TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for
most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus
that causes COVID-19 is low. Based on the recommendations from the
CDC, we highly recommend the following tips:
• STAY HOME when sick or living with a sick person.
• DISTANCE yourself and stay at least 6 feet away from other persons.
• COVER the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and\or wear
a face covering at all times.
• WASH your hands OFTEN with soap and water.
• CLEAN frequently touched surfaces and objects routinely.
• AVOID touching your face or eyes with your hands.
• CONSULT a health-care provider as needed.
GET MORE INFORMATION
The Federation Angler family includes the organizations listed below.
Check respective websites for more information about tournament schedules
and rules.
The Bass Federation (BassFederation.com)
Student Angler Federation High School Fishing (HighSchoolFishing.org)
The Walleye Federation (WalleyeFederation.com)
Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MastersWalleyeCircuit.com)
North American Bass Challenge (NorthAmericanBassChallenge.com)
National Bass Anglers Association (NBAA-bass.com).
DISTANCE LEARNING
AVAILABLE FOR ANGLERS
GET ONLINE TRAINING AT FACULTYOFFISHING.COM
All Student Angler Federation (SAF) members get a free
FacultyofFishing.com basic course package with their SAF membership.
There are courses for all skill levels, for adults and students, and for multiple
species. Additionally, all courses are currently 50 percent off to help
with home study. For high school educators, bulk licenses are also available
at a deep discount for top-level programs to help provide digital training for
an entire class or school. Some public schools are utilizing the service for
distance learning – it’s that good, and it’s all about fishing.
For details, contact the TBF national office at
[email protected] or 580.765.9031. Or go to
FacultyofFishing.com to get started.
Contact TBF: Send us your club stories. If you have a question or want to know more
about TBF, which is YOUR organization, drop us a line at [email protected].
Above all else, thank you for being a member of The Bass Federation.
TBF CHAMPIONSHIPS:
THE EARLY DAYS
Before the creation of The Bass
Federation’s National Championship, TBF
hosted what was called The Bass
Federation Chapter Team Championship.
Each state Federation (referred to as a
“chapter” back then) held qualifying
events to determine its eight-person
team to compete in the big event. In the
last issue of Bass Fishing, we revisited
events from 1973-1976. In this issue,
we’re moving on to the 1977-1980
events, which were the final Chapter
Team Championships.
1977 – Virginia’s Jerry Elder won the
event and the $5,000 top prize in
Hardin, Ky., by besting the field of 210
anglers with 28 pounds, 7 ounces on
Kentucky Lake. The event took place
Aug. 31-Sept. 2.
1978 – Alabama Bass Federation
member A.B. Battles won the event with
33 pounds, 3 ounces. He took home
$5,058.66 for his win. A total of 216
anglers competed in the event on Lake
Eufaula in Alabama from Aug. 23-25.
This was the first time the Chapter Team
Championship was tagged with the name
“National Championship,” although the
official name change and end of the
Chapter Team events would not happen
until 1981. Other notable anglers who
fished this event were Chet Douthit, Billy
Phillips, Herb Reed and Denny Brauer.
1979 – Gerald Dyer topped the 204-
angler field with 31 pounds, 11 ounces
to earn a first-place prize of $5,239.95.
George Cochran fished his way to a
fourth-place finish in this Aug. 22-24
event, which was held on Lake of the
Woods in Sioux Narrows, Ontario. OT
Fears, Danny Correia and 1976 winner
Don Buffalo also fished the event.
1980 – The last of the Chapter Team
Championship events was held on
Oklahoma’s Grand Lake Aug. 20-22,
1980 and included 278 anglers. Future
legendary angler Ken Cook was getting
his start back then and won the event
with 26 pounds, 3 ounces, taking home
$5,344.90 for his win. Denny Brauer finished
fifth, and Billy Phillips finished
sixth.
In 1980, the state Federation presidents
voted in a new program that took
effect in 1981. We’ll look at that program
in the next issue.
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