T
THE IDAHO BASS FEDERATION HONORS MILITARY MEMBERS
he Bass Federation clubs have a
long history of supporting U.S.
armed forces, and The Idaho
Bass Federation is no exception.
For five years running, TIBF has held
an annual Military Appreciation
Tournament. The 2016 event was held
July 17 on scenic C.J. Strike Reservoir at
Mountain Home, with active personnel
from the Mountain Home Air Force
Base invited to participate.
A number of service members
responded, including several who had
fished the TIBF tournament in the past
and have come to look forward to it
every year.
The event matched up two Air Force
personnel with each TIBF volunteer
boater, then sent them out onto the
7,500-acre impoundment.
All teams weighed in fish, with the
winning weight of 16.53 pounds
brought in by service members James
Paulsen and Jose Rivera, who were fish-
ing with TIBF volunteer Jim Brandt.
“This event is extremely rewarding for
all boater volunteers as well as the mili-
tary folks,” says TIBF President Tammy
Shuyler. “Some of the service members
have never fished, and others, who are
fishermen, want to enhance their skills
with our boaters, all of whom are expe-
rienced tournament bass fishermen. It’s
a win-win for all.”
Shuyler commended the TIBF vol-
unteers for their support.
“We had a bit of a challenge recruit-
ing boaters this year due to conflicting
schedules,” she says. “Many volunteers
fished the day prior in other areas of
Idaho, then drove several hours to be
available for the military tournament.
“We will continue it next year,” she
reports. “We also plan to include all mil-
itary branches and grow participation.”
NATIONAL SEMI-FINALS PAYOUTS, OPPORTUNITIES
GAINING POPULARITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The Bass Federation’s new National
Semi-Finals system of qualifying for
the TBF National Championship drew
impressive turnouts in district compe-
titions coast to coast.
A new benchmark in Semi-Finals
payout was set in District 10, when
76
$29,320 in cash and prizes – a 114 per-
cent payback – were divvied out when
Indiana and Illinois anglers battled on
the Ohio River out of Tell City Oct. 22-23.
In the latest event prior to press
time, the Virginia Bass Federation
hosted the District 12 shootout Nov.
Dylan Whitmore (left) and William Hoeffer claimed top honors in the District 12 boater and co-angler
divisions, respectively.
4-6 on the Chickahominy River out-
side of Williamsburg, Va. The contest
handed out a 115 percent payback of
$23,240 in cash and prizes.
At the District 12 event, the top 13
boaters and co-anglers in the 67-boat
field shared $15,075 in total cash pay-
back. Other prizes that were up for
grabs included a $500 Ranger Cup
award and the $1,000 Evinrude E-TEC
award for the winning boater if he or
she ran a 2012 or newer Evinrude.
Virginia’s Dylan Whitmore led the
boaters wire to wire and received a
$3,180 paycheck for his efforts, along
with a slot in the 2017 TBF National
Championship. Fellow Virginian William
Hoeffer topped the co-angler division,
claiming $1,590 in cash plus a champi-
onship berth.
Plans are already underway for
the 2017 TBF National Semi-Finals
Program, which pits top grassroots
anglers from each state in a “close-to-
home” weekend event with neighbor-
ing states for significant cash prizes
and advancements.
For more information, visit bass-
federation.com.
FLWFISHING.COM I JANUARY 2017