TBF
WHAT’ S MAKING NEWS IN THE BASS FEDERATION
By Dan Johnson
BOYD MAKES HISTORY ON TABLE ROCK
DETERMINATION DRIVES HARD-CHARGING HOOSIER TO SECOND TBF CROWN
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Allen Boyd’ s determination to win overcame Table Rock Lake’ s best attempts to shake his confidence at the 2017 The Bass Federation National Championship. The Salem, Ind., angler stuck to his guns in the face of a challenging bite, lost fish and fierce competition to win the coveted boater division crown.
It was Boyd’ s second TBF National Championship victory, having won the 2011 title at Nickajack Lake in Tennessee. TBF President Robert Cartlidge was quick to note the odds stacked against such an achievement.
“ Hundreds of thousands of anglers have tried to earn a spot in the Federation championship in the past 49 years,” Cartlidge explains.“ Few have qualified, and only one other angler, the late Mike Holt of Lexington, Tenn., has won it twice.”
Square-billed crankbaits and Texas-rigged tubes fueled Boyd’ s championship run.
PHOTO BY LAUREN RENEE’ PAYNE
Holt won a Federation title on the Arkansas River in 1993 and another in 2001 on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. His championship victories came before TBF launched the $ 100,000 Living the Dream program in 2005, meaning Boyd has the distinction of being the first TBF member to win the coveted prize package twice. It includes cash, fully paid entry fees on 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.
“ It’ s an amazing experience living the dream,” Boyd says.“ I’ m definitely fishing the FLW Tour, and I’ m ready to get started.”
Boyd also brought home a new Ranger Z518C bass boat for being the top finisher in the Ranger Cup program. And as the winning boater, he’ s qualified to compete in the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup at Lake Murray for a shot at winning the $ 300,000 prize that goes to the winner.
The Road to Victory
Boyd, a construction worker by trade, qualified for the 2017 championship via TBF’ s 2016 District 10 National Semi-Finals tournament on the Ohio River last October. There, he overcame a brutal bite to win the
FLWFISHING. COM I JULY 2017