2017 STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE YIELDS CHANGES TO JUNIOR , ADULT PROGRAMS
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2017 STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE YIELDS CHANGES TO JUNIOR , ADULT PROGRAMS
The mantra “ Recruit , Retain , Resource ” was front and center when representatives of The Bass Federation ’ s state federations gathered for the TBF 2017 State Leadership Conference in Camden , S . C ., Aug . 11-12 .
With that three-pronged goal in mind , the Federation passed a number of resolutions aimed at expanding TBF ’ s highly successful youth and National Semi-Finals programs .
Youth Opportunities Enhanced
On the youth front , the state presidents council – with input from all youth directors , conservation directors and others in attendance – unanimously approved several changes to the TBF Junior Angler program .
Junior anglers will now fish out of their own boats in twoperson teams , accompanied by their own boat captains , at qualifying events and the Junior World Championship ( JWC ). Rules on pairings and captains will be similar to those of the Student Angler Federation ’ s High School Fishing program .
Previously , anglers competed individually at the JWC , but were randomly paired with another competitor from their division and a volunteer boat captain , and they fished in the volunteer ’ s boat .
The JWC was also expanded to three days . Beginning with the 2018 event , all teams will fish for two days , after which the field will be cut to the top six teams from each division for the final day .
“ Junior anglers and their families have requested these changes numerous times ,” says TBF President and CEO Robert Cartlidge . “ So we ’ re expecting an overwhelmingly positive response . In fact , when the new format was announced on stage during the 2017 JWC at Lake Wateree , S . C ., the crowd of young anglers and their families reacted with cheers and applause .”
The TBF Junior Angler program age group was also adjusted , removing the lower limit of 11 to allow all youths ages 15 and under ( as of Aug . 31 of the JWC competition year ) to participate . Rules mandating that junior clubs be tied to a TBF adult club were also eliminated , effective immediately . Junior dues will remain at $ 25 per year , while scholarships and prizes will more than double for 2018 .
State presidents also voted to continue the tradition of timing the State Leadership Conference to coincide with the JWC and Forrest Wood Cup . For 2018 , the conference and JWC will run Aug . 8-11 in Hot Springs , Ark .
Small Adjustments
TBF leadership approved a new sliding scale method for determining how many anglers a club can advance to its National Semi-Finals event .
Previously , each club could advance one boater and coangler , regardless of club size , to the National Semi-Finals . Under the new sliding scale system , TBF clubs in good standing with up to 19 members will send one boater and one co-angler to the event . Another boater and co-angler advance for every 10 additional club members . For example , clubs with 20 to 29 active members advance two boaters and two co-anglers , clubs with 30 to 39 active members advance three boaters and co-anglers , and so forth .
“ The sliding scale rewards larger clubs and offers clubs of all sizes incentives to continue growing , while removing any temptation to split a club to gain extra spots in a National Semi-Finals event ,” says Cartlidge . The new advancement system takes effect in 2018 , as
2017 National Semi-Finals events have already begun .
State TBF leaders also voted to add another practice day to all National Semi-Finals events in 2018 . Lakes will be off limits Monday and Tuesday of tournament week , with practice allowed Wednesday through Friday . Competition days will be Saturday and Sunday .
Conservation on the Agenda
TBF leaders also discussed a number of conservation and state permitting items , as well as best fish care and handling practices , including recommended procedures for different states and regions .
“ We also reviewed a number of studies conducted by state agencies and academic groups on the impact of tournaments on bass populations ,” Cartlidge adds . “ Overall , every study discussed at the conference revealed that tournaments have negligible effects on bass fisheries . If TBF clubs follow our simple , basic rules of courtesy and fish care , public perception will match the hard data , and we will all be better off .”
The conference also touched on a variety of other topics , including the many benefits of TBF and FLW membership , internal and external communications , marketing , member retention , and more .
“ Across all levels of the Federation , our members , staff , volunteers and leadership want TBF to remain the leader in grassroots tournament bass fishing ,” Cartlidge says . “ The work that we accomplished collectively at the 2017 conference will go a long way to ensure that we do .”
Robert Cartlidge ( right ) is joined on the Forrest Wood Cup stage by Hank Parker following the 2017 Junior World Chmpionship and State Leadership Conference .
FLWFISHING . COM I OCTOBER 2017
PHOTO BY CHARLES WALDORF