January 13, 2012

TBF “No Entry Fee” Divisional Championship Series returns in 2012

Ponca City, Okla. – Jan. 5, 2012 The Bass Federation (TBF), the national leader in NO cost or low cost tournament fees, announced today the dates and locations of seven events in the 2012 TBF “No Entry Fee” Divisional Championship Series. The Divisional Championship Series grew to seven divisions in 2010 due to the growth of TBF and the restructure of the current TBF Western division into the Northwest and Southwest divisions. This will continue for 2012 and cut drive time in half for our western anglers! READ MORE

2012 TBF Divisional Championship Series Dates & Locations

May 9-11, TBF Northwest Division Championship, CJ Strike Reservoir, Mountain Home ID.

May 16-18, TBF Southwest Division Championship, Navajo Lake, Ignacio, CO.

June 6-8, TBF Southern Division Championship, Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee, FL.

June 13-15, TBF Central Division Championship, Red River, Shreveport/Bossier City, LA.

Sept., 5-7, TBF Northern Division Championship, Mississippi River, Lacrosse, WI.

Sept., 12-14, TBF Eastern Division Championship, Lake Champlain, Colchester, VT.

Sept., 19-21, TBF Mid-Atlantic Division Championship, Potomac River, Marbury, MD.

The TBF Divisional Championship series will continue in 2013 with events slated to be hosted in, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.

2012 TBF and FLW Adult Membership Renewals

The Bass Federation is striving to make membership renewal easier each year. TBF has begun accepting membership renewals for 2012. Current memberships expire on December 31, 2011* and you can update NOW to ensure your club maintains the insurance policy coverage and your members don’t have a lapse in tournament eligibility or magazine delivery.

We will continue to collect both TBF and FLW Outdoors membership updates through TBF and through our online roster management system. The secure website is www.tbfwebservices.com. TBF dues are $15 and have been since 2000. FLW dues will remain at $35. Our system WILL collect $50 for both - PLEASE VERIFY YOUR MEMBER'S CORRECT ADDRESSES BEFORE UPDATING THEM.

ALL TBF members MUST pay their FLW dues through their home TBF club and will be charged for both memberships. FLW Outdoor’s will NOT accept dues from a TBF member. NOTICE: due to publication issues and other items FLW Outdoor memberships now run one year from date of purchase. So getting your dues in through your club to TBF will simplify your entire clubs process and help keep your TBF expiration and your FLW Expiration dates the same, Dec 31.
It is important NOT to wait as tournament participation and eligibility may be affected especially if you have members who fish BFL’s or other FLW events. Get their dues into TBF early so you won’t have any “last minute” hurdles. REGARDLESS THE TBF SYSTEM WILL COLLECT $50 FROM EVERY MEMBER. If a member has joined FLW “around” their club they can either call FLW for a refund or we will simply extend their FLW membership out another year from that date.

PLEASE PAY THE EXACT AMOUNT LISTED ON THE SYSTEM GENERATED INVOICE.

For more information, or if you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact the TBF national office, 580.765.9031, or email membership@bassfederation.com

Solar Bat Promo for Active TBF Members - ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT!

Beginning October 15, 2011 and running until January 15, 2012, Solar Bat is offering a promotion for Bass Federation ACTIVE members only - 30% off all styles, including prescriptions on SOLARBAT.COM! (limit two pair per member)

30%
OFF

on any style of glasses on SolarBat.com

Limit two pair of glasses per member. May also be used for prescription lenses.
Must use promotion code TBFSBDJ12 at checkout to receive discount. Promo code good December 16-January 15, 2012.

Over the next several weeks until the 2012 TBF National Championship on Bull Shoals in Arkansas, we will be spotlighting all Qualified Contenders from 47 Federations - Boaters and Co-Anglers.

