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Updated August 2006
The West Virginia Bass Federation (WVBF) is a state wide organization which formed and affiliated with the
Bass Anglers Sportsman Society of Montgomery, Alabama in 1973. Presently, the WVBF has approximately 800 members
in 64 clubs throughout the State of West Virginia. We are currently affiliated with The BASS Federation (TBF)
as a shareholder. Initially, The WVBF was formed to stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport,
to offer the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources our organized moral and political support and encouragement,
to promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate water standards and detect and report
any polluter and call public and political attention to crime, to improve our skill as bass anglers through fellowship
and friendly exchange of expert bass catching techniques and ideas, to promote and encourage youth fishing and
love for this great recreation and to function as a dynamic and effective link with individual chapters and other
federations embracing the principles and purposes of TBF.
TBF Mission: "Owned by those we serve, dedicated to growing the sport."
Since 1972, the independent state Bass Federations have worked together to support the grassroots growth of fishing
and the growth of the entire sport fishing/outdoors industry in their states. Simply put, the Federations do not
work for any one organization in particular, although we do have several long-term relationships and partnerships
in the industry.
The main focus of the Federation is to work for:
Our members.
- The bass fishing industry as a whole.
- Youth: by establishing activities for them that foster their learning and skill levels pertaining to
the sport of fishing.
- Conservation: by making additional funds available to the member states through our partners, sponsors
and other avenues to assist with conservation projects.
- Fishing: by providing a means for our members to compete in a majority of the most prestigious tournaments
in the world.
- Our mission is to grow the sport and support the industry. We are "about fishing."
TBF Formation
In an effort to continue the Federation's independent membership's support and growth of the industry over
the next few decades, as well as to provide broader opportunities for Federation members, the individual state
Federations formally joined together as a company called The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) in 2003.
TBF's focus is the individual state Federations and the thousands of members that make up those TBF-affiliated
Federations at the local level, and harnessing those collective synergies and buying power to benefit individual
members (i.e., the product-buying consumers).
This gives us a stronger foundation - in part so we can better-support our industry partners like FLW Outdoors
and BassFan - and will ensure the success of the grassroots support of this entire industry well into the
future.
Beginning in 2006, WVBF and TBF have started an affiliation with FLW Outdoors.
(TBF and WVBF are not affiliated with ESPN-owned BASS or the BASS Federation Nation, an organization started in
2006.)
One of the functions of the West Virginia Bass Federation is to hold bass tournaments to qualify a 12 man state
team each year which will compete in the Mid Atlantic Divisional Tournament conducted by TBF from which two West
Virginia anglers will qualify to compete in the National Championship where two anglers from the Mid Atlantic Division
will earn a berth in the prestigious FLW Championship.
The Federation is also active with the youth of the state. An annual youth bass tournament is conducted by the
Federation where an adult angler and a youth compete as a team to win prizes and trophies. This is a great opportunity
for the young anglers to learn fishing skills, sportsmanship, conservation and become more familiar with their
natural environment.
The WVBF is also in youth initiatives throughout the state. Regarding youth, we have focused our efforts on the
sport's number one priority: get kids fishing. That includes just getting a fishing rod in their hands,
as well as getting families outdoors.
These efforts are key when it comes to facilitating the recruitment of young anglers and introducing them to the
values and ethics of fishing and the outdoors.
Another major effort of the WVBF is to qualify youth anglers for the National Guard Junior World Championship
held in conjunction with the annual Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship.
Anyone wanting to learn more about the West Virginia Bass Federation or information on how to join the Federation
may contact the president of the Federation, John Burdette at (304) 472-3600 email at ssab@verizon.net
or by writing:
West Virginia Bass Federation
P. O. Box 1228
Bridgeport, WV 26330
- Board of Directors
- Club Divisions
- TBF/FLW Sponsors
- TBF Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
- TBF Waiver
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