Alabamas Lake Neely Henry to host 2007 Bass Federation Nation National Championships
CELEBRATION, Fla. - The BASS Federation Nation National Championship is the place where dreams are realized for amateur anglers.
The 2007 version will feature 54 talented anglers competing on Lake Neely Henry, Jan. 17-19, out of Gadsden, Ala., and throughout its illustrious history, the championship has served as the amateur angler's crowning event.
The full field will have a chance to earn one of six qualifying spots into bass fishing's most major event, the 2007 Bassmaster Classic, and a shot at the $500,000 Classic grand prize. The Classic spots are awarded to the top performer in each of six geographic divisions.
"The Federation Nation Championship continues to be the premier tournament for amateur anglers from around the world," said Gary Jones, director of the BASS Federation Nation. "We are excited about all of the perks associated for anglers who do well in this marquee event."
Television coverage from the championship will air on ESPN2 Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. ET. The winner will take home $15,000 plus a Triton/Mercury package valued at $50,000. But this championship is about so much more.
"It's not so much the money," said Justin Nichols, the lone Alabama representative in the field. "It's more about earning the reputation of beating everyone because these are all good anglers."
Nichols, a 32-year-old field service technician in Tuscaloosa, is typical of the competitive nature that dominates the entire national championship field.
A longtime member of the West Alabama BASS Federation Nation club, Nichols qualified through the BASS Federation Nation Southern Division.
Joining Nichols are anglers from across the country and globe representing 47 states and Canada (Ontario), Italy, Mexico, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Also competing is 2006 champion Anre De Villiers and Rhode Island's Joel St. Germain, who qualified for the 2006 Bassmaster Classic through last year's Federation Nation Championship.
This year's winner will receive an added bonus - qualifying for the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series. Also, the six divisional winners will receive paid entry fees into the Bassmaster Open division of their choice.
Lake Neely Henry is 11,235 acres and is home to quality populations of largemouth and spotted bass as past BASS tournaments have demonstrated.
Although Nichols is from Alabama, he has little experience on Neely Henry. He believes that his experience on other lakes in the Coosa River chain (Lay, Mitchell and Alabama River) through past club tournaments might give him an advantage in this tournament.
"I've only fished Neely Henry one time before it went off-limits," he said. "The fishing could be good. That river is narrow, so there should be a lot of current. And we've had a mild winter. So the fish ought to bite.
"I think the spots will be caught in numbers, but there will be some big largemouth, too. A jig, crankbait and just about any bait will probably work."
The no-entry-fee tournament will feature a five-bass daily limit and the full field will fish all three days. Daily launches will take place at the Gadsden Boat Dock at 7 a.m. Daily weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Gadsden Mall.
2007 Federation Nation Contenders
1. Mark Adams New Mexico
2. Hoyt Akins Arkansas
3. Greg Alexander Delaware
4. Sean Alvarez Vermont
5. Jeffrey Brown South Dakota
6. Pete Cherkas Iowa
7. Martin Alexander De Kock South Africa
8. Anre De Villiers South Africa
9. Royce Dennington Oklahoma
10. Michael Edrington Kansas
11. Eric Femiak Massachusetts
12. Alan Fluharty West Virginia
13. John Gardner Colorado
14. Carl Hunter Georgia
15. Jimmy Johnson Texas
16. David Junk Illinois
17. Pat Klausen Nebraska
18. Dave Kromm Washington
19. Scott Lakey Michigan
20. Jim Lambert Pennsylvania
21. Ken Larrabee Arizona
22. Robert Laufaenberg New Jersey
23. Brent Long South Carolina
24. Mike MacDonald Zimbabwe
25. Joseph Matt New York
26. Mike Mattis Wisconsin
27. Bryan McNeal Ohio
28. Terry McWilliams Indiana
29. Brian Morin New Hampshire
30. Dean Morris Florida
31. Ivan Morris Virginia
32. Scott Nadeau Maine
33. Justin Nichols Alabama
34. Chris Novack Connecticut
35. Luke Payne Missouri
36. Ed Peterson California
37. Greg Pink Utah
38. David Porter Florida
39. Marco Rodriguez Idaho
40. Edgar Romero Mexico
41. Roberto Rondinini Italy
42. Mark Rorke Ontario
43. Tim Runions Tennessee
44. Jim Severson Minnesota
45. Bruce Shockley Louisiana
46. Stephen Siddoway Wyoming
47. Curtis Spindler Montana
48. Joel St. Germain Rhode Island
49. Bryan Thrift North Carolina
50. Shigeru Tsukiyama Japan
51. Les Underwood Kentucky
52. Kevin Waterman Maryland
53. Marks Wilkinson Mississippi
54. Gary Yexley Oregon
The 2007 version will feature 54 talented anglers competing on Lake Neely Henry, Jan. 17-19, out of Gadsden, Ala., and throughout its illustrious history, the championship has served as the amateur angler's crowning event.
