THE BASS FEDERATION
Mercury 250-horsepower outboard , a berth in the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American , a berth in the 2023 Toyota Series Championship and a hefty stipend to use toward entry fees to fish as a pro into whichever circuit they would like to fish – BFLs , Toyota Series or Tackle Warehouse Invitationals .
There ’ s no denying the impact that winning a tournament like the TBF National Championship can have for a grassroots angler trying to break into the game as a full-time professional . This tournament has seen past winners like Mike Iaconelli , Joseph Webster , Mark Daniels Jr . and 2023 Tackle Warehouse Invitational rookie Jordan Hirt parlay a Federation Championship into a launching pad for their professional careers .
South Carolina co-angler Marc Proctor took home the Living YOUR Dream co-angler trophy and prize package in 2022 .
Most of that shoreline is developed , with a lineup of boat docks that seems to never end throughout the sprawling arms and creeks . The prespawn bite should be on , and Cartlidge is expecting big fish and big weights on LOZ .
“ Lake of the Ozarks has always been an angler favorite ; in fact , I love to fish it myself ,” Cartlidge admitted . “ It ’ s come up on our surveys many times , so we ’ re excited to make it happen . The anglers will really get to fish however they want , but we expect impressive bags each day of competition . The anglers are extremely excited to get to fish this historic reservoir .”
“ LAKE OF THE OZARKS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ANGLER FAVORITE .”
Jordan Hirt ’ s Living YOUR Dream winnings included a cash prize and a boat / motor .
Hirt is the 2022 winner of the National Championship on Lake Conroe , Texas , and decided to use his “ Living YOUR Dream ” package to break into one of the toughest and largest tour-level fields in professional fishing .
“ Jordan Hirt decided instead of a prize boat for winning in 2022 , he wanted us to pay his entry fees for the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals ,” Cartlidge said . “ Not everyone can fish professionally , but almost everyone wants to try it one time . Whether you dream of becoming a professional or maybe you just want us to help pay your entry fees into the Phoenix Bass Fishing League , it ’ s whatever your dream is and that ’ s what our ‘ Living YOUR Dream ’ Prize Package is about .”
The National Championship title comes with a lucrative payoff in the co-angler division as well : The winning coangler Living YOUR Dream package is worth $ 33,000 in cash and prizes . In addition , the top seven regional finishers ( both pro and co-angler ) will be awarded a Regional Living YOUR Dream package .
THE CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE
The Bass Federation would be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque and productive tournament venue for the National Championship than Lake of the Ozarks in late March . As spring in central Missouri begins to take hold , the anglers and co-anglers will try to break down more than 54,000 surface acres of water and 1,150 miles of shoreline .
All 51 boaters and 51 co-anglers will fish the first two days of the event . Only the seven Division Champion boaters and seven Division Champion co-anglers will compete on the third and final day for the “ Living YOUR Dream ” Prize packages and the National Champion boater and co-angler titles . In addition to the cash prizes , all anglers will receive a hotel stipend from TBF for the competition days as a part of their qualifying prize .
Additionally , all boaters will receive a cash fuel stipend to help offset their boat costs . All 14 regional finalists can earn a “ Living YOUR Dream ” prize package of various sizes and can advance to the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All- American if they met MLF membership contingency requirements prior to qualifying .
84 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023