2017 TBF National Champion Allen Boyd.
flWfIshIng.com I february-march 2018