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The Bass Federation Inc.: 580.765.9031
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THE
BASS FEDERATION’S BEST TO COMPETE FOR $100,000 ‘LIVING THE
DREAM’ PRIZE PACKAGE AT TBF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON LAKE WYLIE
CHARLOTTE,
N.C. (April 10, 2008) – The best of the nation’s TBF club
anglers are headed to Lake Wylie near Charlotte, N.C., for The
Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National
Guard April 24-26, where they will complete for berths into two of
the sport’s most coveted events – the $2 million Forrest Wood
Cup and the $1 million BFL All-American.
The
winning boater and co-angler at the TBF National Championship will
automatically be entered into the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup presented
by Castrol in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 where they will compete
for as much as $1 million in the Boater Division and $50,000 in
the Co-angler Division. The top six boaters and co-anglers from
each TBF division will also be given a berth into the 2008
All-American presented by Chevy on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs,
Ark., May 29-31. With top awards of $140,000 in the Boater
Division and $70,000 in the Co-angler Division, the All-American
has served as a launching pad for many professional fishing
careers.
In
addition to incredibly lucrative championship berths, the TBF
National Championship will also award $10,000 and a “Living the
Dream” prize package to the first-place boater. The package
includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and
Ranger boat powered either by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor
merchandise and entry fees into the winner’s choice of either
the 2009 Wal-Mart FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series to compete
against the world’s top bass anglers.
Anglers
from six nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2007 and
qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF
divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National
Championship.
“Being
named the TBF Champion is a culmination of many years of dreams
and hard work,” said David Simmons, FLW Outdoors and TBF
programs manager. “It means you are the top club angler in the
country. TBF Championship anglers are not only fishing for
personal pride and rewards, they are also representing their
respective states and divisions. We are looking forward to an
incredible tournament.”
The
TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard begins
Wednesday, April 23, with an official practice day, and
competition begins Thursday at 6:30 a.m. with takeoff from
Copperhead Island Park located at 15200 Soldier Road in Charlotte.
Copperhead Island Park will also host takeoff Friday at 6:30 a.m.
and Saturday at 6:25 a.m. Anglers will weigh in Thursday and
Friday at 4 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center located at 501
S. College St. in Charlotte. Saturday’s weigh-in will begin at 3
p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center followed by the Wal-Mart
FLW Tour National Guard Open weigh-in at 4 p.m. FLW Tour anglers
will return to the convention center Sunday for their final
weigh-in at 4 p.m.
Prior
to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors®
and the TBF will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at
the Charlotte Convention Center from noon to 6 p.m. each day. The
Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their favorite TBF
and FLW Tour anglers face-to-face and review the latest products
from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other
sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed
games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Saturday and
Sunday children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone will
also receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. On
Sunday, April 27 during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in, one lucky
member of the audience will win a new Ranger boat. Admission is
free and you must be present to win.
The
entire field of 40 TBF boaters and 40 co-anglers will compete
Thursday and Friday for an accumulated two-day weight. The top
boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions will
advance to Saturday’s competition, where they will continue
fishing, carrying their weight from the first round into the final
round. The winners will be determined Saturday by the heaviest
three-day accumulated weight.
Coverage
of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard
will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers
in the United States on June 8 as part of the “FLW Outdoors”
television program. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada
on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million
households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia,
Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement
with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed
fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at
11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in
your area.
Tournament
anglers aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the
introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors®
offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land
the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million
in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by
signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive
insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at
every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood
Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the
competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand
prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative
points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign
up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15
Wal-Mart gift card.
FLW
Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of
Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in
the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than
90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230
tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish,
kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing
mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy
sports, $7.3 million.
The
Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is
dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state
federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000
fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each
year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing
industry for more than 30 years. For more information about The
Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call (580) 765-9031.
For
more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit
FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about
FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit
FantasyFishing.com.
Editors:
View the complete TBF Championship field at www.flwoutdoors.com.
Visit the FLW Outdoors Media Center at http://mc.flwoutdoors.com
for additional information and photos.