01-18-2007, 10:10 PM
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<br />
3. Greg Alexander Delaware<br />
4. Sean Alvarez Vermont<br />
5. Jeffrey Brown South Dakota<br />
6. Pete Cherkas Iowa<br />
7. Martin Alexander De Kock South Africa<br />
8. Anre De Villiers South Africa<br />
9. Royce Dennington Oklahoma<br />
10. Michael Edrington Kansas<br />
11. Eric Femiak Massachusetts<br />
12. Alan Fluharty West Virginia<br />
13. John Gardner Colorado<br />
14. Carl Hunter Georgia<br />
15. Jimmy Johnson Texas<br />
16. David Junk Illinois<br />
17. Pat Klausen Nebraska<br />
18. Dave Kromm Washington<br />
19. Scott Lakey Michigan<br />
20. Jim Lambert Pennsylvania<br />
21. Ken Larrabee Arizona<br />
22. Robert Laufaenberg New Jersey<br />
23. Brent Long South Carolina<br />
24. Mike MacDonald Zimbabwe<br />
25. Joseph Matt New York<br />
26. Mike Mattis Wisconsin<br />
27. Bryan McNeal Ohio<br />
28. Terry McWilliams Indiana<br />
29. Brian Morin New Hampshire<br />
30. Dean Morris Florida<br />
31. Ivan Morris Virginia<br />
32. Scott Nadeau Maine<br />
33. Justin Nichols Alabama<br />
34. Chris Novack Connecticut<br />
35. Luke Payne Missouri<br />
36. Ed Peterson California<br />
37. Greg Pink Utah<br />
38. David Porter Florida<br />
39. Marco Rodriguez Idaho<br />
40. Edgar Romero Mexico<br />
41. Roberto Rondinini Italy<br />
42. Mark Rorke Ontario<br />
43. Tim Runions Tennessee<br />
44. Jim Severson Minnesota<br />
45. Bruce Shockley Louisiana<br />
46. Stephen Siddoway Wyoming<br />
47. Curtis Spindler Montana<br />
48. Joel St. Germain Rhode Island<br />
49. Bryan Thrift North Carolina<br />
50. Shigeru Tsukiyama Japan<br />
51. Les Underwood Kentucky<br />
52. Kevin Waterman Maryland<br />
53. Marks Wilkinson Mississippi<br />
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<br />
3. Greg Alexander Delaware<br />
4. Sean Alvarez Vermont<br />
5. Jeffrey Brown South Dakota<br />
6. Pete Cherkas Iowa<br />
7. Martin Alexander De Kock South Africa<br />
8. Anre De Villiers South Africa<br />
9. Royce Dennington Oklahoma<br />
10. Michael Edrington Kansas<br />
11. Eric Femiak Massachusetts<br />
12. Alan Fluharty West Virginia<br />
13. John Gardner Colorado<br />
14. Carl Hunter Georgia<br />
15. Jimmy Johnson Texas<br />
16. David Junk Illinois<br />
17. Pat Klausen Nebraska<br />
18. Dave Kromm Washington<br />
19. Scott Lakey Michigan<br />
20. Jim Lambert Pennsylvania<br />
21. Ken Larrabee Arizona<br />
22. Robert Laufaenberg New Jersey<br />
23. Brent Long South Carolina<br />
24. Mike MacDonald Zimbabwe<br />
25. Joseph Matt New York<br />
26. Mike Mattis Wisconsin<br />
27. Bryan McNeal Ohio<br />
28. Terry McWilliams Indiana<br />
29. Brian Morin New Hampshire<br />
30. Dean Morris Florida<br />
31. Ivan Morris Virginia<br />
32. Scott Nadeau Maine<br />
33. Justin Nichols Alabama<br />
34. Chris Novack Connecticut<br />
35. Luke Payne Missouri<br />
36. Ed Peterson California<br />
37. Greg Pink Utah<br />
38. David Porter Florida<br />
39. Marco Rodriguez Idaho<br />
40. Edgar Romero Mexico<br />
41. Roberto Rondinini Italy<br />
42. Mark Rorke Ontario<br />
43. Tim Runions Tennessee<br />
44. Jim Severson Minnesota<br />
45. Bruce Shockley Louisiana<br />
46. Stephen Siddoway Wyoming<br />
47. Curtis Spindler Montana<br />
48. Joel St. Germain Rhode Island<br />
49. Bryan Thrift North Carolina<br />
50. Shigeru Tsukiyama Japan<br />
51. Les Underwood Kentucky<br />
52. Kevin Waterman Maryland<br />
53. Marks Wilkinson Mississippi<br />
54. Gary Yexley Oregon