The full field will have a chance to earn one of six qualifying spots into bass fishing's most major event, the 2007 Bassmaster Classic, and a shot at the $500,000 Classic grand prize. The Classic spots are awarded to the top performer in each of six geographic divisions.
"The Federation Nation Championship continues to be the premier tournament for amateur anglers from around the world," said Gary Jones, director of the BASS Federation Nation. "We are excited about all of the perks associated for anglers who do well in this marquee event."
Television coverage from the championship will air on ESPN2 Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. ET. The winner will take home $15,000 plus a Triton/Mercury package valued at $50,000. But this championship is about so much more.
"It's not so much the money," said Justin Nichols, the lone Alabama representative in the field. "It's more about earning the reputation of beating everyone because these are all good anglers."
Nichols, a 32-year-old field service technician in Tuscaloosa, is typical of the competitive nature that dominates the entire national championship field.
A longtime member of the West Alabama BASS Federation Nation club, Nichols qualified through the BASS Federation Nation Southern Division.
Joining Nichols are anglers from across the country and globe representing 47 states and Canada (Ontario), Italy, Mexico, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Also competing is 2006 champion Anre De Villiers and Rhode Island's Joel St. Germain, who qualified for the 2006 Bassmaster Classic through last year's Federation Nation Championship.
This year's winner will receive an added bonus - qualifying for the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series. Also, the six divisional winners will receive paid entry fees into the Bassmaster Open division of their choice.
Lake Neely Henry is 11,235 acres and is home to quality populations of largemouth and spotted bass as past BASS tournaments have demonstrated.
Although Nichols is from Alabama, he has little experience on Neely Henry. He believes that his experience on other lakes in the Coosa River chain (Lay, Mitchell and Alabama River) through past club tournaments might give him an advantage in this tournament.
"I've only fished Neely Henry one time before it went off-limits," he said. "The fishing could be good. That river is narrow, so there should be a lot of current. And we've had a mild winter. So the fish ought to bite.
"I think the spots will be caught in numbers, but there will be some big largemouth, too. A jig, crankbait and just about any bait will probably work."
The no-entry-fee tournament will feature a five-bass daily limit and the full field will fish all three days. Daily launches will take place at the Gadsden Boat Dock at 7 a.m. Daily weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Gadsden Mall.
2007 Federation Nation Contenders
1. Mark Adams New Mexico
2. Hoyt Akins Arkansas
3. Greg Alexander Delaware
4. Sean Alvarez Vermont
5. Jeffrey Brown South Dakota
6. Pete Cherkas Iowa
7. Martin Alexander De Kock South Africa
8. Anre De Villiers South Africa
9. Royce Dennington Oklahoma
10. Michael Edrington Kansas
11. Eric Femiak Massachusetts
12. Alan Fluharty West Virginia
13. John Gardner Colorado
14. Carl Hunter Georgia
15. Jimmy Johnson Texas
16. David Junk Illinois
17. Pat Klausen Nebraska
18. Dave Kromm Washington
19. Scott Lakey Michigan
20. Jim Lambert Pennsylvania
21. Ken Larrabee Arizona
22. Robert Laufaenberg New Jersey
23. Brent Long South Carolina
24. Mike MacDonald Zimbabwe
25. Joseph Matt New York
26. Mike Mattis Wisconsin
27. Bryan McNeal Ohio
28. Terry McWilliams Indiana
29. Brian Morin New Hampshire
30. Dean Morris Florida
31. Ivan Morris Virginia
32. Scott Nadeau Maine
33. Justin Nichols Alabama
34. Chris Novack Connecticut
35. Luke Payne Missouri
36. Ed Peterson California
37. Greg Pink Utah
38. David Porter Florida
39. Marco Rodriguez Idaho
40. Edgar Romero Mexico
41. Roberto Rondinini Italy
42. Mark Rorke Ontario
43. Tim Runions Tennessee
44. Jim Severson Minnesota
45. Bruce Shockley Louisiana
46. Stephen Siddoway Wyoming
47. Curtis Spindler Montana
48. Joel St. Germain Rhode Island
49. Bryan Thrift North Carolina
50. Shigeru Tsukiyama Japan
51. Les Underwood Kentucky
52. Kevin Waterman Maryland
53. Marks Wilkinson Mississippi
54. Gary Yexley Oregon
