Ponca City, Okla. – April 5, 2013 Ninety-four of TBF’s best grassroots anglers are heading to Grove, Okla., this week for the 2013 TBF Federation National Championship on Grand Lake.  The national field includes the top two state champions from 45 states, the top two Canadian Bass Anglers Federation champions and the Association of Collegiate Anglers national champions.  The national championship is the culmination of two years of competitive fishing for most, and at least a year of fishing on the local, state and divisional levels for others.  This week, one TBF boater and co-angler will be crowned 2013 TBF Federation National Champions on the waters of Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokee’s.                                                                                                                             

From this event, the top boater and co-angler from each of the seven TBF divisions will advance to the 2013 BFL All-American. The TBF Federation National Champion boater and co-angler will also advance to the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup.  In addition, the winning boater will receive the $100,000 “Living the Dream” prize package to include, a prize check, sponsor merchandise, fully paid entry fees on the 2014 FLW Tour as a Tour Pro, travel stipends for each event and use of a wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat for the year.

The top Ranger Cup qualified boater will also walk away with a new Ranger Z518 boat and trailer, and the top Ranger Cup qualified co-angler will be awarded $5,000 cash.  The national contest will also award $2,000 in Cabela’s angler cash, $1,000 each to the top qualified boater and co-angler.  To be qualified, an angler must simply register online at www.cabelas.ptxsecure.com and www.rangerboats.com. 

Once again, grassroots fishing’s most prestigious event will be held in conjunction with an FLW Tour stop taking place just across the state line in Beaver Lake, Ark.  Three official practice days will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 8-10, followed by three days of competition held, April 11-13.  

The entire field will compete Thursday and Friday with weigh-ins lakeside at the new Wolf Creek Park in Grove, Okla.  The final day weigh-in will be held at the FLW Outdoor’s Expo downtown at the John Q Hammons Convention Center in Rogers, Ark., Saturday, April 13.  The expo will offer festivities for both events.  The National Champion boater and co-angler will be crowned with the heaviest three-day cumulative weight in the John Q Hammons Convention Center.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBCSports network and streamed live on www.bassfederation.com the first two days andwww.flwlive.com the final day.

The TBF National State Federation Presidents and Conservation Directors convention and annual meetings will also be held in Grove, Okla., in conjunction with the event.

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots angling organization in America. TBF is 100% 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 nearly 45 years.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.

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