THE BASS FEDERATION
said . “ We were all asking the same questions at the same time , and basically off to the races we went .”
A TEAM EFFORT
After spearheading the effort to start an Iowa Federation , Golubosky took on the title of president . But he ’ s quick to note that he was only able to get the chapter off the ground so quickly because he ’ s had plenty of help .
Matt Lindholm , a lawyer , helped establish the organization as a nonprofit . Dan Williamson started a fastgrowing club , the Iowa Bass Busters , and brought it under the TBF umbrella , ensuring the Federation would clear the minimum 50 required members . Bob Harris , who had already been running a TBF youth program in Iowa , took on the role of tournament director . He provided sponsor connections and a tournament-ready trailer complete with a stage and a water tank for fish .
Golubosky was effusive in his praise for Harris , whom he called the “ glue ” of the organization . Recent tournament results have illustrated the health of the youth program he oversees , with an Iowa duo placing fifth in the recent Junior World Championship and high schooler Evan Powell , who got his start fishing TBF youth tournaments , sacking up more than 26 pounds to win a state qualifier on Lake Okoboji in April . Golubosky also believes Harris ’ weigh-in setup helps set TBF events apart from other local derbies .
“ We ’ re definitely bringing one of the more professional outfits ,” Golubosky said . “ We ’ ll have dunk tanks for the fish and things of that nature .
76
The top three finishers at Iowa ’ s state qualifier on Lake Rathbun in June — Aron Jacquart ( middle ), Peter Pattschull ( left ) and Nick Siepker ( right ) — each qualified for the District 8 National Semi-Final this fall .
Our qualifiers are trying to set the stage of being a premier event . We ’ re not just a weigh basket on a truck bed . We are trying to bring that to guys , that this is a prestigious event .”
LESS EXPENSIVE AND MORE INCLUSIVE
With less of a time crunch this year , Golubosky has sought to bring the TBF experience to more Iowa anglers in 2024 . Instead of staging both state qualifier events on the same weekend , the Federation held one on Okoboji in April and the other on Rathbun in June .
That aligns with Golubosky ’ s primary goal : To expand access to the National Championship along both geographic and financial lines . Before he started the Iowa Federation , the only tournament circuit in the state that offered a pathway to a national event competed solely on the Mississippi River , on the state ’ s northwest border . By offering National Semi-Final qualifiers at both Okoboji ( on the northern border of the state ) and Rathbun ( south of Des Moines ), Golubosky hopes to appeal to anglers who don ’ t have the time , money or desire to travel across
The Iowa Federation hit the ground running with a top-notch weigh-in setup . the state and compete on a fishery where they can ’ t practice . He ’ s hoping to eventually add events on the Mississippi River , too .
“ Before this , the only way to get to any national-level event would have been through B . A . S . S . on the Mississippi River ,” Golubosky explained . “ They only fish the Mississippi River , period . There ’ s no other body of water they fish besides the river . So , that ’ s where we were trying to fill in that gap for the central and eastern side of the state , help people get to these national-level events .”
Golubosky also wants to make sure anglers can afford to chase the dream of competing in the National Championship . One measure he ’ s taking to lower costs is establishing Iowa as a test state to hold its own National Semi-Final rather than competing in a joint event with Nebraska and South Dakota . That means in future years the event through which Iowa anglers can qualify for the National Championship will be held within the state every year , thus saving competitors money on travel .
While Golubosky is excited about his plans for the future of the Federation , he knows the most important thing he can do to make them a reality is spread the word to Iowa anglers about everything TBF can offer .
“ Financial hurdles are the biggest problem in fishing ,” Golubosky said . “ The biggest hurdle initially is just the financial cost , and that ’ s the thing with TBF is just getting the word out that this is an affordable path . It ’ s a very affordable path , it ’ s close to home , and really just more guys need to know about it .”
MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2024