Sean Hinton - Colorado Boater

Name: Sean Hinton
Age: 40
Hometown: Morrison, CO
State Federation: Colorado
Division: Southwest
Occupation: Territory Sales Manager for GenFlex Roofing Systems
Family Members: Wife Janelle Hinton, Hunter Hinton (10) Riley Hinton (8) Hayden Hinton (6)
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Pretty well rounded!
Favorite body of water to fish: Any where

Preston Clark - Florida Boater

Name: Preston Clark
Age: 47
Hometown: Palatka, Florida
State Federation: Florida
Division: Southern
Occupation: Guide, Tournament Angler, Super Dad
Family Members: Wife: Katrina, Children: Samantha, Zophia, Ben, Barrett
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: My versatility, I’m just as comfortable flipping with 65# or throwing a shakey head on 6#.
Favorite body of water to fish: Okeechobee

Matt Benson - Montana Co-Angler

Name: Matt Benson
Age: 28
Hometown: Sault Ste Marie, ON (Qualified while living in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada)
State Federation: Montana
Division: NorthWest
Occupation: Zep Sales Rep
Family Members: Mom-Andy, Dad-Gordon, Sister-Alexandra, Girl Friend-Mallory
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Drop shotting and fishing deep slow moving baits.
Favorite body of water to fish: Fort Peck, Montana is one of the best smallmouth lakes anywhere in North America for size and quantity of fish.

Jeff Brin - Kansas Boater

Name: Jeff Brin
Age: 35
Hometown: Zurich, KS
State Federation: Kansas
Division: Central
Occupation: Self-employed Flooring Sales
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Flipping Heavy cover, trees, bush piles with plastic baits and Jigs
Favorite body of water to fish: Growing up my favorite lake was Sebelius Reservoir at Norton Kansas. Recently my preference is to fish Wilson Lake in central Kansas.

Mark Greco - Ohio Boater

Name: Mark A. Greco
Age: 45
Hometown: Alliance
State Federation: Ohio
Division: Northern
Occupation: 4th and 5th grade Science Teacher
Family Members: Daughter- Danae and Son- Daniel
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: I love to power fish, but finesse techniques are also fun. Cranking is my absolute favorite.
Favorite body of water to fish: Lake Erie, Ohio River, Lake St. Claire, Gull Lake, and any others.

Brandon Glass - Georgia Boater

Name: Brandon Glass
Age: 27
Hometown: Calhoun, GA
State Federation: Georgia
Division: Southern
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Family Members: (wife) Ashleigh Glass
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Power fishing (flipping, and pitching)
Favorite body of water to fish: Lake Weiss, Alabama

Kaufman (TX) High School Bass Fishing Team Hosting SAF Open Tournament April 28 on Lake Ray Hubbard

Scholarships to be Awarded

Jan. 13, 2012 – On Saturday, April 28th , 2012 there will be an open high school bass fishing team tournament held on Lake Ray Hubbard, Garland, Texas. Students who choose to enter must be active Student Angler Federation members and have a boat captain. All entrants must be enrolled in regular high school classes and have a high school I.D. number. There will be a $50.00 per team entry fee and all money will be paid back in scholarships. There will be a mandatory meeting with all entrants and their captains at 6:00 pm on Friday, April 27th at Bass Pro Shops of Garland, Tex.

There will be an overall high school team champion with the high school teams with the most weight. There will be a team champion and big bass award as well as medals and factory prizes. The weigh in will be in Bass Pro Shops of Garland, Texas. Entries will close on April 20th.

Anyone interested can contact Steve Holland at texasgeckos1@yahoo.com or check out his web sitewww.stevehollandfishing.com

UPDATE: Attempts to Ban Lead Fishing Tackle Increase - Your Help is Needed More Than Ever

New Efforts to Ban Lead in Fishing Tackle Demonstrate the Need for a Legislative Solution

Last November, 43,000 anglers like you helped to defeat an attempt to ban lead in fishing tackle nationwide when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition to ban lead in fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Despite the EPA's ruling, this issue is not yet fully resolved. The petitioners have filed a law suit against the EPA's decision and submitted a similar new petition to the agency that could still result in a ban on lead fishing tackle nationwide. KeepAmericaFishing™ is once again asking anglers to oppose this unjustified petition and to rally behind legislation that will put an end to these unwarranted attacks on recreational fishing once and for all. The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act (S. 838/H.R. 1558) will prevent a federal ban on lead in recreational fishing tackle and help to ensure that any future regulations on fishing tackle are established based on scientific fact instead of unjustified petitions. With anti-fishing organizations trying to stop fishing using whatever means they can, the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act is necessary to protect traditional fishing tackle, as well as ammunition, from unjustified bans that will harm the economy and reduce participation in traditional outdoor sports