TABLE ROCK, KIMBERLING CITY TO HOST 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP
TABLE ROCK, KIMBERLING CITY TO HOST 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bass Federation and FLW announced that the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce and Kimberling City, Mo., will host the 2017 TBF National Championship April 3-8.
The event will be the largest, richest, most exciting championship in Federation history. Because of the recent transition, the championship will include anglers who qualified both under the old state team / divisional format and the new TBF National Semi-Finals Program format.
Table Rock will host the championship event for the second consecutive year.
“ We’ re thrilled The Bass Federation has again chosen Kimberling City on Table Rock Lake to host its national championship,” says Sheila Thomas, president of the Table Rock Chamber of Commerce.“ Our community is very excited to welcome this great organization and all of its anglers in April.”
The championship will be held on Table Rock Lake, launching out of the Port of Kimberling in downtown Kimberling City.
“ We’ re excited to bring TBF anglers what they asked for in the new event format and make a mark in the history books while doing it,” adds TBF President Robert Cartlidge.“ While we’ re sad to see the division format go, the excitement, growth and participation nationwide since the transition are proof we’ re better serving our members.”
“ We can’ t wait to get to Kimberling City so the very best grassroots anglers from across North America can test their skills on Table Rock Lake,” Cartlidge continues.“‘ The Rock’ is a diverse fishery, so everyone can fish his strengths. Plus, the fishing is exceptional, and it’ s a perfect place for families, with lots to see and do in the area.”
The new TBF National Semi-Finals Program that is now feeding this event is mapped out to minimize drive time, cost and time off work, all while helping TBF grassroots anglers fish premier events. The program is comprised of
22 National Semi-Finals competitions that span the traditional seven TBF geographic divisions in North America.
Anglers can qualify for their National Semi-Finals either through a state federation event or directly through their TBF-affiliated local club events. The total number of anglers each state can advance is based on total participation numbers in that state.
At the 2017 TBF National Championship, anglers will compete in a cut format that sees the top boater and coangler from each state earn a spot in new Evinrude-powered Ranger Boats for the final three days of competition. Anglers will fight for a share in the record payout and for berths in two of the sport’ s most coveted events: the Forrest Wood Cup and T-H Marine BFL All-American.
The winning boater advances to the world championship of bass fishing, the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup, for a shot at winning the biggest payday in bass fishing. And 14 finalists – seven boaters and co-anglers – will advance to the 2017 All-American.
The winning boater will also receive the $ 100,000 Living the Dream package to include a cash prize, fully paid entry fees in the 2018 FLW Tour as a pro, travel expense stipends for each event and use of a Living the Dream 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.
TBF is proud“ Partners in Fishing” with FLW, which helps support this annual event along with industry-leading 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 in high definition on the Pursuit Channel and streamed live daily on bassfederation. com.
PHOTO BY MARC ROGERS
2016 champ Joseph Webster
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